Prior to learning about disability, I had no clue what the word entailed. When I thought of the word disability, I imagined a sweet old man in a hover round wheel chair, or a person with a broken foot who is on crutches. This proves how narrow-minded our society has pushed us to be; biological problems are disabilities. Over the course of this week’s readings, I learned that our societal expectations play a huge role in disabling people of our society.
April Herndon’s article “Disparate But Disabled: Fat Embodiment and Disability Studies” (2002 NWSA Journal, Vol. 14 No.3 Fall) states, “Although it is difficult to find scientific studies that suggest fatness is in an of itself the catalyst behind diseases such as atherosclerosis or high blood pressure, it seems that many medical practitioners feel quite comfortable telling patients that regardless of any other aspect of their lifestyle or health, they are ill” (126). This means that the doctors who are supposed to assess problems based on scientific fact are now falling prey more and more to the stereotypes of health put forth in our media.
On a different note... If you ever have a chance, Google the change in sizes of clothing over the past (30) years. Simply by looking at the differences in our “ideal” sizes and how it has changed over time, one can plainly see how much our society’s ideal of beauty has changed. The sizes on our clothing seem to be the eyes of society looking at us and taunting us. I cringe every time that I am forced to go up a size. As I grew up with the latest fashion in high school, I learned where to shop, and where not to, based on sizes. For example, I could shop at PacSun and by their “stretch jeans” and fit into a size 5 (good). Whereas American Eagle was off limits because their clothing was much MUCH tighter! Size 5 in PacSun means Size 9-11 in American Eagle (not Good). It really makes you wonder whether they make the clothing to fit you, or you adjust yourself to fit the clothing available.
Is it really hard to imagine biased doctors, when it seems as if the rest of society has already succumbed to the pressure?
Tiff, I completely shared your preconceptions about the disabled. I had never thought of disability in the context of socialization. Your point of doctors falling "prey" to media health myths is a strong argument...consider, for instance, the crazy weight-loss trends that aren't backed by the FDA, yet they go mainstream. The "Master-Cleanse," the "Cookie Diet," acai or goji berries in EVERYTHING...if anyone is going to stand up to these ridiculous fads, it should be doctors.
ReplyDeleteAs for your third paragraph...that TOTALLY hits home. I always found that American Eagle and Hollister ran small, Aeropostale ran large, Abercrombie was a toss-up, and places like J. Crew and Ann Taylor loft were sized for women, not tweens. There have been studies done to show that certain designers knowingly and purposefully size their clothing 2 sizes larger so that "fat" people will not be representing their brand. The fact that people do all of this crash dieting and fighting against their genetic predispositions shows that we are in fact molding ourselves to fit into socially constructed "sizes." I mean, what IS a size "0" anyway..? Nice post! :)