What I found very interesting was the extent that sexual abuse and eating disorders can be linked together. The book says that 61% of the women that Becky W. Thompson interviewed had survived sexual abuse. From surviving this trauma many women like Antonia turns to food as a way to “cope.” It is a way for them to focus on something else besides the horror of what has happened to them. In other women’s cases such as Ruthie, they turn to bulimia so that then can change their body because they blame their bodies for what has happened. The idea of “maybe if I’m skinny then I’ll be good enough and not be hurt any more” really comes into play here.
To me, because for so many women the abuse and eating disorder start so young, the only way they know how to deal with it is by altering their bodies or by using something to “numb” the pain. If you look at it this way then it seems very simple, something bad is happening so I have change to protect myself. Because things are happening younger and younger, I think we need to start teaching children at younger ages what to do and ensure that they have someone safe to talk to. We also must make sure that other ethnic groups (not white women) are looked at equally because the fact that many are overlooked until the problem is very bad is simply not acceptable. BY OLGA
Exploring Society Blog at BCC
\"It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this: things are not what they seem. \" Peter L. Berger
Reading this blog about thinness was educational. There are many issues that may cause and the effect women eating habits. I can relate, because I’m on the thin side and many black people think I’m too skinny while white people think I’m perfect. I tend to over eat and never gain a pound. My intention is to gain weight to satisfy other people. The same way many women don’t eat or have eating disorders. I think it is psychological, and it’s the way we are brought up. Women should be happy with whom they are, and don’t let America shape their image of themselves. America doesn’t like anything that is too ethnic and being on the heavier side is more African then European. An eating disorder is a sign that some emotional traumas may be involved. Some sociologists believe that sexual abuse is a cause of eating disorders. I understand how that can be. In order to deal or not deal with a problem some women turn to food. Then they realize that the just ate enough for two people they start to feel bad and began making themselves puke. Sociologists are trying to understand eating disorders, and they have different ways of seeing the problem. I think that they have valid points America is part of the problem, but not the only one
I agree with you. It is very unfair how society and America shape us. I can look at myself and only see that I am gaining weight, and it is never about how good I do at something or what I learned but about but how much i weigh. I read my cosmo and vogue and all i think about is how i should look that skinny. My issues come from being a skinny cheerleader to growing into your average women. Your situation is unfair because not only are you being pushed into one body image but you are also being pushed into another that is supposed to look the opposite. I think that it is best to look at yourself and ask if you are happy with what you look like (all other opinions aside)? If the answer is yes, then accept yourself and don’t let anyone sway your opinion. It should be about you loving your own body and nothing else. Disliking one’s body image is definitely linked to low self-esteem. Doing things that raise your self esteem and make you feel better is important. Having a good self image means that whatever someone else may think is not important.