Dicksein

Are the overweight a class? What does it mean to be overweight in our society? The study for the first time focuses on the experiences, perspectives, and wishes of young people who face this reality every day. It shows to what extent being overweight shapes the lives of these young individuals, as they are treated like a social class: the class of the overweight. The cause of their weight is seen as residing within themselves, as today one is considered personally responsible for their body—and thus for social success. This perspective on the body has firmly embedded itself in the social order. The heavier young people do not dispute its legitimacy; on the contrary, they have internalized it themselves. Nevertheless, their ideal world would look different. In it, everyone would be equal and have the same opportunities for the future, regardless of appearance.