YOUR MOTHER, YOUR BODY

The article called "Your mother, your body" discusses several key points about certain ways mothers use food to control their children's weight, eating habits and shape the whole body image in general. The author of the article, Michelle Stacey (2006), writes "Mothers have always held powerful sway over their daughters' ideas about food, eating, and body shape-feeding their children has been their evolutionary duty for most of human history" (p. 116). Unfortunately, some of the eating habits mothers try to apply to their kids are not necessarily healthy. A child can develop disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and many more because his mother tries to make sure that the kid obeys the diet she thinks is right for him. Stacey also states, that children usually tend to observe their same-sex parent in their behavior, body shape, eating habits, looks and other factors. Then, children also try to apply the same lifestyle their mother uses because they think it is right. Also, some mothers,  want to apply their constant wishes of being thin to their daughters by dressing them in tighter clothing, or telling them that their children are overweight. These habits tend to develop psychological problems and insecurity of a child in terms of his or her own perception of the body image. Some mothers also try to over-feed their kids because they think their children are way too thin. This can also cause future problems in the eating habits.

Stacey, M. (2006). Your mother, your body. Dress and relationships. The Meaning of Dress. 2nd Ed.,
                   Fairchild Publications, INC. New York, NY.

 

Of course a mother will always be concerned about their childs body and what they eat. Considering that they do not want their child to grow up with health problems. I also think that some mothers take eating right with their children a little too far. For example in the article, "Your Mother, Your Body" the author Michelle Stacey writes, "Mothers have always held powerful sway over their daughters'  ideas about food, eating body shape-feeding their children has been their evolutionary duty for most of human history." (pg116) Its okay for a mother to be concerned about their child's body weight, and what they eat, in fact they should be, but also the mother needs to know that she can not just say, " you're overweight" that is just putting pressure on to the kid.

Like Mother, Like Daughter 
An individual young girls tend to look up to is definitely their mothers. I think this also works vice versa mothers tend to also see themselves in their daughters. For this reason, it’s not a surprise that a young girl might share the same idea of beauty and ideal body image with her mother. The article mentions, “Research has shown that one important way you develop body image is through identification with a same-sex parent” (p.117).  Since daughters usually admire their mothers and mothers tend to take a lot pride in their daughters, it isn’t unlikely that a mother will influence her daughter’s body image, eating habits, dress and overall idea of beauty.  Especially, in a generation that considers slender and thinness to be the ideal body type, it is common for mothers to easily gear their daughter towards the wrong path. A path in which they develop unhealthy eating habits and a distorted self image.


Renaissance to Runway
(ivillage.com)

Michelle Stacey demonstrates how mothers have such a great influence on their children (mainly females) and their body image. The author makes a very strong, yet true comparison between mothers and food in the past and how it is portrayed nowadays.

Stacey says, mothers used to say things like: "Eat your vegetables. Finish your plate. Don't you want to grow big and strong? Why aren't you eating? Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

Now the saying goes, "Eat your vegetables (no escaping that one). Do you really want to eat that? Too many of those will make you fat. You know, bread has a lot of calories. The women in our family have always been heavy. You'll have to be careful."

The image above demonstartes a comparison of ideal body image during the Renaissance (full and round) and today (slim and twig-like). After reading this article, we realize that this is nothing but the sad reality of society today. We are constantly put down and never staisfied enough with ur bodies.