Seid remind us stricter standards in every aspect of society govern women, and that outside appearance is a main focal point. Seid then calls for an uprising of women against this societal ideal. Seid reiterates that this societal ideal or "religion" that concentrates on nothing but beauty is for the feeble minded. In her conclusion, Seid reminds us to concentrate on intellect and not the body (Seid).
Critique.
Seid was so right to think of the hunt for thinness as a religion. I agree somewhat with this point but it has its fallacies. In today's society, weight has much emphasis placed upon it. It has indeed become somewhat like a religion. Television, radio and newspaper ads, promoting everyone to work out or purchase this or that, constantly barrage our life. Seid fails to mention the dangers of not exercising, eating right or being morbidly obese. .
However much of Seid arguments seem to be nothing but over generalizations. For an example, she conveys a message to the reader that the issue of weight was not very imperative in historical times. We understand that the past is very influential but it is nothing but history, and history is nothing but a continuing system of change. One cannot expect this contemporary world to hold the same moral principles and values of the past. People of the past had too many other things to be concerned about than there weight, but Seid did not include this in her article. .
Next Seid mentions that thinner people are not really healthier than larger people are. This may be true but how can she take a broad view like that. Seid seems to offer nothing but a one-sided story. A very important factor in health is weight but it is not the only one. Seid fails to talk about many other factors of health i.e. race, gender, age, heredity. Seid is quick to ridicule those who are slender but there is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight.
Furthermore, Seid makes the point that women are more affected by weight than males and that the ideal body weight is too near to that of a male and women can never accomplish that.