Summer: The Unruly Bodies
In her memoir Hunger , Roxane Gay refers to the fat body as being “unruly,” suggesting an out-of-control vessel that does not know how to not eat and takes up more space than should be allowed. I would contend that the human body, in general, is unruly. No, I have never been obese enough to not fit into ordinary chairs with arms. I have never had to buy two seats on an airline, nor have I ever requested a seat belt extender – although I have been uncomfortable and tight in my single airline seat. I have never worried about breaking furniture, although I have had some tight fits in restaurant booths, but never to the extent of asking to be moved to a table. I have never been immobile because of my weight, nor have I ever needed an electric scooter or a riding grocery cart. Washing my own body has never been overly difficult, although I did experience under-boob sweat, rubbing thighs, cheesy curds among rolls of fat and even in my “innie” belly button, and smelly feet (I s...