Deck 23: The Adoption and Management of a Fat Identity

Question 1

Degher and Hughes emphasize that the interactionist perspective stresses deviance as

A) not a process at all but simply an interaction between objective reality and the investigator who determines true deviance.
B) a process whereby subjective uncertainties interact with and are resolved by objective data to determine the deviant among us.
C) a process of determining the objective basis for those labeled deviant.
D) a process and interaction between those labeled deviant and those promoting the deviant label.

Answer 1

a process and interaction between those labeled deviant and those promoting the deviant label.

Question 2

Obese individuals possess what Goffman calls a "spoiled identity" which refers to

A) positive self-concept and discrimination.
B) being objects of political incorrectness.
C) negative self-concept and social acceptance.
D) negative self-concept and discrimination.

Answer 2

negative self-concept and discrimination.

Question 3

In their study of "fat" identities, Degher and Hughes' data collection consisted of

A) social survey, in-depth interviews, and content-analysis of taped programs.
B) field observations and in-depth interviews.
C) in-depth interviews.
D) field observations and a social survey.

Answer 3

field observations and in-depth interviews.

Question 4

In conceptualizing the "identity changes" process, the concept of career was employed because

A) Goffman proposed that we focus strictly on the public (institutional) dimension of identity.
B) the concept of career relates the economic to the social realm of institutions.
C) of its two-sided nature: careers involve both a public (institutional) and a private or internal element.
D) it is clear that social success today requires a well thought out career.

Question 5

A status cue is defined in Degher and Hughes' study as

A) the public or external part of the identity change process.
B) the signs persons both "give" explicitly (verbal) and "give off" indirectly to identify their position in society.
C) the socio-economic indicators, such as style of dress, that defines a person's position in society.
D) the internal or private part of the identity change process.

Question 6

The term "recognizing" refers to the cognitive process whereby a person

A) becomes aware that a specific status is no longer appropriate.
B) who perceives a deviant in public labels them as such.
C) comes to accept a new status.
D) comes to identify an appropriate status from among those available.

Question 7

The term "placing" refers to the cognitive process whereby a person

A) categorizing deviant behavior making use of the proper label.
B) becomes aware that a specific status is no longer appropriate.
C) comes to identify an appropriate status from among those available.
D) comes to accept a new status.

Question 8

The following is an example of which stage below: "I wasn't really fat in my eyes. I don't think. I was just chunky."

A) placing.
B) accepting reality.
C) new status.
D) recognizing.

Question 9

The researchers of this study were male while most of their subjects were female. Yet the process of identity change which the authors discuss never refers to differences in gender (or other important statuses such as race or age) for a "fat" identity in our culture. Women, for example, seem to be held to a highly problematic definition of "thin." What, if any, impact do you think gender or race or age might have on the data collection or analysis presented in this study? Explain.

Question 10

Discuss the process of developing a "fat identity" as presented by Degher and Hughes in their study. What do you see as the major advantage of viewing the issue of obesity in this way? Explain.

Question 11

How are the eternal components of status cues related to the internal components within the development of a "fat" identity? Explain fully.