The Naked Truth About Fitness By Barbara Ehrenreich Summary

Peoples priorities differentiate based on many factors. The main factor that divides people’s priorities involves financial income. In Barbara Ehrenreich’s essay, “The Naked Truth about Fitness,” Barbara expresses her views regarding the redefinition of virtue as health. Ehrenreich states her views on the worldwide obsession of becoming fit and healthy. She talks about society’s view of health as a moral standard, and that cultures confuse the word health with healthism. Inequality between the social classes hinders those in poverty from fulfilling the standards of healthism.
While the upper class enjoys a stable environment, the environment of the lower class oppresses them with conditions that discourage health. A family’s income affects where they reside. Ehrenreich states, “In low-income neighborhoods convenience stores and fast-food joints are often the only source of food” (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.339). Most people do not have access to luxury items since they cannot

afford it. Ehrenreich explains, “It’s easy for the middle-class fiber enthusiast to look down to the ghetto dweller who smokes cigarettes and spends her food stamps on Doritos and soda pop” (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.339). Many people live in an environment that does not have access to grocery stores that supply healthy food choices. Some people live in towns with only gas stations as their food supply.
Although members of the upper class receive a sufficient income, the lower class’s income does not allow them to spend extra money on a healthy lifestyle.

Living a healthy lifestyle costs money. Ehrenreich states, “We spend $5 billion a year on our health-club memberships, $2 billion a year on vitamins, nearly $1 billion on home-exercise equipment, and $6 billion on sneakers to wear on out on our treadmills and Stairmasters” (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.337). Because some people live paycheck to paycheck, they cannot afford an expensive, healthy lifestyle. Ehrenreich states “No amount 15 of straining against muscle machines could have saved Drexel Burnham operatives from unemployment; no aerobic exercises can reduce the price of a private-school education (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.340). Social order prevents the lower class from becoming healthy. People of the lower class have priorities relating too feeding and clothing their children; they do not have extra money to buy vitamin pills or a gym

membership.
While the upper class possesses a mentality that encourages health, the lower class has a mentality that devalues exercise. Appearance carries a tremendous importance in the upper class. Ehrenreich states, “Motivation is another problem. It’s one thing to give up smoking and sucrose when life seems long and promising, quite another when it might be short and brutal” (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.339). While, the upper class’s motivation for health lies in looks, lower class individuals worry less about their appearance and more worried about their living necessities. Ehrenreich says, “The fact is that we all die, all of us, and that almost all of us will encounter disease, disability, and considerable discomfort either in the process or along the way” (Ehrenreich, 2015, p.340). Appearance of a person in the lower class is not of substantial importance. Why would people spend money to become fit and healthy when we die either way?
The expectations of healthism in social classes stand vastly different. Individuals in each of the social classes have different expectations and priorities. The expectations of the upper class become based on appearance while the lower class’s expectations are based on living situations. Healthism is hindered due to the inequality of social class’s. Individuals of the lower class’s do not have equal opportunities in comparison of the upper class. To become healthy, you must have access to healthy food and have money for it. In lower income family’s that live in a neighborhood that has only access to a gas station result in a major hindrance. Most people desire to become healthy but due to lack of resources in social classes it becomes hard to obtain a healthy lifestyle.