I hate my body. I hate my weakness at being unable to control my body. I hate how I feel in my body. I hate how people see my body. I hate how people stare at my body, treat my body, comment on my body. I hate equating my self-worth with the state of my body and how difficult it is to overcome this equation. I hate how hard it is to accept my human frailties. I hate that I am letting down so many women when I cannot embrace my body at any size.
In Roxane Gay's "Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body," the author explores her complex relationship with her body, expressing profound dissatisfaction and struggle. She conveys feelings of hatred towards her body, stemming from an inability to control it and how it is perceived by others. Gay emphasizes the impact of societal views, highlighting the pain caused by judgment, unwanted attention, and how they contribute to her feelings of inadequacy.
The memoir reflects on the internal battle of equating self-worth with physical appearance, revealing how challenging it can be to accept one’s own body and vulnerabilities. Gay laments her struggle to embrace her body at any size, feeling as though she is letting down other women by not fully accepting her own human frailties. This narrative sheds light on the significant emotional toll that body image issues can exert on individuals.
