In the end, I got better, got angrier, and ultimately re-arranged my life so that I could stay healthy and continue fighting-the-good-fight as <\/em>my career<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n We feminists typically view dieting — and, particularly, the diet\u00a0industry —<\/em> as an expression of patriarchy that is bad for women. \u00a0As a scholar who studies the harmful effects of our culture’s beauty standards, I agree with this. \u00a0Diets (which FAIL 95% of the time) drain women’s energy, happiness, and wallets \u2013 often while risking our health. \u00a0Hence, “RIOTS, NOT DIETS!” has become a well-known rallying cheer for many feminists.<\/p>\n Dieting can also be understood as a type of “patriarchal bargain<\/a>” (an individual woman\u2019s decision to accept gender rules that disadvantage women-as-a-group, in exchange for whatever power she can wrest from the system). \u00a0By strategically losing weight, we accept the THIN=BEAUTIFUL*GOOD equation (which implies FAT=UGLY*BAD), and propel ourselves into positions of greater social advantage. \u00a0On an individual level, having “thin privilege” feels empowering. \u00a0(Recall, Oprah Winfrey — arguably the MOST powerful woman in the world — has described “going to the gym when I really prefer wine and chips”<\/a> as her greatest accomplishment!<\/em>) \u00a0Yet, these THIN powered feelings depend upon a system of inequality in which power\/privilege\/respect are\u00a0denied<\/em> to others on the basis of these standards.<\/p>\n Frustratingly, given the patriarchal bargain of weight-loss,\u00a0being radically anti-diet as a\u00a0political<\/em> stance doesn’t always fit comfortably as a\u00a0personal<\/em> stance. Because we live in a society that <\/em>punishes women for being “fat,” even the most dedicated feminists report struggles with body image. \u00a0The threat of becoming a martyr for this cause (i.e., by voluntarily giving up \u201dthin-privilege,\u201d if we\u2019ve got it) can be\u00a0terrifying<\/em>. \u00a0 Add to this the personal fact that I\u2019ve gained an (subjectively) uncomfortable amount of weight in the past year by neglecting to care for my body, and suddenly I\u2019m facing a conundrum.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s a good feminist to do?\u00a0 Here\u2019s how I\u2019ve proceeded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Step 1: Shun Mirrors for 1 Year<\/strong><\/p>\n I was saying mean things to my reflection in the mirror and wanted to lose weight, urgently. \u00a0My body insecurities were reaching a dangerous peak, and it scared me. \u00a0Was I on the verge of a relapse?<\/em> 10 years ago, I\u2019d probably have gone on an extreme diet, but this time something blissfully self-protective kicked in.\u00a0 I still did something extreme, but in a vastly more body-positive direction: I decided to shun mirrors for a year. \u00a0Yep, you read that correctly. \u00a0I\u2019ve embarked on a quest to go without mirrors for 365 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n Thus far it\u2019s been enlightening (and challenging), but hasn\u2019t completely resolved my body image issues.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Step 2: Revamp Eating and Exercise Habits to be Healthfully Moderate<\/strong><\/p>\n So, in addition to shunning mirrors, I\u2019ve decided to monitor my food and exercise until I\u2019m back on track. As an advocate of the “Health at Every Size<\/a>” movement (which stresses the importance of healthful behaviors but rejects the idea that there is a universal “healthy weight”), I\u2019m going to try <\/em>to judge my “success” based on my behaviors, instead of my weight. \u00a0My goal is to consciously re-engage in healthful eating habits and joyful activity, and then accept my body size and shape wherever it settles<\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0As much as I’m still tempted to “get skinny,” I know I can live with this, and (more importantly) I know my body can live through<\/em> it.<\/p>\n But I still hope I lose some weight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, what do you think? If \u201cfat is a feminist issue,\u201d can a feminist diet?<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n Kjerstin Gruys is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Sociology Department at UCLA where she\u2019s writing her dissertation on clothing size standards in the fashion industry. At her blog,\u00a0A Year Without Mirrors<\/a>, she\u2019s chronicling her commitment to avoid her reflection for 365 days.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/socimages\/files\/2011\/07\/202.jpg\")
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