Artist Challenges How Women Are Shamed About Eating

Growing up in America, we learn that sweets and junk food are “guilty pleasures.” Women, especially, are supposed to refrain from such indulgences. And, if they cannot—if they, for example, desire more than that modest slice of cake served to each birthday guest—then they should feel not only guilt, but shame. For overindulging is grotesque and it, accordingly, should be hidden and kept secret.

This is the cultural background to Lee Price’s realist paintings of women (mostly her) eating sweets and junk food. She draws two contrasts. First, she makes very public something we are supposed to do only in private. Not only do the paintings literally display the transgression, the birds eye view and frequent nudity exaggerates the sheer display of the indulgence. And, second, she takes something that is supposedly disgusting and shameful and presents it in a medium associated with (high) art, challenging the association of indulgence with poor character and a lack of refinement. Fascinating.

Warning: Some images below contain nude women and may be considered NSFW (although we don’t find women’s bodies–or their enjoyment of food–taboo here at the Ms. offices!)

Jelly Doughnuts:

Refuge:

Strawberry Swirl:

Grilled Cheese II:

Lisa in Tub with Chocolate Cake:

Photographs courtesy of the artist. You can find more artwork by Lee Price here, via Boing Boing.

Reprinted from Sociological Images.

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