Book 2 Post 2
Book 2 Post 2
I am very interested in discussing the terminology - Healthism. I haven't realized that there is an academic term for the way of valuing health as the one superior thing in the society. Regardless of not knowing the term itself, I have had so many thoughts about Healthism.
Firstly, the thought of if you are "fat" or not healthy enough, you are not trying hard enough is invading people's life. In China, when you walk around the shopping mall, you would encounter sales from Fitness center coming around to greet you. What they would say to you is mainly - your body seems a bit unhealthy and needs some workout to catchup. You should try hard enough to improve your health. That selling moves are so common that many people are persuaded and started to subscribe for the services. The strategy itself is utilizing people's anxiety toward one's health and by selling their products and services to help alleviate people's stress. The thought also reveals the fact that the society has grown to give higher expectation on people's health. Being healthy is crucial but now it becomes the most important thing in everyone's life. You couldn't choose the way you live your life. You have to be healthy (fit body shape), otherwise, you are not trying (you are lazy). I have to admit that I am already brainwashing myself and blaming myself for not being as healthy as some of my friends.
Second, the value of Healthism has created so many mental issues toward women nowadays. I also wanted to highlight China, as people value that skinny girl is the most attractive type of girl among all other groups. Being healthy (becomes being skinny) has poisoned so many girls in China. For example, one of the popular brand in China is Brandy Merville, a brand that only has one uniform size among all the clothes it sells. Being able to wear BM's clothes represents a good body shape of a girl and that makes so many girls (teenage girls especially) want to diet (often in a very wrong way). Either through diet or the pressure, girls (including myself) have been through mental problems that we started to hate ourselves for not being "well-shaped" enough. One of my friend had very serious eating disorder and had to go to psychiatrist for help. Many girls are hating the value of Healthism but on the other side chasing it.
I think you make a great point regarding the sales tactic in China. Compared to the West, there still isn't much body positivity movements in Asia. People in Asia are obsessed with meeting beauty standards because many strongly believe in pretty privilege. I remember a Korean friend telling me that some people will receive plastic surgery as a high school graduation gift.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the terminology- Healthism. I think that it caused to so many problems in our society, and it will continue to cause if we will not change it. It is such a misconception to define and examine people and certainly not to create inequality according to body weight.
ReplyDeleteI love how you shared with us this sales tactic in fitness centers in China. I think it's unethical to use a person's anxiety to drive up sales. You also brought up the idea of a uniform size and it brings me to question, who is to decide what the best or uniform size is?
ReplyDeleteWow, the sales strategy in China is interesting to hear. Having other people determine how healthy you are, especially if they are not a professional, is shocking and sometimes embarrassing. I base everything I do, including exercise, and eating right, on how I feel, and whether I need to alter what I'm doing on a day to day basis.
ReplyDeleteI've shopped at Brandy Melville once and have not shopped there since. I always hear such bad things about their employees. I also hate the fact that their clothes are one size. It surprises me that they haven't changed their ways, but I hope people will just stop shopping there.
ReplyDeleteThis is great insight that I would not otherwise know about. I can't believe that marketing strategy exists somewhere, it seems so wrong especially in the era of the body positivity movement that has gained a lot of traction all over the world. Also the fact that Brandy Melville has one size seems kinda crazy, even just from a business standpoint. How can they expect enough people to fit into their clothes so that they sell enough to stay afloat?? Wild, and that's not even to mention the body-positivity standpoint.
ReplyDeleteI remember in middle school I had a friend whose cousin went to Brandy Melville and was asked not to try something on because she would stretch it out. We were 12! There are a lot of brands who've had issues with fat shaming their potential customers, like lulu lemon a long time ago but since then they've expanded their size range and their models. One size stores shouldn't be so popular or so accepted.
ReplyDelete