Moral Biocitizenship: Discursively Managing Food and the Body after Bariatric Surgery. (1st August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: SturtzSreetharan, Cindi L.; Trainer, Sarah; Wutich, Amber; Brewis, Alexandra A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of linguistic anthropology. Volume 28:Number 2(2018:Aug.)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2018-08-01
• Subjects: Biocitizenry -- Morality -- Indexicality -- Speaking as experience -- Post‐bariatric surgery; Anthropological linguistics -- Periodicals; 306.44089
• DOI: 10.1111/jola.12184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-1360

Abstract

Abstract : In the U.S. large bodies are associated with disorder and lack of control. Reclaiming control can take various forms. Drawing on interviews with eight men who have undergone bariatric surgery, we analyze the specific ways in which they discursively retake control of food, their eating habits, and ultimately their bodies. They accomplish this in two ways: 1) by both (re)categorizing food and transforming the way they consume food, the men linguistically locate their bodies within a sphere of moral biocitzenship; 2) through indexicality and speaking as experience, these men describe themselves as exerting appropriate control over their bodies and food on their own terms.