Eating Disorders and New Age Feminism

 

I disagree with the way that New Age Feminism has transformed eating disorders and body image hate into a symbol of women struggling against misogyny and patriarchy.

 

Eating disorders and body dissatisfaction grabs a sizable proportion of the population world wide and can be found in both men and women. If all New Age Feminism can do to empower women is to say: The eating disorders are the result of misogyny and patriarchy in the system; continue to keep being the awesome you that you are then that's some pretty rotten advice. Considering that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all the mental illnesses out there, saying that an eating disorder is no one else's business but the disordered is like saying that suicide is no one else's business.

 

Sufferers of anorexia nervosa are likely to hide their illness by always talking about food, lying about how much they eat or eating a big meal with friends and nothing else or little else in private. Similarly, those with post traumatic stress disorder or major depression (with the highest suicide rates) are likely to hide any suicidal thoughts or suicidal plans. This behaviour is harmful. And, not just to the sufferers, but to family and friends too. And, to other people who develop an eating disorder whilst trying to imitate the other person's looks. It is absolutely other peoples business to do something to help. Because we, as humans, are social creatures. We rely on each other to survive; to do something when a man is being attacked on the streets, to stop child abuse, to give aid to women starving in famines around the world. And, to end eating disorders that are hurting us.

 

 

There are phenomenally high rates of obesity globally and it seems as though more and more people are shifting towards the extremes - of underweight or obese. Anorexia Nervosa has increased in Australia, Japan and France. According to a study of behaviour in Australia, 1 in 5 girls displayed behaviour consistent of that with an eating disorder.

 

My frustration is highlighted by a recent be-who-you-are video, where the New Age Feminist Lecturer claimed on TED talks that it doesn't matter whether you are "skinny" (aka healthy) or obese on the BMI charts: so long as you don't drink alcohol, exercise, eat five fruits and veggies a day and don't smoke tobacco ~ you will be healthy. She based her claims off of this study. 

 

~ Which was measuring for mortality rates and not health (someone can live for a long time and still develop arthritis or a damaged liver from an eating disorder).

 

~Which didn't claim that only eating five fruits and veggies a day was sustainable. The study claimed that by eating fruits and vegetables that you can improve your health.

 

~Which didn't include people with underweight BMIs.

To the Feminist from TED talks: What kind of message do you think this is sending to people who have anorexia nervosa and are Underweight?

Just eat five fruits and vegetables a day and you will be fine?

Don't worry about meat, rice, bread, milk or all those other things on the Food Pyramid?

 

This anti-anorexia model, Isabelle Caro Dies, died as the result of health problems caused by her anorexia:

 

Do you know what's being disrespectful and hateful to not just women but to all people?
It's allowing the hard work of Isabelle and others to go in vain.
There are some people who think the pictures in the 'You Are Not a Sketch' campaign are skinny bashing. I say that's ridiculous. If you cannot recognise anorexia for what it is then you have a problem.