Disappointed to see Hilary Mantel discussing her body image in the Guardian

[discotequewreck]

She is the only woman to win the Booker prize twice. An incredible talent. And in the Guardian today she writes about being fat and body image.

I would have preferred an insight into that incredible brain of hers.

[FloraFox]

It seemed like she was trying to explain why she was fat. It made me feel quite sad.

[discotequewreck]

Yes it was sad. I got the impression she is unhappy

I know she suffered from endometriosis (sorry if wrong spelling) and was unable to have children.

Her writing blows me away.

[motherinferior]

Oh, I thought it was interesting. I am in no doubt about her brain and her ability to write, and I am a long-term card-carrying feminist of 1980s vintage; I also find her whole take on body image and perceptions of it really interesting. I find that whole issue of how one's body morphs (mine did when I was about nine) one that I struggle with too.

[discotequewreck]

Maybe I got it wrong then. It's just i've never seen a male writer asked about or discuss his body size and image.

[motherinferior]

Well, no, surely that's the point? That occupying that space, as a public and acclaimed writer who is also a woman, your body is called into question in a way that a man's wouldn't be?

[motherinferior]

You do, actually, that's a regular Saturday slot that's filled with as many men as women.

[motherinferior]

'What I see in the mirror' is a regular in the mag.

[motherinferior]

Ian Rankin's done it, among many others

[werewolvesdidit]

I've just read 'Every Day Is Mother's Day' by H.M. today and I felt that it was quite anti-mothers and children. It certainly read like someone who disliked mothers and babies. It's put me off her a bit.

[LapsedPacifist]

I read 'Every Day Is Mother's Day' when it was first published nearly 30 years ago, and I never got that impression from the book. I think it has some interesting observations about women and mental health and the attitudes that were prevalent back then. I've read everything Mantel has ever written, but I never ever got the impression she was anti mothers and/or children.

She has written a great deal about her endometriosis, her misdiagnosis as a young woman, the resulting infertility and the continuing impact on her physical and mental health. And the impact of her experiences on her deveopment as an author.

I really don't understand why any of these issues should be "off limits" in interviews. They are very important to her as a woman writer.

[AbigailAdams]

"You don't get men doing this in the paper"

I'm not sure I am understanding why this observation was made (whether true or not). And as LapsedPacifist also points out I don't understand why it is being insinuated that Mantel shouldn't talk about her reality?

[captainmoll]

The article was actually an excerpt from her autobiography, rather than her being asked to write specially on the subject for the paper.
I thought it was a beautiful and intelligent consideration of how weight gain affects us. Speaking as both a fatty and a feminist, I found it very moving and insightful. Obesity is one of the last acceptable prejudices, and as someone who gets openly abused in public for my body I was really glad that someone as intelligent as mantel had written so brilliantly about it.

I do see your point - all too often brilliant women are asked first about their looks, but I think this particular instance was somehow exceptional.

Didn't clare balding recently say something excellent to a journo asking her about her looks? Can't remember what though..

[dotty2]

Yes, it was an extract from an old memoir. So a more interesting question is - why did the Guardian choose that piece to mark her achievement? But captainmoll is right of course about fat being a legitimate feminist issue. And it's also interesting given that most high achieving women in the public eye/media spotlight seem to be thin (I'm not). Almost as if it was a necessary qualification to be deemed worthy of attention.