Electrolicious

13 Responses to “Is Dieting Anti-Feminist?”

1. lisa
   November 1st, 2006 at 10:40 am

   

   I read your article on Alternet and then I read several of the comments. There were so many aggressive, negative comments about your article…which I thought were unjustified. People need to lighten up!
   I liked the article and can relate. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week and eat healthy (lately, portion control is my thing and I have been on nutrisystem, which has been helpful). I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 18. I still struggle with body image issues, but I know that when I go to the gym, it’s for me–I feel less stressed, more positive, etc.—not so I can adhere to some patriarchal ideal body image stereotype.
   Keep on writing, and ignore the negativity on Alternet.

2. Maven
   November 1st, 2006 at 1:31 pm

   

   This is interesting–I wound up over here initially because I clicked on some link to the fat/feminism post. That particular day I was grappling with my (intelligent, feminist, yet as patriarchy-dwelling as the rest of us) boyfriend’s observation that I have a mustache and I should do something about it. No one else had ever pointed it out–and I have two sisters who will get right up in your business and pluck hair. Those five upper lip hairs that I had to mascara heavily in order to wear a Frida Kahlo costume 5 years ago had never bothered me, and I had to scrutinize myself to even see what the hell my boyfriend was talking about.

   The so-called mustachio freaked him out. If the light struck my hairs right, he couldn’t focus on anything else. It is a Seinfeldesque neurosis on his part, but I was furious with him about it.

   Then I had to decide well, am I going to address my mammalian fuzz or not? It obviously bugs the boyfriend, so if I decide to incorporate more depilation into my beauty routine, am I a tool of the patriarchy (answer: yes, but I already am). Can I separate that issue from the more personal one about doing things conscientiously in order to please my partner? That is part of partnership, along with accepting your partner as he/she is, so, well, yes, I think I can separate those issues, if only to make myself feel better.

   Long story short: I grappled, I got some Nair, I’m buying into some cultural crap about women + body hair, but at least I’ve thought about it.

   I share this only because your post was, that day, a good thing for me to read. I didn’t find it vapid, really, and certainly didn’t get my undies all wadded about it the way some of the folks at AlterNet did. See, I’m pretty sure that almost everything is a feminist issue, especially stuff that has any bearing on your appearance. That doesn’t mean that things like obesity and diet and exercise are exclusively feminist issues, but that was never your point. When the contemplation of fat and image incorporates the questions “but why am I feeling the need to be thinner” and “who or what am I trying to please” etc, then yes, those issues become feminist.

   I guess all I’m really saying here is that body image is fraught and at least you thought about the choices you were making and how those choices would resonate in your life. It ain’t mainstream feminism, exactly, but BFD.

3. michelle
   November 1st, 2006 at 2:29 pm

   

   every time i read an article on salon, alternet, or just about any other web pub, i see all the vigilant freaks who want to rip the writer to shreds coming out of the woodwork. ariel, i hope you’re not letting those cranky alternet posters get to you. i think your article makes some great points; as someone who sits on her ass writing all the fracking time, i could totally relate. i’ve never been a dieter or cared to count calories, food groups, or portions, and well, now, in my late 30s, the rolls are starting to accumulate, as are other mini but annoying health nuisances. your article was an important one for this girl to read (you mean i can join WW and actually tell people? thank you, ariel for paving the way!), so keep it up, chica. btw, i have many of the same body hair issues as maven (except i could be frida for halloween WITHOUT the mascara on my lip) and believe me i think about feminism/mainstream media a lot when deciding how i want to care for my health, physical appearance. also, here’s a cool campaign for real beauty vid a friend just sent me today: http://www.campaignforrealbeau.....n_evo.html (even if we haven’t taken a women’s studies class in 10 or 20 years, sometimes we need these reminders.)

4. KG
   November 1st, 2006 at 9:41 pm

   

   Here is a link to an article in today’s NYTimes about how controlling portion and reducing calorie intake — eating less overall but making sure it’s high-quality food — might be more important than even exercise in living a long and healthy life.

   It will be interesting to see how science shapes this debate.

   And I went back and read your original WW post, and found it interesting and a bit inspiring. You did something I’ve always stayed away from doing (WW) because I felt like I wouldn’t fit into the culture there. You reminded me that it’s liberating to try out even new little things sometimes. It’s amazing what kind of a box fear can keep people in, and the food issue is so fraught with it.

   As far as blazing my own food trail, all things in moderation is a helpful matra to keep in mind.

5. lily
   November 2nd, 2006 at 11:32 am

   

   i heart food. (obviousl)
   and i heart Ariel.

6. Kara
   November 2nd, 2006 at 2:17 pm

   

   Commenting on the NYTimes article about caloric restriction, it’s interesting that scientists discovered that high-nutrient caloric-restricted diets promoted health, vitality, and longevity because of the Biosphere 2 project in the early 90’s. After the 8 scientists were isolated inside the biosphere, they had unexpected crop failure, despite eating less than they had planned, they discovered they were healthier than before! Mistakes are often the most illuminating.

   Ariel, congrats on your article getting syndicated despite the bitter trolls under the bridge.

7. brittney
   November 2nd, 2006 at 4:42 pm

   

   Gawd, what a bunch of bitter betties!

8. Ariel
   November 2nd, 2006 at 10:25 pm

   

   Thanks for the sweet words, everyone. I don’t begrudge the folks at Alternet their bitching — my article really isn’t a good fit for their site. Ultimately, however, that’s their editorial call. Not mine. That said, I don’t think I’ve gotten this level of hate mail in response to an article since the infamous Phoenix Fest debacle of 2001. Getting people’s panties in a wad is always so exciting.

9. amy.leblanc
   November 3rd, 2006 at 12:15 pm

   

   this is why i try to avoid ever using the word “feminist” unless i’m claiming i’m not one. it’s lost all historical meaning in the modern world, and since it’s impossible to redefine words without drudging up the previous connotations, which always means bitter debate, so i just don’t use it.

   i’ve send your post to several of my friends struggling with weight issues, and they all enjoyed how honest it is. so what that it’s not “deep”? this is a BLOG, not Scientific American. context, people, context.

   and i have a Q about web rules: how is it that Alternet can just republish your words without contacting you? just because they provide the link? don’t you have a copyright on here somewhere? or is it because it was published in that other mag first?

10. Ariel
    November 3rd, 2006 at 7:19 pm

    

    Amy, Sirens has a syndication deal with Alternet … I wish I’d known!

11. Jaylyn
    November 3rd, 2006 at 9:08 pm

    

    Hi Ariel, Your article was the first I’ve read on Alter Net, and I was *shocked* at the negative attacks from their readers. The level of criticism was completely unwarranted. I thought it was a thought provoking essay, and as a 30-something person doing office work, I see where you were coming from. I didn’t think you were tyring to change to world, just sharing an experience and some realizations that helped you move in a good direction. Nicely done. Don’t listen to the bitter ones. They need to settle down already.

12. Esther
    November 4th, 2006 at 4:27 pm

    

    this article in the New York Times also talks about fat stigmatization. I thought it was funny how some people took the you working a sedentary job sentence and ran with it to assume you never once get aerobic exercise (even though you specifically said you do yoga daily). although I know I’ve been guilty of it in the past, saying that fat people don’t get enough exercise is just stupid. I know plenty of skinny people who don’t get enough exercise, but have genes that prevents them from getting that beer belly (though..they may well have one in another 10 years or so). I think the problem everyone seems to have is conflating fitness (both in what you eat, and your level of exercise) with physical appearance, and that’s part of what you try to address in the article.

13. alphabitch
    November 7th, 2006 at 8:27 am

    

    Maven: duct tape really is an effective depilatory, plus you can feel really butch about it. I’m not even kidding. Much less messy and smelly than any other I’ve tried. Plus cheaper! Not so great for leg hair though, as you need to use a lot of tape. But it does work on the legs, too.