HOW MEDICINE PERPETUATES BODY-SHAMING
Podcast
HOW MEDICINE PERPETUATES BODY-SHAMING WITH DR. JOY COX
Click here to listen to or follow the transcript from the podcast.
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About
HOW MEDICINE PERPETUATES BODY-SHAMING
The idealization of particular body-types is not a new phenomenon among human beings. However, in more recent human history under capitalism, biologically female bodies are more scrutinized, causing disordered eating and other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Research has shown a bias in modern medicine for thinner bodies, despite evidence that thin does not necessarily equate to being healthy. While there are plenty of aspects of modern medicine that we can appreciate, it is not without criticism for the ways in which it is biased toward northern European phenotypes and has a better understanding of biologically male bodies.
Non-Exhaustive Reading and Media List
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Reflection
YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH MEDICINE PERPETUATING BODY-SHAMING
1. How do you feel about your own body? How has this been impacted by your physicians over the course of your life?
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2. How do your feelings about your body extend to others' bodies? What do you feel, think, or say about family and friends' bodies? What about strangers' bodies?
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3. How are your feelings about your own and others' bodies biased related to race, gender, ability, or class? How can you shift your thinking to be more positive regarding different body types, including your own?
Action Ideas
MEDICINE PERPETUATING BODY-SHAMINGÂ IN YOUR COMMUNITY
1. What influence might you have over how medicine and other entities impact how people think about health and their bodies in your local community? See if you can come up with a list of places and ways your input and influence might be heard.
2. Younger people are teaching us older people about body positivity, but in what ways might you support them locally? What efforts around health and body acceptance are happening in local schools and other organizations that serve young people?
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