{
sAvING thE wOrLd ONE IssuE At A tIME
}
wrIttEN by NAthAN sCOLL
eating
dIsOrdErs
and idealizations, are also culprits, helping to
account for the rise in eating disorders among
young males.
This is not to indict media unduly, though a
broader spectrum of body types and beauty
“thINNEr Is thE wINNEr,” sAId AN Ivy LEAGuE juNIOr wIth A sNArk-frEE dELIvEry.
standards would be both a welcome and a
“NO fOOd tAstEs As GOOd As bEING thIN” wAs COurtEsy Of ANOthEr COLLEGE-
progressive step. Media may both construct
EduCAtEd wOMAN. thEN thErE’s “I’vE GOt tO LOsE fIvE/tEN/twENty pOuNds!” I
and destruct. Awareness of media history,
hAvE hEArd stAtEMENts LIkE thIs frOM A vArIEty Of pEOpLE, rEGArdLEss Of
art history, and cultural history can prove
GENdEr, rEGArdLEss Of AGE, ANd EvEN rEGArdLEss Of physICAL fItNEss.
illuminating of the diversity of both beauty
and beauty norms over time. Marilyn Monroe,
Sex education, psychology education, and Preventing is always better than curing, by today’s standards, would be considered
health education have all improved in the past and the earlier we start, the stronger too plump for starring roles, as would many
several decades, yet body image issues and that prevention can be. Be aware of the of the other starlets of her era. Likewise
eating disorders are not going away. role models and images you or young the flappers and silent stars of the previous
According to The Alliance for Eating people in your life may intake. Be aware era would be considered too skinny or flat-
Disorders Awareness, one in five women has that, according to advertising expert and chested, and so on.
either an eating disorder or disordered eating, researcher Jean Kilbourne, only five percent Defining and developing self beyond body
and 90 percent of that 20 percent are women of women genetically possess the body type type and conformity to certain physical modes
between the ages of 12 and 25. Males account featured in 90 percent of advertisements. can stave off eating disorders and body
for 10 to 15 percent of those struggling with That’s quite a disconnect. Now think about distortion and make for a more satisfying and
eating disorders. how many ads you are exposed to per day: interesting life.
Many standard solutions are offered at sites on television, on billboards, on the Internet, We want to celebrate those in the fashion
like
eatingdisorderinfo.org. However, I’ve found in magazines. Consider too that almost any industry who embrace the constructive side
myself questioning what steps can be taken television program or film is tantamount of media—sellers who cater to your sense of
before that crisis point of disorder is reached. to advertising and perpetuating specific style rather than preying on your body image.
What are some simple ways to encourage lifestyles, body types, and incredibly myopic Many companies, including some fashion
healthy eating and a healthy body image? standards of beauty. companies, are trying to reverse the trend of
We ingest much more than food every day: For more obvious examples: pornographic poor body image, even through the “necessary
modern life is a constant barrage of various images and movies and even videogame evil” of advertising, by making affordable
media. Just as we must moderate certain characters such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider specialty items for eating disorder awareness.
foods to keep our bodies healthy, we likewise present highly unlikely, unrealistic, and Buy Funky Frum’s anniversary necklace at
should monitor the media we consume and the unhealthy constructs of the female physique.
funkyfrum.com, and 20 percent goes towards
manner in which we consume it. We must be While this may seem obvious, if such images NEDA (nationaleatingdisorders.org). When
aware of the increasing disconnect between are constantly consumed they can seem friends admire your new bling, respond by
actual body types and those presented in the plausible, even the norm to the inundated and spreading the word about where you stand on
media; such awareness is as vital to our health or susceptible. Comic books and professional body image.
as exercise regimens are. wrestling, with their attendant exaggerations
ELIZA / 44 ELIZA / 45
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