Body Wars [Paperback]

Margo Maine Ph.D. (Author), Margo Maine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0936077344 | ISBN-13: 978-0936077345 | Edition: 1

In this ground-breaking study, Margo Maine declares war on a culture that dismisses, devalues, and disempowers women by making them hate their own bodies. This book covers issues from dieting and weight prejudice to concepts of beauty and ageism to sports, fashion advertising, and propaganda. With practical strategies for activists, educators, and parents, this book also contains extensive references and appendices. Body Wars takes its place alongside The Beauty Myth and Reviving Ophelia in recognizing the constant assault women face, but goes further by giving them practical tools with which to fight back.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Body Wars both teaches us the terms for engaging our opponents and that united efforts will win the war." -- Mary S. Pabst, M.S.W. President, Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention

"Here is basic ammunition for all of us caught in the crossfire of Body Wars." -- Rita Freedman, Ph.D. author, BodyLove

"I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about better health for women and men." -- Michael Levine, Ph.D. co-author, Preventing Eating Disorders

From the Inside Flap

Each chapter addresses an issue that contributes to women’s discontent with their bodies within a sociocultural perspective. The topics will help you to question the culturally-endorsed assumptions that support Body Wars, such as our misguided and misinformed beliefs about weight, dieting, and obesity. A number of chapters focus on aspects of the beauty industry, including the role of fashion, modeling, beauty pageants, plastic surgery, and media influences via magazines and advertising.

The book also addresses the impact of violence against women, ageism, and a healthcare system historically biased to meet men’s needs and not women’s. Special influences on children are also examined, such as the pressure to diet, the impact of the Barbie doll, and how schools, sports and activities such as dance can contribute to Body Wars. Finally, a chapter is dedicated to men, who are increasingly the target of industries promoting Body Wars and who are desperately needed as teammates in the fight.

Each chapter concludes with strategies and resources for both personal and political change. I hope you find these both useful and inspiring.

Every day, this issue becomes more urgent. Body Wars are now a global problem. No one is safe, as western media and information technology become integral influences in less developed countries. The damage to the human spirit and potential is growing exponentially. We must fight back.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Gurze Books; 1 edition (August 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0936077344
• ISBN-13: 978-0936077345
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Great Book May 23, 2001

By "cristinb"

Format:Paperback

As a PhD student in the biological sciences, I have access to all of the scientific articles referenced in this book, most of which are from very reputable sources. Being obese and having been told my whole life that I am unhealthy for carrying a few extra pounds, I checked out many of these articles and found that the author's statements about how harmful dieting is, and how a little extra weight isn't necessarily unhealthy, were completely accurate. One reviewer complained that this book was too factual, but for me it was the fact that it was so accurate that made it very therapeutic and encouraging. It gave me the power to be mad at those who are actually causing our society to be so harmful to women, rather than being mad at myself.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Body Wars June 10, 2002

By Cassandra Barnes

Format:Paperback

A clinical psychologist, Margo Maine, Ph.D. is also known for her accomplishments as a lecturer, consultant, researcher, and author. Additionally, she's the Director of the Eating Disorder Program at the Institute of Living and is on the boards of numerous other advisory boards. In the course of her work, she realized that "a new war was being waged: an assault on women's bodies by an economic system and culture intent on keeping them in their place."

She wrote Body Wars: Making Peace with Women's Bodies as an activist's guide for helping women overcome the self-hatred and body dissatisfaction that lead to eating disorders.

How their bodies look is brought to their attention at a very early age for women. Even quite young hildren learn that their ppearance is not satisfactory, and they are taught they must change it, usually by restricting their food intake...<P...Dr. Maine says that the quest for thinness has become so pervasive that "dieting has become a moral imperative of utmost significance; many who fail to lose weight feel they have failed at life."

She emphasizes repeatedly that women truly do have more to offer than their appearance.

Dr. Maine also devotes chapters to plastic surgery, violence against women, ageism, sports, and ballet. She includes a special section for teachers and how they can help their students develop a healthy attitude toward their bodies. The final chapter is for men and the unrealistic standards for appearance that they are facing on an increasing basis.<P Dr. Maine doesn't just talk about the dangers of body dissatisfaction--each chapter includes "Strategies for Change," which are dozens of practical steps individual women can take to help themselves and others. She also includes lists of resources, with all the contacts needed for those wanting a more activist role.

"We've been talking about the problem long enough: we must move into action," Dr. Maine says. Body Wars provides readers with all the information and tools they need to take action. It's an essential reference for all women: for themselves, and for their daughters.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read book for all women June 6, 2000

By Shawna Lanne VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

`Body Wars' is both an excellent reference and an interesting book. It reads like a collection of essays with a unifying theme and is a must have particularly for young women. This book is not only for overweight women but for women who feel like they do not measure up to the supermodel ideal. It has chapters that delve into magazine advertising and its effect on women, weightism, which is the politically correct form of prejudice among other things. But unlike most books of this type it does not only tell us what is wrong but it tells us how to change what's wrong. The author Margo Maine, Ph.D. does this through her resource lists at the end of each chapter that has phone numbers, addresses and names of places like the MS. Foundation and the Center for Media Literacy among other things.