Book
My belly : exploring why it's so hard for women to love their bodies / Hilde Østby ; translated by Lucy Moffatt.
"A candid, sharp-witted account of one writer's relationship with a seemingly-innocent body part. Hilde Østby is a successful author and cultural critic on the cusp of her forty-fifth birthday. But instead of celebrating her many accomplishments, all she can think about is how much she hates her stomach--an insecurity that has ruled over her existence ever since she was fifteen. How did a girl from an academic home--where intellect counted more than looks--become the kind of woman who would obsess over her appearance during a photoshoot for her latest book? In My Belly, Østby decides to, once and for all, write about her most hated body part, exploring how the male gaze, diet culture, stress, capitalism, fashion, beauty, and trauma have played into her obsession. Eventually, through knowledge and wonder, she finds the answer to overcoming her self loathing in unexpected ways."-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781778400001 (trade paperback)
- Physical Description: 151 pages ; 21 cm
- Publisher: Vancouver, BC : Greystone Books, 2024.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | "Originally published in Norwegian by Kagge Forlag"--Title page verso. Translation of : Mageboka: Sju steg mot å like kroppen din. |
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Østby, Hilde, 1974- Beauty, Personal. Body image in women. Eating disorders in women. Feminine beauty (Aesthetics) Self-esteem. |
| Genre: | Biographies. Personal narratives. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 306.4613 Ost | 31681010368397 | NONFICPBK | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Why are women so ashamed of certain parts of their bodies? And why are our feelings about our midsections so hard to navigate? These are the questions that animate My Belly, an unflinching and funny portrait of one woman's obsession with a seemingly innocent body part. Hilde ¢tsby is a critic, a thinker, and an acclaimed author. At the start of My Belly, she is on tour promoting her latest work about the culture and science of memory. As she poses for a photographer from the London Times, she silently worries about how her belly will look on the front page of the Arts section. Later, she realizes how ridiculous this is: she's being celebrated for an intellectual achievement, and yet all she can focus on is her appearance. How did a girl from an academic home, where intellect was always valued more than looks, find herself in this position? As she approaches her 45th birthday, Hilde discovers she's spent 30 years obsessing over her belly. If she had spent all that time writing books, she would have written the equivalent of Knaussgard's My Struggle. All six volumes. How can we stop obsessing over our bodies and claim back our time? We can start by understanding who and what led us to this place. In My Belly, Hilde explores the original reason she began hating her body after being abused as a child. She examines the norms of popular culture and patriarchal attitudes towards her and other women's bodies. She delves into diets revealing that by the time most women reach her age, they have tried 61 diets and explores the prevalence of weight discrimination in our society. Drawing on philosophy, neurology, sociology, literature, and popular culture, as well as her own dark truths, Hilde offers an honest look at an obsession that seems to have plagued women forcenturies. Readers will come away with laughter, anger, tears, and a new perspective on their own unique struggles. - Perseus Publishing
If my hatred of my belly was a person, she would be old enough to have completed a lengthy education and given me grandchildren.
An unflinching and feminist portrait of one womanâs obsession with her belly and the cultural and social norms that feed that obsessionââfor readers of Nora Ephronâs classic memoir I Feel Bad About My Neck.
âHilde Ostby says she's never entered a room without thinking about her belly. She can't stand it. ⦠So [she] decided to really examine why she spent most of her adult life hating how she looked.ââNPR Weekend Edition
Hilde Ostby is an acclaimed cultural critic and successful writer living in Norway. At the start of My Belly, she is on tour in London, promoting her latest book about the culture and science of memory. As she poses for a photograph for the London Times, she silently worries about how her belly will look on the front page of the Arts section. Later, she realizes how ridiculous this is: sheâs being celebrated for an intellectual achievement, and yet all she can focus on is her belly.
How did a girl from an academic home, where intellect came before looks, find herself in this position? As Hilde approaches her 45th birthday, she calculates that sheâs spent 30 years obsessing over her belly. If she had spent that time writing books instead, she would have written the equivalent of Knaussgardâs My Struggle. All six volumes.
How can we stop obsessing over our bodies and claim back our time? We can start by understanding who and what led us to this place. In My Belly, Hilde explores the original reason she began hating her body: at fifteen, she was sexually abused. She also examines patriarchal attitudes towards womenâs bodies, and delves into diets, revealing that by the time most women reach her age, they have tried 61 diets.
Drawing on philosophy, neurology, sociology, literature, and popular culture, as well as her own dark truths, Hilde offers an honest look at an obsession that seems to have plagued women for centuries. Readers will come away with laughter, anger, tears, and a new perspective on their own unique struggles.
