Even at that young age, I understood that to be fat was to be undesirable to men, to be beneath their contempt, and I already knew too much about their contempt. This is what most girls are taught-that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this, that we are supposed to disappear, but it's something that needs to be said, loudly, over and over again, so that we can resist surrendering to what is expected of us.
In her memoir "Hunger," Roxane Gay reflects on her early awareness of societal expectations regarding body image, particularly for women. She conveys a message that from a young age, girls are taught that being overweight is undesirable, leading to feelings of contempt from men. This ingrained belief instills in many a notion that they should conform to a slim ideal, diminishing their presence and voice in society.
Gay emphasizes the need for women to challenge and speak out against these damaging norms. She argues that the pressure to please men and society often forces women to shrink themselves both physically and emotionally. By addressing these issues openly, Gay encourages women to reject the expectations placed upon them and to assert their right to exist and be seen in all forms, regardless of societal standards.
