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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Fantastic book. Necessary reading for anyone who is interested or concerned about the female body and how women in western culture (as well as in other cultures) are barraged with images of how to "improve" one's body so that to perfect a body becomes an "aspiration."
The barely-concealed transphobia running through the first few chapters made me put it down. Any valid point made was undermined by poorly-researched case studies of trans people who she often misgendered.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
In Bodies, readers are shown the powerful commonality among the way the Western world looks at our bodies: through the lens of change. From diet to plastic surgery to body integrity disorder, the first thing most of us see when we look at our body is how we can change it. Orbach explores this further, delving into the causes that lead our bodies into these vulnerable places. Using research and observations from her own psychological practice, she ties most of this bodily dissatisfaction to the relationship between babies and their mothers- anxiety, pain, or any sort of negative emotion felt by a mother can subconsciously transfer to her child, which Orbach argues can fester and affect the trajectory of the child’s entire life.
Overall, I felt like this was a solid, well-written discussion of body image in the Western world. There were several points that really hit home for me, especially those pertaining to the disconnect between ourselves and our bodies. Orbach raises a fascinating point that we have come to a crisis in which the body has become a site for commerce and production- instead of bodies producing, we produce bodies. Her anecdotes about her patients are also compelling, and are a nice addition to the various psychological research she cites throughout the book.
I did have some trouble with the book’s view that eating disorders, body integrity disorder, self-harm, and trans folk are all one in the same in terms of body dissatisfaction. There are a lot of nuances she misses within each of these things, and some of it is quite problematic.
Overall, Bodies was a quick, powerful read that will make you stop and think in a profound way.
3.5 Stars
Overall, I felt like this was a solid, well-written discussion of body image in the Western world. There were several points that really hit home for me, especially those pertaining to the disconnect between ourselves and our bodies. Orbach raises a fascinating point that we have come to a crisis in which the body has become a site for commerce and production- instead of bodies producing, we produce bodies. Her anecdotes about her patients are also compelling, and are a nice addition to the various psychological research she cites throughout the book.
I did have some trouble with the book’s view that eating disorders, body integrity disorder, self-harm, and trans folk are all one in the same in terms of body dissatisfaction. There are a lot of nuances she misses within each of these things, and some of it is quite problematic.
Overall, Bodies was a quick, powerful read that will make you stop and think in a profound way.
3.5 Stars
Sehr spannendes Buch. Teilweise fand ich es aber unnötig kompliziert geschrieben (vllt. liegt das aber auch an der deutschen Übersetzung) und war mir nicht sicher, wie die Autorin über queere Menschen denkt (Bsp. S. 35 ff. Patientin Story Michaela, S.221 „Verwirrung bezüglich der eigenen sexuellen Identität“). Hier hätte ich mir eine klarere (positive) Positionierung gewünscht.
Besonders spannend fand ich:
- Was Dialekt mit unserem Körper zu tun hat und die Tatsache, dass sehen und tuen für uns fast das selbe sind
- Entwicklungen die mit oder als Grund von Adipositas entstehen
- Die Beispiel Geschichten von eigenen Patient*innen und anderen bekannten Fälle
Besonders spannend fand ich:
- Was Dialekt mit unserem Körper zu tun hat und die Tatsache, dass sehen und tuen für uns fast das selbe sind
- Entwicklungen die mit oder als Grund von Adipositas entstehen
- Die Beispiel Geschichten von eigenen Patient*innen und anderen bekannten Fälle
I read books like this in order to strengthen my personal mantra to live in my body and not for my body. This one is pretty solid.
I will definitely read more of her work. Very interesting and thought provoking.
informative
slow-paced
A look at our modern alienation from our physical bodies. Orbach takes a psychoanalyst's approach and shares anecdotes from studies and her work to examine the commodification of the body, and common it is for humans today to view their body as something they manufacture or produce, rather than simply the physical place where they live.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced