Embodied Care: Beyond the Fattening Room

Embodied Care explores the figure of the ‘fattening room’ maiden—a symbol of feminine beauty and fertility in south-eastern Nigeria. It invites visitors to reflect on forms of care that are often hidden and shaped by cultural traditions, and how these influence women’s bodies and everyday lives.

Focusing on a wooden carving from the University of Birmingham’s African Collection, the display highlights the contrast between what we can see—the body as an object of beauty—and the less visible cultural practices that shape it. It looks at how ‘coming of age’ experiences are influenced by family expectations, gender roles, and long-term social and physical practices. It also opens up wider conversations about women’s health and wellbeing today.

This display is presented alongside What Are the Odds? Ikon Creative Health and shares early research from Beyond the Fattening Room. The project brings together art and personal experiences to deepen understanding of women’s health and wellbeing in Nigeria. It also considers how African collections in the UK can better care for both objects and the communities they relate to.

The project is led by Dr Juliet Gilbert at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with Emilia Okon, a Nigeria-based women’s health rights advocate, and University Collections. It is generously funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).