taught us to be aware of ourselves as isolated egos existing inside our bodies; it has led us to set a higher value on mental than manual work; it has enabled huge industries to sell products – especially to women – that would make us owners of the ideal body; it has kept doctors from seriously considering the psychological dimensions of illness, and psychotherapists from dealing with their patients' bodies.
The quote highlights the impact of modern society on how we perceive ourselves, particularly emphasizing our awareness of individual identity as separate from our physical existence. This viewpoint has led to a societal preference for mental labor over manual work and has created a consumer culture that markets products, especially to women, aimed at achieving the ideal body.
Additionally, this mindset has implications for the fields of medicine and psychotherapy. It suggests that healthcare professionals often overlook the psychological aspects of physical ailments and that therapists may neglect the importance of the body in psychological healing, pointing to a disconnect between mind and body that shapes various industries and practices.
