Managing fat bodies: Identity regulation between public and private domains
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7146/ocps.v10i2.1970Keywords:
obesity, governmentality, identity, risk, health, organizationAbstract
This paper analyzes the relationship between public and
private domains in contemporary Danish organizations
by examining their increasing focus on the personal
health situation of employees, and, more specifically,
their body weight. This paper combines literature on
identity and management with governmentality-inspired
research on risk, morality and the body. The aim of this
paper is to show that overweight people are perceived as
“risk identities”, i.e. problem people who automatically
call for personal management. The author demonstrates
that besides the unintended effect of categorizing overweight
employees as problem people, this management
goal also run counter to the declared value regarding
respect for diversity in contemporary organizations.
Based on in-depth interviews with managers and recorded
talks between health consultants and overweight
employees, this paper emphasizes processes that
subordinate employees and restrict their autonomy.
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