Jennifer Cruisie’s book Bet Me is a heterosexual romance novel . The main character Minerva Dobbs (aka Min) is a heavier set woman, who works as an Actuary, and wants nothing more than to be finished with the dating scene and move in with a cat. Min’s boyfriend, David, along with her mother is constantly advising her on how to lose weight. That was until David broke up with Min in a bar because she would not have sex with him. Min was relieved that her and David were no longer a couple, and realizes that she was never truly interested in him to begin with. Min’s mother constantly body shamed Min throughout her life, and as a result Min was very self-conscious about her body internally. As far as externally, Min pretended not to care how she
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It is how one perceives and feels about their own body. Someone with a positive body image views there body in a healthy way; one is proud of their body and it’s natural size and shape. These people know they are beautiful, and are not obsessively concerned with how society may view them. A person with a negative body image often has a distorted view of their body. Often these people do not believe that they are physically compatible with societies standard of beauty. Many people with a negative body image self-objectify themselves; unhealthily judging their bodies based on how they think it looks to other people. In the novel, Min knows that she is no size two; and is constantly reminded by her mother. Her mother forces her to diet, and checks to see how it is going every time she calls. Occurring in a real life scenario Min’s mother, who reinforces a negative body image, could have lead her daughter to acquire an eating disorder. Someone with an eating disorder may starve themselves, or eat large sums and then force themselves to throw up just to attain a body that they think is beautiful. Min’s mother also criticizes Min on the things she wears saying "If you're wearing white cotton lingerie, you'll feel like white cotton, and you'll act like white cotton, and white cotton cannot get a man, nor can it keep one. Always wear lace." (Crusie 63.) In the story Min wants nothing more than to be left alone about her image and to be accepted for who she is as a person. Min knows that she is not a small women and is self-conscious about her weight. Luckily for Min, Cal is honest with her. Call tells Min “Because you dress like you hate your body,” (Crusie 148.) you do not feel sexy. “Sexy is in your head and you don’t feel sexy so you don’t look it.” (Crusie 148.) Cal then positively reinforces Min’s body image by telling her that she is sexy. Cal also tells Min “Some things are supposed to be made with butter. You’re one of
It is how one perceives and feels about their own body. Someone with a positive body image views there body in a healthy way; one is proud of their body and it’s natural size and shape. These people know they are beautiful, and are not obsessively concerned with how society may view them. A person with a negative body image often has a distorted view of their body. Often these people do not believe that they are physically compatible with societies standard of beauty. Many people with a negative body image self-objectify themselves; unhealthily judging their bodies based on how they think it looks to other people. In the novel, Min knows that she is no size two; and is constantly reminded by her mother. Her mother forces her to diet, and checks to see how it is going every time she calls. Occurring in a real life scenario Min’s mother, who reinforces a negative body image, could have lead her daughter to acquire an eating disorder. Someone with an eating disorder may starve themselves, or eat large sums and then force themselves to throw up just to attain a body that they think is beautiful. Min’s mother also criticizes Min on the things she wears saying "If you're wearing white cotton lingerie, you'll feel like white cotton, and you'll act like white cotton, and white cotton cannot get a man, nor can it keep one. Always wear lace." (Crusie 63.) In the story Min wants nothing more than to be left alone about her image and to be accepted for who she is as a person. Min knows that she is not a small women and is self-conscious about her weight. Luckily for Min, Cal is honest with her. Call tells Min “Because you dress like you hate your body,” (Crusie 148.) you do not feel sexy. “Sexy is in your head and you don’t feel sexy so you don’t look it.” (Crusie 148.) Cal then positively reinforces Min’s body image by telling her that she is sexy. Cal also tells Min “Some things are supposed to be made with butter. You’re one of