Of course, he LOVES when I come to visit b/c then he can feed someone who actually likes to pack it away!

Once again bfd give me lots to think about, laugh about and celebrate.

Also, I am so happy to see Rachel of The F Word leaving a comment here. I am huge fan.

Thank you!

My thesis is laid out in a decade-type approach – starting from the turn of the century in which fat was celebrated, to the 1920s when diet products began to emerge, as well as prefabricated clothing. During the WWII year, food was politicized as being patriotic and then you have all these great gadgets and new food products in the 1950s that encouraged women to spend even more time in the kitchen. I’ve completed most of my research throughout 1960, and am working on the rest.

People tend to look at me oddly when I first tell them what I’m researching, but when you really get into it, it’s incredibly fascinating. Food is the one common denominator, cutting across ethnicity and class lines and at its heart, it’s power, in its most tangible form.

Rachel – What is your thesis about? It sounds interesting. Back in high school when I had to do research at the main library I’d always be sure to swing by the old magazine section and flip through the funny ads in the Seventeen magazines from the 60′s. It makes me wonder what our descendants will think of modern advertising.

Before the turn of the 20th century, fat was viewed as a symbol of wealth and beauty. Weighing in at more than 200 pounds, actress Lillian Russell was a reigning sex goddess, while slender Sarah Bernhardt was actually ostracized for her thinness.

Multiple reasons caused the shift from fat as a symbol of beauty into a sign of grotesqueness, but the rise of industrial cities, with its influx of immigration and increased technology, did the most to seal the deal. If anyone is interested in reading more, I recommend Fat History by Peter Stearn.