Assimilation Quote by Elana Dykewomon
“I got a flash of ... what it means, now, 'you can't be too rich or too thin.' How well it works, will keep on working, because the vast majority of women will never be thin. Thin enough. How well the hope of class mobility keeps every mother dieting, and handing the diets down to her daughter, hoping the daughter may do even better. When you combine this with the fact that many non-white peoples tend to be heavier than white folks, dieting becomes a tool not only in enforcing class but in encouraging assimilation.”
About This Quote
Societal pressures link thinness to class mobility, using dieting as a tool for both class control and cultural assimilation.
In simple terms: Dieting enforces class and cultural norms.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind diet culture.
Themes
body image
class
culture
assimilation
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analysis
social commentary
When to use this quote
- media influence
- family expectations
- racial stereotypes
Key Concepts
social hierarchy
identity politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does diet culture affect self-worth?
- What alternatives exist to resist these pressures?
A Different Perspective
Individual choice is limited by systemic forces.
![“[I]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we are stronger as a mosaic than a melting pot. Our nation is bound together more by ideals than by blood or land, and inclusion is in our cultural DNA…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab3/dan-rather-2779_inclusion_i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-th_105214.jpg)
