A mythical battle: 'Good foods versus 'bad' foods

Citation

Joy, P., Jackson, R., & Numer, M. (2018). A mythical battle: 'Good foods versus 'bad' foods. Journal of Critical Dietetics, 4(1). DOI: 10.1080/09581599908409217

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Embracing a New Day: Exploring the Connections of Culture, Masculinities, Bodies, and Health for Gay Men through Photovoice

Citation

Joy, P., Numer, M., Kirk, S., Aston, M. (2021). Embracing a New Day: Exploring the Connections of Culture, Masculinities, Bodies, and Health for Gay Men through Photovoice. Journal of Bodies, Sexualities and Masculinities

Abstract

The construction of masculinities is an important component of the bodies and lives of gay men. The role of gay culture on body standards, body dissatisfaction, and the health of gay men was explored using poststructuralism and queer theory within an arts-based framework. Nine gay men were recruited within the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants were asked to photograph their beliefs, values, and practices relating to their bodies and food. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, using the photographs as guides. Data were analyzed by critical discourse analysis and resulted in three overarching threads of discourse including: (1) Muscles: The Bigger the Better, (2) The Silence of Hegemonic Masculinity, and (3) Embracing a New Day. Participants believed that challenging hegemonic masculinity was a way to work through body image tension.

Link: https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/jbsm/2/2/jbsm020203.xml

Compassionate Bodies, Compassionate Practice: Navigating Body Image Tensions among Gay Men

Citation

Joy, P., Goldberg, L., Numer, M., Kirk, S., Aston, M., & Rehman, L. (2021). Compassionate Bodies, Compassionate Practice: Navigating Body Image Tensions among Gay Men. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 

Abstract

Our purpose in writing this Perspective in Practice is to create awareness about the role of compassion within dietetic practice, particularly the role of compassion for body image tensions. Nine self-identifying gay men were recruited to a photovoice research study that explored their beliefs, values, and practices relating to food and their bodies. Compassion was found as one way to navigate body images tensions. It is not the intent of this article to review all aspects of this research study but to use it as an example to illustrate compassion in dietetics. We suggest that our findings reveal the strength of using compassionate practice within the dietetic profession. In doing so, we call upon dietitians to incorporate compassion into their clinical and client care practices to foster health and healing for all communities, especially among those who struggle with body image tensions.

Link: https://dcjournal.ca/doi/abs/10.3148/cjdpr-2021-012

Dancing in a culture of disordered eating: A feminist poststructural analysis of body image among young girls in the world of dance

Citation

Doria, N., & Numer, M. (Accepted). Dancing in a culture of disordered eating: A feminist poststructural analysis of body image among young girls in the world of dance. PLOS ONE.

Reflections in comics: The views of queer artists in producing body imagine comics and how their work can improve health.

Citation

Joy, P., Gauvin, S., Aston, M. & Numer, M. (2020). Reflections in comics: The views of queer artists in producing body imagine comics and how their work can improve health. Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics. DOI: 10.1080/21504857.2020.1806891.

Abstract

Comics are an innovative way to translate health knowledge and research to service providers and communities. A theoretical framework intertwining poststructuralism and queer theory was used to explore the experiences of queer artists in the creation and production of body image comic anthology entitled Rainbow Reflections: Body Image Comics for Queer Men. The aim was to examine the beliefs of the artists about the potentiality of comics to address body image concerns for queer men. Body image concerns may create negative health experiences, isolation, loneliness, and sexual intimacy concerns. Nineteen self-identifying queer artists participated in the study. Discourse analysis revealed five threads of discourse that bring understanding on how comics can improve body image, and the health and well-being of both the artists through the act of creation and the reader through the act of consumption. Theses threads of discourse include: 1) Creating a unique language, 2) Revealing and healing themselves, 3) Exploring cultural influences, 4) Expanding spaces for queer men and their bodies, and 5) Connecting men. The findings reveal that comics can create knowledge and stimulate discussions about body image and has the potential to positively influence the health of queer men.

https://doi.org/10.1080/21504857.2020.1806891

Constituting the ideal body: A poststructural analysis of “obesity” discourses among gay men.

Citation

Joy, P., & Numer, M. (2018). Constituting the ideal body: A poststructural analysis of “obesity” discourses among gay men. Journal of Critical Dietetics, 4(1), 47-58. (open access)

Abstract

Ideal bodies are constituted through various social and cultural discourses. One such discourse that constitutes bodies is the “obesity” discourse. The term obesity is a contested and medicalizing term that constitutes a view of fat people as unhealthy, immoral, and undesirable. Obesity discourses, therefore, also constitute notions of the bodies and body types that are thought to be healthy, acceptable, and attractive. The effects of obesity discourses can be prominently observed in gay men’s culture where muscular, white, thin bodies are glorified. This paper employs a poststructural framework to examine how desired bodies are constituted in gay culture. This paper also explores how some gay men resist dominant obesity discourses. A critical review of the literature on fatness, body dissatisfaction, and the influence of gay culture on eating practices among gay men informs this work. Various studies have shown that gay culture can constitute experiences of body dissatisfaction, rejection, and isolation for many men, especially for those that fall outside the idealized version of male bodies or who are labelled as “obese”. Implications for critical dietitians who are working with gay men are discussed.

This paper is open access. Read it here.