One brand new theory I came across in GSS 101 this year is fat studies. It has never occurred to me that studying fat is included in the realm of gender and sexuality studies. Before this semester, I was convinced by the stigmatization of fat in media that it is related to health problems and never aware of my privileges and oprressions associated with fatness. Furthermore, our discussion on fat studies made me realize how being fat and body sizes act as a social identity, just like gender and race.
But what confused me at first was the introduction to fatphobia existed in American context, as my impression of the U.S. society is not fatphobic. What considered “overly fat” in China may not be surprising in America. Only last year, there was a major Tik Tok trend in China when girls tried to fit themselves in children’s clothes to prove how slim they are. I witnessed a lot of women internalizing ridiculous body shame as I grow up, and naturally, I assume America accepts fat people better. Nevertheless, I know that it is not the case after taking GSS. In addition, I start to compare different forms of fatphobia in American context (what I have read in class) and in Chinese context (what I experienced in the past)
Inspired by this, I would envision myself doing a research after coming back to China, in which I would draw a comparison between how fatphobia is expressed in two countries. There might be genetic factors as well as differences in diet cultures that determine factors like average weights as well as people’s common ideas about “normal body.” It would also be interesting, considering America and the entire western world control media and culture export, and their values influence the east. For example, fitness training and gyms are becoming common in China nowadays, and that could also impact on the forms of fatphobia in China. Most important of all, by studying how fatphobia is expressed in different ways, I would be better capable of combating it, after understanding how it convinces people in different cultures.
I was also shocked to learn that studying fat is included in the realm of gender and sexuality studies. Looking at how fat phobia is expressed in two countries, both in the U.S. and China is a great idea! I appreciate how you are not only interested in both individually, but looking at ways in which one might influence the other. You pointed out many differences in both cultures and how that might influence why fat phobia exists the way it does in that country. Will you also look at similarities within the American and Chinese culture in terms of how fatphobia plays a role in people’ s live?
Prior to coming to this class, I also had no idea that fat studies was so closely integrated into the conversation of gender and sexuality studies. I think your proposal is incredibly interesting, and I am very curious to see what takeaways would come from comparing the two cultures with fatphobia as the main subject at hand. Amazing job!