Felt stigma and obesity

Introducing the generalized other

authored by

Eva Barlösius, Axel Philipps

Abstract

People with a big body are tainted in western societies. Although most research on obesity occurs in the medical context, few studies investigate characteristics and effects of feelings and fears related to the fat stigma in the absence of overt discrimination. By linking Norbert Elias's and George H. Mead's theoretical frameworks, this paper offers a different approach to understanding and investigating felt stigma. The study is based on secondary data (25 semistructured interviews with children and adolescents). It explores internalized societal perspectives on overweight and obesity and inquires into the way in which interviewees handle the blame frame of personal responsibility during their interview. The preliminary findings suggest that specific forms of managing one's self-presentation in interviews indicate felt stigma. Consequently, the paper argues for an analytical approach that extends the focus on the content of interviews to include its dynamics.

Organisation(s)

Sociology Department

Type

Article

Journal

Social Science and Medicine

Volume

130

Pages

9-15

No. of pages

7

ISSN

0277-9536

Publication date

01.04.2015

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science), History and Philosophy of Science

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.01.048 (Access: Closed)