Where do Flaws Come From?: Bellies, Bodies and the Social Construction of Imperfection

In the cultural zeitgeist, our bodies are problematised. They are made to shrink, criticised for changing (especially for putting on weight), and naturally occurring parts of our bodies are deemed something to correct. Love handles, stretch marks, hip dips, thigh gaps, pot bellies…if there’s a catchy name for it, there’s a marketing campaign telling you to hate it, and a method to eliminate them.

This lecture uses a sociological lens to explore the ways in which bodies have been demonised and the discourse that creates our perceptions of bodily ‘flaws’. As we step into a new age where we’re now challenging the questionable narratives being given to us and are, through the new wave of body acceptance movements, learning to ‘love our flaws’, this lecture provides an alternate perspective: who, or what, taught us that our bodies were flawed in the first place?

We are committed to making our sessions as accessible as possible. If you are unable to pay the full amount for this class, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and we will provide you with a discount code.