Both Susie Orbach of "Fat is a Feminist Issue" and, Carrie Packwood Freeman and Debra Merskin of "Having it His Way: The Construction of Masculinity in Fast- Food TV Advertising" write about the ways that the media influence what is acceptable for each gender to eat. A man who eats organic vegetables may have his masculinity challenged, while a women who eats mainly meat, may be called too manly. Although each author seems to come to the same conclusion about the medias influence, Obrach focuses heavily on the pressures women feel from men to be thin, while Freeman and Merskin do not mention pressures men feel from women to be thin, fit, masculine, etc.
To begin with, Susie Orbach believes basing how you should look off the media is a harmful way for females to relate to their bodies and what to eat. I believe this is true because the media only discusses women with perfect skin, thin but curvy bodies, etc. Obrach states, women "become prey to the huge fashion and diet industries that first set up the ideal images and then exhort women to meet them," (451). She touches on the idea that the media will never make a women satisfied with herself. The way a women's body is supposed to look, be clothed, smell, etc. is always changing and putting more pressure on women. This is why she strongly believes that women should not let the media influence how to view their bodies.
She also believes that not caring what men think and instead, look the way they want to while eating what they choose to eat is a beneficial way for females to relate to their bodies and food. I believe this is true because there is truly no better, more powerful motivation then motivating yourself. A woman who wants to be in shape or thin to get a wedding ring on her finger, will completely lose herself later on. She may have worked hard in the beginning, but what is it all worth if the main goal isn't to better herself for herself? In fact, there is so much unwanted pressure on women to be thin from men that Obrach states, "fat expresses a rebellion against the powerlessness of the woman, against the pressure to look and act in a certain way and against being evaluated on her ability to create an image of herself" (452). She believes that women are basically choosing to gain weight to go against the frustrating social norms. However, these social norms do not have to be so prevalent if women didn't try so hard to get thin for the wrong reasons. I strongly disagree that women who gain weight to challenge the ideal women is a good idea, instead, working hard, eating healthy, and being the best women they can be is a good way to challenge the norms. Not the norm of thin women, but the norm of men and marriage motivating women.
Secondly, Carrie Packwood Freeman and Debra Merskin focus in on the ideas that choosing what to eat it instead of following what the media says is a beneficial way for males to relate to their bodies and food. I believe this is true because it simply ridiculous to believe that a man is only masculine if they are eating meat and potatoes every day. There is nothing proven to decrease testosterone levels or masculinity when a man eats vegetables, tofu, organic, etc. However, "advertisers trust we [viewers] believe that a traditional American male does not eat organic, plant-based proteins -- he primarily eats meat, which would also explain the prominence of masculine themes in advertisements for meat products, like burgers and subs." (Freeman, Merskin 455). The media portrays that men should eat foods full of fat, but they don't make it look like fatty foods, it looks like meaty protein on the TV.
This leads into the authors next idea that men letting fast-food commercials influence them is a harmful way for males to relate to their bodies and what they eat. I believe this true because not only is fast-food terrible for you in nutrition but also makes you feel sick. What is so masculine about a big belly full of greasy McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, etc. Not only do the advertisements key in on meat as being masculine, but they also "perpetuate(s) stereotypes of men in one-dimensional terms as self-indulgent, womanizing carnivores..." (Freeman, Merskin 473). These advertisements that are some how found appealing to the human eye while being disregarded as wrong have a huge impact on what men choose to eat. Freeman and Merskin simply write exactly how the commercials influence these men and why indeed, they should not.
Susie Orbach believes being fat is a beneficial way for women to relate to their bodies or food. I believe this because from what I read, she believes that women should be who they are, fat or not, because they shouldn’t change themselves to “fit in”. In Fat Is a Feminist issue Orbach states, “Feminist argues that being fat represents an attempt to break free of society’s sex stereotypes” (Pg. 449).
ReplyDeleteSusie Orbach believes conforming to the roles society places us in is a harmful way for women to relate to their bodies or food. I believe this because if women conform to what society sees as acceptable, then what makes women unique? Not much about women would be different from the next. As far as I’m concerned, that seems unappealing to me. I like individuality because it makes us special.
In Fat Is a Feminist issue Orbach states, “ The one constant in these images is that a woman must be thin” (Pg. 452).
Carrie Packwood Freeman believes eating meat is a beneficial way for men to relate to their bodies or food. I believe this because she says that men have always been connected to meat in the way that men used to be hunters, not gatherers. In Having It His Way: The Construction of Masculinity in Fast-Food TV Advertising Freeman states, “the human practices of killing and eating animals are ‘”virtual sacraments in our culture’” (Pg. 456).
Carrie Packwood Freeman believes eating healthy is a harmful way for men to relate to their bodies or food. I believe this because she uses the example of the man buying organic tofu at the grocery store. In Having It His Way: The Construction of Masculinity in Fast-Food TV Advertising Freeman states, ” The healthy shopper’s masculinity is in question” (Pg. 454).
I don’t believe that Freeman agrees with the way media is portraying men and the way they should be eating to come across as masculine. The media and society make it seem as though men and women have to fit into gender stereotypes or they are not normal.
Susan Orbach believes that thinking of your body, as a symbol against oppression is a positive way for women to relate with their bodies. I believe this because she states “fat expresses a rebellion against the powerlessness of the woman, against the pressure to look and act in a certain way”.
ReplyDeleteOrbach believes that changing your image to fit the medias ideal woman is a harmful way for women to relate to their bodies. I believe she thinks this because she states, “these molds of femininity are experienced by women as unreal, frightening, and unattainable.”
Packwood and Merskin believe linking masculinity to the food you choose eat is a harmful way for a man to relate to the food he eats. I believe this because the authors explain that the food related to masculinity is usually unhealthy and is presented in a way for men to express his dominance over woman and animals.
Packwood and Merskin believe being aware of what companies are really selling when they present there food product is a beneficial way for men to relate to what they eat. The authors state, “While aspects of these advertisements seem harmless commercial entertainment, we suggest a concern that the overall message of hedonism is detrimental to social justice and ecological stability.” This is telling the reader that the only way to be socially just is to know what the consumer is supporting when they buy these products.
Orbach believes that emphasis on presentation is a harmful way for women to relate to their bodies or food. I believe this because if women are always focused on what is pleasing to others, they won't ever be able to enjoy life the way they should, and will always be basing their guidelines for beauty off of someone else's standards. This will leave women unsatisfied and confused. "[This emphasis on presentation as the central aspect of a woman's existence] demands that she occupy herself with a self-image that others will find pleasing and attractive" (450).
ReplyDeleteOrbach believes using fat to rebel against social norms is a beneficial way for women to relate to their bodies or food. While I disagree with this statement it is an alternate claim to Stacy's, which is what the assignment asks for. "Feminism argues that being fat represents an attempt to break free of society's sex stereotypes" (449). Using fat as an outward expression to challenge stereotypes. This may be a good approach because it makes being fat a statement and outward expression.
In this second reading it is difficult to find these authors opinions, so as the assignment asks, I will interpret the text in an alternate manner from yours, Stacy, even though I don't support most of what I say.
Freeman and Merskin believe conforming to the media's opinions is a beneficial way for men to relate to their bodies or food. I support this because by following what the media says about eating masculine foods and believing what they see on their ads empowers men. "By disempowering women in these commercials, men gain more freedom and control to have it their way" (469). Men and women see these men empowering commercials and are influenced by them to see men as better.
Freeman and Merskin believe objectification of women in these commercials is a negative way for men to relate to their body or food. I support this because if men recognize women as secondary and objects, women's rights may suffer. If this irresponsible advertising is allowed to continue then we may "sacrifice the rights of traditionally oppressed groups in order to further empower a dominant social group" (473).
Susie Orbach believes that women’s weight is a way for them to relate to their bodies because of the ways she talks about how woman should not try to change just to please the current trends of women fashion which changes every season. I believe this because of when she said “she attempts to make herself in the image of womanhood presented by billboards, newspapers, magazines and television” she is saying that it is wrong for women to change themselves just to fit into pop culture. Orbach also believes that woman blaming lack of self control being the issue is harmful for woman to relate their bodies to food. I believe this because when she says “Fat is a social disease and fat is a feminist issue. Fat is not about a lack of self control” she is saying its bad for woman to judge themselves for their body.
ReplyDeleteCarrie Freeman believes that men not caring about what he eats needs to become an important part of society. I believe this because when she talks about how mans behaviors towards woman change with the types of food he eats, the more meat he eats, the more dominant he tries to be.Freeman also believes that men trying to act in a more manly way will only hurt him in the long run. I believe this because when she talks about the checkout isle it shows that a man can be easily influenced to give up good eating habits just to impress others. When she says “he picked up a hummer magazine” it shows that he wants to be more manly and is looking for a different approach.
Susie Orbach's intro of, "Fat Is a Feminist Issue" captured my attention because every word that she had written is true; women have become very attentive about their weight and how much calories they consume. As for beauty, women now a day go the extra mile in vain just to look good without realizing that self acceptance is the key to happiness. I know corny as it may sound but it’s actually the truth. If you worship beauty and sexual allure you’ll always feel ugly. Susie even explains in her article, “But these models of femininity are experienced by women, as unreal, frightening and unattainable.” (452) or another example would be, “She must observe and evaluate herself, scrutinizing every detail of herself as though she were an outside judge.” (450) These two sentences explain what women have to do and how they feel just to conform to what society’s guidelines has set on women. Now, I partially agree with Susie’s view on fat, and that is if a woman wants to be fat let her be fat if she’s happy. The part I disagree on is that fat represents an attempt to break free of society’s sex stereotypes. I find it quite ironic because women, big or thin, will still worry about their self-image no matter what.
ReplyDeleteIn “Having it his Way,” Freeman and Merskin inform the reader about how the media has influenced the way men eat. I say, women and men can eat whatever they want. If a girl wants a steak let her have a juicy steak. If a man wants to eat a healthy meal, then let him have a good healthy meal.