“Fat” has become the new weather.
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| As if! |
Instead of the latest temperature drop being the social lubricant of small-talk conversations, there’s a new small-talk champion in town (at least for women.) Body weight. A new study came out mid-March describing the contagious phenomenon of “fat talk”.
“Fat talk” was originally described in middle school girls, but is now seen in college women. The study, co-authored by Dr. Martz from Appalachian State University, tested both male and female expectations to how a woman will react in a conversation. Given a scenario of a female stranger entering a group already discussing their weight, 40 percent of men and 51 percent of women participants predicted they would join in with the body-bashing. Dr. Martz, in an interview with LiveScience online, concluded “Because women feel pressured to follow the fat talk norm, they are more likely to engage in fat talk with other females”.
This group-critique coupled with communal affirmation is a short-term solution that is both damaging and self-reinforcing. The
Office of Health Education website puts it sternly, “No one is perfect! When you find yourself being self critical immediately stop and pay yourself a compliment!”
While this response can seem obvious to the problem of self-criticism, the study describes the benefit women derive from this strategy. Dr. Martz argues that because our society disdains egotism, we gain kudos for so-called “modesty” — i.e., trashing our bodies. We can subversively gain the approval of friends while disparaging what makes us unique.
But really, any student who’s taken a class in the College should be able to talk about fat more intelligently. Biology majors could chew over how women naturally
distribute fat differentlyand may
fatigue less during aerobic exercise than men. Anthropology buffs might chat up their friends about the “Fat and Society” course, which offers a sociological analysis of the issue. Sure, body image may not be the most enticing topics to discuss, but an open, accepting conversation is clearly and immediately superior to the “fat talk” plaguing our circles of friends.
“Fat talk” is a self-gratifying but vicious cycle that must be exposed for what it is. Let’s make public self-criticism taboo, one dining hall conversation at a time.
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March 27th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
“Let’s make public self-criticism taboo, one dining hall conversation at a time.”
Let’s not. Some people are capable of speaking in a self-deprecating manner or about topics most consider inappropriate without worrying that they’re offending the thought police and without any malicious intent either. The problem is not that some think inappropriate thoughts or say things that never should be said but that many others are thin-skinned.
March 28th, 2007 at 1:44 am
Fat talk is a good thing. Maybe eventually the message will get through that being fat is unhealthy and may well eventually lead to death. Lose the fat, get healthy, become more attractive, feel better about yourself. It’s a no brainer.