Hesse-Biber identifies historical, commercial, cultural, family, and peer group explanations for the obsession with the body. What are each of these explanations? What is the role of power in each of the explanations?

How does social psychological theory fit with Hesse-Biber's story of the cult of thinness?

How does ethnomethodology fit with Hesse-Biber's story of the cult of thinness?

Does the analogy of a cult work? How? How does it not work?

What do you think of her methodology and presentation of data? Is it effective? Why or why not?

• what about her sample?

What are Hesse-Biber's solutions? Do they fit with her explanations? Why?

Will her solutions work? Based on her solutions, what theories does she subscribe to?