Powdermaker

This article makes a good argument in regards to the actual problems that may be behind Obesity in the western world. The author, Hortense Powdermaker uses the contrast of past living in tribes versus the modern day living in more contemporary cultures. The description of the tribal survival techniques and those of our recent ancestors shows that the everyday person did their part, using hard labour, in order for the rest to eat something. Even with everyday labour, there were many famines known to many people.

Today’s society shows us that the stoutness of women in the childbearing age is not only gone by the wayside, but is wrong. This opinion seems to stem from the ideals set out by the mass media. Powdermaker states how there should be analysis done on the effects of mass media on both young minds and adult, because the problem could be there. Powdermaker also uses the analysis of our everyday lives to show us that we live a more lavish life of consumption. We do not (generally) work hard labour day in and out just to make food available for our family, clan, community, and so on. We no longer view stoutness or fat women in society as beautiful or sexually appealing; as it is the thin women who we see as the item of beauty, youthfulness and most sexually appealing. A man, however is still looked at for being strong to the core, muscular. A man in his middle ages was formerly seen with a potbelly, was a success. Now society has made it so, and we have allowed such nonsense, to expect that we all remain looking young, thin, beautiful and appealing to each other. It is no longer about the relationship with the production of food as it is with the consumption of all things material and trivial, including food.

Is it the region we live in, our DNA or society that makes us obese. I, an obese female in today’s society, feel that it is a combination of everything Powdermaker discusses. I do not feel strongly pro or con for this article and think that Powdermaker did a good job analyzing the argument and presenting the side of production for survival, and the consumption for society. Good Read!