WMST 1200 UOFM Societys Perception of Overweight Americans Discussion

Question 1: Roxane Gay’s book Hunger is a powerful exploration of how a deeply traumatic moment in childhood shaped both her relationship with her body and her body itself. Unable to discuss her rape with those she was close to, she ate and became larger and larger to feel safe. The sections you have to read explore the ways her parents tried to “help” her as she grew larger and some of the ways society perceives and engages with Americans whose bodies are considered obese. For this question, I’m giving you all a lot of flexibility. I’d ask you to discuss a section of her work (not yet discussed by your peers) that spoke to you and how it reflects the problematic ways that Americans regard and treat people who are deemed overweight. Media scrutiny, fat camp, diet culture, mistreatment by doctors – there is a lot to talk about here!