| Abstract: | Women's relationship with food on a daily basis is contradictory and problematic. Women are expected to deny themselves food in order to remain sexually attractive and, at the same time, they have to feed their partners and children with healthy and nutritious meals. The power of ideologies equating sexual attractiveness with slimness means that most women are not happy with their body image. This dissatisfaction is reinforced by the comments of men, particularly their partners. Food, as well as being a‘fattening’enemy is a comfort and is resorted to at times of emotional stress. Women's‘normal’relationship with food lies on a continuum of which the eating disorders are the extremes and is a product of their structural position in society. |
