There is little fear of becoming overweight, and no culture of radical dieting. A 2009 study showed the France had the highest proportion of clinically underweight women in Europe. Obesity is rare and is seldom encountered in France. Food is seen as a necessity rather than a craving. There is no snacking culture and portions are small by American standards. Meals are highly controlled, and come at regular hours: entirely families sit down at dinner every night, and companies are given at least an hour to have full meals during lunch break -a sandwich over your desk is a rare occurrence. In a Catholic country, gluttony is historically perceived as a sin. In other words, slenderness equals physical and mental control.īut then there is a culture of slimness that is very particular to France. Women's success is associated to thinness because "it isn't only about seduction, it is a sign of confidence, initiative, ease, autonomy" sociologist George Vigarello writes in La Silhouette, du XVIIIeme Siècle à Nos Jours. This isn't necessarily specific to France, but to any major city where a premium is placed upon looks (New York included). Yes, women in top jobs in the country are generally petite–but so are the great majority of women that hold the media's attention. Robertson opens her article with the story of a plump art gallerist unable to get a job because of her size. ![]() Her claims sound ridiculous, but being a born and bred Parisienne, I can safely say they're also (sadly) true.
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