Women, Power, & the Diet-Industrial Complex
The commodification of women’s bodies is deeply embedded in societal and economic systems that prioritize profit over personhood. Mary Roffers’ Liberal Studies Capstone, A Woman’s Worth: Bodies as Capitalistic Endeavors, examines how women’s bodies are framed as deviant or deficient unless they conform to narrow societal standards. Using Michel Foucault’s theories of power, Roffers reveals how these narratives sustain the diet-industrial complex while perpetuating discrimination and reinforcing oppressive hierarchies.
Her capstone explores the dual pressures placed on women, who are simultaneously devalued and targeted as consumers. From healthcare inequities to marketing schemes promising transformation, Roffers uncovers a system designed to profit from exclusion and control. She also ties these dynamics to colonial and capitalist roots, urging readers to consider the broader implications of reducing individuals to their perceived utility or compliance.
More than a critique, Roffers’ work celebrates resistance. She highlights movements like size acceptance advocacy and intersectional activism, which seek to dismantle harmful norms and champion equity. Her capstone is an urgent call to reimagine societal values and create a culture where all bodies are valued. Read the full work to uncover the complex intersections of power, control, and resistance.
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