Fat is sexual in women. . . Women who develop eating disorders, especially anorexia, are denying their sexuality and natural female body. However, she also points out theories that focus more on sexism and class discrimination. Some liberal feminists believe that sexism causes anorexia and other eating disorders. The fitness and diet industry makes millions of dollars a year selling such an ideal to women.
Radical feminists believe that women are being exploited because men profit from the thin ideal.
Thus, feminists want to resist the thin ideal. As Susie Orbach mentions in her book Fat is a Feminist Issue, a new ideal of women is needed that embraces all shapes and sizes. Mahowild's solution is a bit more radical. Cultural Ideal Feminist Bonnie Morris has an another explanation for the development of eating disorders among women. Morris believes that once a woman achieves the cultural ideal of beauty she gains a certain status.