In this engaging discussion, guest Amy Farrell, a Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and author of "Fat Shame," uncovers the dark origins of BMI and fatphobia. She delves into how Enlightenment ideas shaped body categorization, revealing the biases that persist today. Farrell highlights the unique challenges women and people of color face due to societal standards. The conversation also critiques the relevance of BMI in health assessments and advocates for a more inclusive understanding of body image and health.
46:09
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
BMI Origins
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a person's weight divided by their height in meters squared.
It was created by a mathematician in the 1830s, not a physician, and wasn't initially about health.
insights INSIGHT
Enlightenment and Hierarchy
During the Enlightenment, scientists sought to rationalize existing societal inequities.
They used theories of evolution to categorize people, with white European men often placed at the top.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Sarah Bartman and Cuvier
Georges Cuvier, after dissecting Sarah Bartman, used her body, including her fatness, as "evidence" of her lower position on the "scale of civilization."
He even coined a term for the supposedly "excess fat" on her buttocks.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This reader compiles various scholarly works on gender and fat studies, offering diverse perspectives on the topic. It likely includes essays and research articles exploring the historical, cultural, and social aspects of fatness and its intersection with gender. The reader aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, showcasing different theoretical approaches and empirical findings. It serves as a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in the subject.
Criminal Woman
Criminal Woman
null
Cesar Lombroso
Cesare Lombroso's "Criminal Woman" is a controversial work of criminology that applied his theories of atavism to women. Lombroso argued that physical characteristics could predict criminal behavior, suggesting that women with certain body types were predisposed to prostitution and other crimes. The book is widely criticized for its pseudoscientific methodology, racist and sexist biases, and its contribution to harmful stereotypes. It exemplifies the flawed reasoning and dangerous consequences of using physical attributes to judge character and predict behavior.
Intrepid Girls: The Complicated History of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Intrepid Girls: The Complicated History of the Girl Scouts of the USA
The Complicated History of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Amy Farrell
Lessons on Corpulence
Lessons on Corpulence
null
William Banting
William Banting's "Lessons on Corpulence" is considered the first modern diet book. Published in 1863, it details Banting's own weight loss journey and the dietary regimen he followed. The book emphasizes reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing protein consumption, a principle that has influenced subsequent dietary approaches. Its impact lies in popularizing the concept of dietary intervention for weight management and establishing a framework for future diet books. However, its historical context and limitations in understanding nutrition should be considered.
Fat Shame
Stigma and the Fat Body in American Culture
Amy Farrell
Amy Farrell's "Fat Shame" delves into the historical and cultural roots of fat stigma in American society. The book explores how societal perceptions of fatness have intersected with race, gender, and class, shaping individual experiences and broader social inequalities. Farrell examines the evolution of dieting culture, the role of the media, and the impact of fat stigma on mental and physical health. She also highlights the voices and activism of fat individuals challenging these norms. The book offers a critical analysis of the cultural forces that perpetuate fatphobia and its consequences.
Dark ideas and stigma around different body sizes really took hold in the Enlightenment.
Very unenlightened, if you ask us.
This started all sorts of awful movements, and one result was BMI - or Body Mass Index - which is still used as a measure of health by doctors today.
What even is the BMI? Why are women and people of colour particularly affected by these harmful ideas? And what's the future of fatphobia and BMI?
Joining Kate is the fantastic Amy Farrell, professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Dickinson College and author of Fat Shame: Stigma and the Fat Body in American Culture, to take us back to the dark origins of BMI and fatphobia.
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society 