we read Bridget Jones’ Diary for Girlhood in Public Culture this week,and the book is an incredibly humorous portrayal of a thirty-something’s quest for self-improvement. The enitre novel is written in diary-entry posts, with the top of each post stating her weight, number of “alcohol units” consumed, number of cigarettes smoked, and number of calories eaten during the course of one day. Her entire life is defined by controlling her appetites. I thought it kind of funny while reading the book, but my perspective has changed upon discussing it in class the following day. My professor said something of note, why are women always concerned with controlling appetite? Eat less, smoke less, drink less, be less promiscuous, count calories. Control one’s body. Why is femininty defined by constrictions?
