‘Who am I now?’ the lived experiences and identity construction of individuals following bariatric surgery
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Date
2024-09-19
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand Communication Association (AANZCA)
Rights
(c) The author/s
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
Mediatised standards of beauty in contemporary western societies contribute to stigma and discrimination of individuals labelled ‘obese’ by medical professionals. Most people who undergo weight-reduction treatments, including bariatric surgery, choose it due to serious health conditions, often unable to lose weight in any other way. However, they are commonly constructed as ‘cheaters’ and blamed for lacking will and self-control. Cultural beliefs demonising fat and fat people produce the perceptions of an inferior identity, often leading to internalised fatphobia among such individuals. This study investigates the lived experiences of 11 individuals after bariatric surgery using semi-structured interviews analysed via narrative framework. The findings demonstrate paradoxical effects bariatric surgery can have on identity, through a persistent ‘obese’ view of self and body perception challenges, indicating long-lasting harmful effects of symbolic violence these individuals experience due to stigmatisation and medicalisation of fat and highlighting hegemonic discourses inscribing normative views on human bodies.
Description
Keywords
Obesity epidemic discourse, internalised fatphobia, fatstigma, symbolic violence
Citation
Wolff S, Maydell E. (2024). ‘Who am I now?’ the lived experiences and identity construction of individuals following bariatric surgery. Communication Research and Practice. Latest Articles. (pp. 1-13).