Bodies out of Bounds

This collection challenges negative perceptions of fatness, exploring cultural, historical, and political dimensions while advocating for marginalized voices. Bodies Out of Bounds offers fresh insights into body politics.

In Bodies Out of Bounds, the authors delve into the complex social representations of the fat body, challenging the pervasive discourses that have historically framed fatness in a negative light. This collection of essays scrutinizes the politics surrounding corpulence and highlights the significant absence of fat individuals in mainstream media portrayals. Since the post-World War II era, societal attitudes have demonized fatness, branding it as repugnant and undesirable, perpetuating a culture obsessed with weight loss and ideal body shapes.

The contributors to Bodies Out of Bounds argue that the definitions of fatness and its societal valuation are not universal but rather shaped by cultural, historical, and economic contexts. Through a diverse array of interdisciplinary essays, the authors reveal how perceptions of body size are influenced by various factors, including ethnicity, race, and class. They engage with the intersections of fatness and other identities, offering a nuanced understanding of how societal norms around body size are constructed and maintained.

By examining the often-hidden agendas behind medical and psychological narratives regarding fatness and food, Bodies Out of Bounds exposes the malleability of the concept of fat. The essays advocate for a re-evaluation of societal standards, asserting that the experiences and voices of those who do not conform to these ideals deserve recognition and respect. This thought-provoking collection is both insightful and engaging, inviting readers to reconsider their assumptions about body size and its implications in contemporary culture.