Fat is a Feminist Issue

by Susie Orbach
Fat is a Feminist Issue cover
Good Books rating 4.08
Health and Wellness
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  • ID: 9525
  • Added: 2026-01-01
  • Updated: 2026-01-01
  • ISBN: 9780425050095
  • Publisher: Berkley Books
  • Published: 1981-01-15
  • Reviews: 3

Originally published in two volumes, this influential book is now available in a single, comprehensive edition. It offers a unique perspective on how societal pressures and gender roles contribute to eating disorders, providing practical tools for women to achieve lasting freedom from food-related struggles. /n/n The book combines personal anecdotes, psychological insights, and feminist theory to create a compelling narrative that resonates with women from all walks of life. It challenges conventional wisdom about dieting and weight loss, advocating instead for a holistic approach to health and well-being.

Reviews
Women's History Network · Saffron Kricha · 2022-12-05
powerful 4.50

The book explores how women used food to gain control over their lives in a society that offered them little agency. It remains a powerful commentary on the ongoing struggle for women's bodily autonomy.

Saffron Kricha's review for the Women's History Network delves into how 'Fat Is A Feminist Issue' explores the ways in which women used food as a means of gaining control over their lives in a society that offered them little agency. Kricha highlights the book's powerful commentary on the ongoing struggle for women's bodily autonomy and its relevance in contemporary discussions about feminism and body image. The review emphasizes the book's enduring impact and its ability to resonate with readers across different generations. Kricha praises the book for its insightful analysis and its contribution to the broader feminist discourse.

Quick quotes

    Women turned to food to gain control over their lives in a society that offered them little agency.

    The book remains a powerful commentary on the ongoing struggle for women's bodily autonomy.

    It resonates with readers across different generations.

The Guardian · Lynne Segal · 2018-06-24
insightful 4.00

The book delves into the emotional and societal issues surrounding women's relationship with food and body image. It highlights the enduring relevance of its feminist perspective on weight and societal pressures.

The Guardian's review discusses how 'Fat Is A Feminist Issue' addresses the deep-seated emotional and societal issues that women face regarding food and body image. The reviewer, Lynne Segal, emphasizes that the book's exploration of these topics remains relevant decades after its initial publication. Segal praises the book for its insightful analysis of how societal pressures and patriarchal structures influence women's relationship with their bodies. She notes that the book's feminist perspective is as important today as it was when it was first published, offering a critical look at the cultural and political dimensions of women's weight.

Quick quotes

    The book's exploration of women's relationship with food and body image is as relevant today as it was in the 1970s.

    It offers a critical look at the cultural and political dimensions of women's weight.

    The book's feminist perspective is a powerful tool for understanding the societal pressures that women face.

My Experiments with Truths · 2016-02-24
thought-provoking 3.75

The book presents the idea that women's fatness is deeply connected to patriarchy and societal expectations. It offers a unique perspective on the intersection of feminism and body image.

This review from 'My Experiments with Truths' highlights how Susie Orbach's 'Fat Is A Feminist Issue' presents the compelling idea that women's fatness is deeply connected to patriarchal structures and societal expectations. The reviewer explores how the book offers a unique perspective on the intersection of feminism and body image, arguing that women's relationship with their bodies is influenced by broader cultural and political forces. The book is praised for its insightful analysis and its ability to challenge conventional narratives about weight and femininity.

Quick quotes

    Women's fatness is deeply connected to patriarchy and societal expectations.

    The book offers a unique perspective on the intersection of feminism and body image.

    It challenges conventional narratives about weight and femininity.

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