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OA(Re)framing the Self
Contextualizing Fatness and Singlehood in India
- Amsterdam University Press
- Source: Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies, Volume 28, Issue 2/3, Sep 2025, p. 192 - 212
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- 01 Sep 2025
Abstract
This article examines the intersection of singlehood and fatness in India, a context where deep-seated cultural and social norms shape personal identity and societal perceptions. While marriage remains a key milestone, single individuals, particularly unmarried women face significant scrutiny, with fatness further compounding their marginalization. The study addresses a critical gap by exploring how dominant beauty standards and societal expectations over centuries contribute to the stigmatization of fat, single individuals, affecting their self-esteem, social relationships, and life opportunities. To analyze singlehood and fatness, This study employs close reading of cultural narratives, media portrayals, and personal experiences to analyze how fatness influences the perception of singlehood in India especially struggling with issues like PCOD/PCOS, infertility, motherhood and social stigmatization, which impacts their self-esteem and overall life experiences. Selected texts serve as cultural mirrors, revealing deep-rooted biases and norms shaping body politics and relational expectations in India. Media representations often depict fat individuals as undesirable or comedic, reinforcing stereotypes that link slimness with desirability and marital success. Issues like body shaming, societal alienation, and limited access to opportunities, reveal the broader implications on mental health and their marginal status. By engaging with theoretical perspectives from Bella DePaulo, Sreemoyee Piu Kundu, and Christopher E. Forth, this article challenges dominant narratives and advocates for more inclusive representations of beauty and desirability.