What I have Learned....

I really enjoyed this class. As I previously mentioned in one of my emails, this class makes me want to further explore women’s studies. Normally, I am not a fan of discussion based classes but this one seemed comfortable, because everyone in the class was just as uncomfortable with the subject matter. It is unfortunate that subjects like drugs, sex, abuse, and other society taboos are kept so quiet. If there was more discussion or communication maybe solving these problems would be simplified.
One of the most interesting portions of this class to me is the depiction of women in all forms of media. Through the media society shows us the roles and ways that women are supposed to have and how they are supposed to behave. Billboards on the highway show gigantic images of scantily clad models. If that isn’t a bold statement telling us how we should look then I don’t know how it could get any more obvious.
Other advertisements, especially for cleaning products show women as promoting a certain product. Why isn’t there a man running through a house chasing after a child who is making stains everywhere possible. As I have learned it is because that is a woman’s role.
Another interesting part of this class was learning about the subgroups of women that come with our multifaceted identities. White women are supposed to be thin with blonde hair and blue eyes. Black women are supposed to be the voluptuous vixens (mammies) who were to outspoken so their husbands left them. Hispanic women are supposed to be the stereotypical “Marias.” Oddly enough, by looking into the mirror each morning we see that these sterotypes are not accurate. We go on to acknowledge these discrepancies but still allow them to be perpetuated. If we know that the mammy stereotype that portrays black women as heavy, ugly, and happy to do housework as incorrect, then why do we still purchase syrup in mammy shaped bottles, called “Mrs. Butterworth.”
The message that I got from this class was to not just sit back and let society tell me how things are. I look at things with a critical eye and questions the motives of everything. This is not to say that I am out bashing men on the heads for cat calling, but I am saying it has made me more aware. One thing I will take with me is to not be so judgemental. It is so easy to look at somebody and say "wow, they are fat!" or wow, that is a big baby. But after reading about some of these people, meeting some of them, and watching videos of people who lost their battles, made me realize that I never know what kind of demons these people are facing. The saying "never judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes" is enitrely true. It is that thought that will make me live my life differently and hopefully a better person.

Digital Scrapbook #1: Women Like Sex Just as Much as Men

“Women Struggle With Sex Addiction Too.” You Tube Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTJkfUibkIY

Sex doesn’t sound like such a bad thing to be addicted to. I mean there could be worse things in life. At first glance sexual addiction does not seem like such a bad thing. However, the term itself is somewhat of a misnomer. Sexual addiction, like other addictions is not just for the sake of doing it, or because the abuser loves partaking in that activity. Addictive behaviors as we have learned this quarter are derived from an emptiness or void that a person needs to feel. Typically, people who suffer from sexual addictions are those who experienced abuse as a child or a traumatic experience.
The other problem with sexual addiction is that we typically associate this problem with males. Many men use this as an excuse for their promiscuity. However, sexual addiction as I said before is not about the sex, its about the inability to experience intimacy and a skewed view of how to get love. The myth that only males can expience this issue is entirely false. In fact, women enjoy sex just as much as men and are
In this video we learn that 1/6 women suffer with a sex addiction. In the video clip, the doctor says that sex addiction is an umbrella term, just like alcohol is an umbrella term. (we don’t separate drug beer addict, liquor addict, etc) There are man forms of sexual addiction. It can be masturbation, anonymous sex, going man to man, or even pornography. Women especially find it more comfortable to separate the term sex addiction and make it love and relationship addict which is a much easier term for other people to process. Another disturbing figure is that 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 5 males will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 years old. Most people who suffer from this affliction are people who are untreated sexual trauma victims. (“Women Struggle With Sexual Addiction Too”)
It is really sad that we judge and persecute these people for what they have become without considering how they became the way that they are. In the clip, there are two women who explain their tragic stories, and it makes anyone who has not experienced sexual addiction empathize with them. Megan, the first woman has a tragic tale of that began with being date raped at the age of thirteen. This invasion of her body left Megan blaming herself for what had happened and ultimately led to her sleeping around. After about five years of this sort of behavior she had an epiphany. It came one morning after a typical one night stand and her mother knocked on the hotel room that she was staying in. Megan’s embarrassment at the person she had become eventually led to her recovery.
The second story belongs to Monica, a woman whose life was plagued with sexual abuse. At the age of four Monica was molested by a stranger. The following year or so her older brother started to violate her as well. If that was not enough already, when Monica was a teen she was molested by another family member. Like Megan, she blamed herself for what had happened to her and resorted to release through sex. The line between intimacy and sex become confused when abuse happens to people at a young age. This video does a good job at explaining it. (“Women Struggle With Sex Addiction Too”)
After hearing stories like these, it bothers me to read about cheating celebrities that claim that they are addicted to sex. I am sure that a few of them may actually have a problem, but I do not believe that promiscuity can be masked by such a serious disease.

Digital Scrapbook #2: Addicted to Support

Narrator: [V.O] This is Bob.
Bob had bitch tits. [Camera pans to a REMAINING MEN TOGETHER sign] Narrator: [V.O] This was a
support group for men with testicular cancer. The big moosie slobbering all over
me... that was Bob.

Robert 'Bob'
Paulson: We're still men.

Narrator: [slightly muffled due
to Bob's enormous breasts] Yes, we're men. Men is what we are.

Narrator: [V.O] Eight months ago,
Bob's testicles were removed. Then hormone therapy. He developed bitch tits
because his testosterone was too high and his body upped the estrogen. And that
was where I fit...

Robert 'Bob'
Paulson: They're gonna have to open my pecs again to drain the fluid.

Narrator: [V.O] Between those
huge sweating tits that hung enormous, the way you'd think of God's as big.
(Imdb.com)

We spent all this time talking about being addicted to drugs, alcohols, sex, work, etc.. But why is addiction limited to things that we perceive as negative? I consider myself addicted to grapefruit juice and asparagus. Fortunately for me, I could not find a documented case where the ingestion of either grapefruits or asparagus had killed anyone.
This struck a chord when I watched the movie Fight Club. In this film, the narrator “Jack” (Edward Norton) is an insomniac. After going to the doctor and being refused a prescription the narrator decides to take matters into his own hands. After much self reflection, he realizes that his sleep deprivation is a result of an inability to express emotion. This leads the narrator to begin attending support groups.
The first support group “Jack” attends is for men that have been disfigured by testicular cancer. “Bob” a giant man who developed “bitch tits” as a result of hormone treatments, was paired up with our narrator. It is through these support groups that our narrator finds solace and the ability to release his emotions. (specifically by crying) With this ability to cry, the narrator in turn is able to sleep, ultimately curing his insomnia. The success of this venture leads him to more meetings and can almost be classified as support group tourism. Like every other form of addiction, one meeting was not enough, and eventually he becomes addicted. He attends meetings for people suffering with tuberculosis, melanoma, blood diseases, and many others. (Imdb.com)
It is this scene that got me thinking about the boundaries of addiction. Society only sees addiction as a problem when it involves something illegal or bad. Asparagus addiction will not be seen in a negative light unless the government suddenly sees it as a problem. People who are addicted to hoarding things are not seen as bad people either. In Kasl’s article “Defining Addiction…” she talks about those psychological and process addictions, which is where support group addiction would most likely be classified. Kasl explains that people with addictions of this nature do this to fill an empty space or void in their life. This explanation falls true with my fight club example as well. Once again, the article fails to address why addiction is only used in a negative way. Just like exercise addiction is only seen as a bad thing when a person becomes hospitalized for exercise bulimia. I wonder how people would feel if someone became addicted to something seen as innocent and as pure as water?

Links:
Quote from Fight Club: - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/quotes
Synopsis/Movie Info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/plotsummary
Kasl, Charlotte. “Defining Addiction: Patterns of Chemical and Psychological Addictions”

Digital Scrapbook #3: Celebrities Take the Anonymous out of AA

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUSA NOTE OF THANKS - A REQUEST FOR COOPERATION

From time to time we write our public media friends to thank them for helping us observe our long-standing tradition of anonymity for members of Alcoholics Anonymous. First, let us express our deep gratitude to you. From the beginning of A.A. in 1935, its members have recognized that word-of-mouth is not sufficient by itself to carry the program's message of hope and recovery to the many people still suffering from alcoholism. The public media has been a vital part of this effort, and today we estimate that there are more than 2 million successfully recovering members of Alcoholics Anonymous in more than 180 countries. Second, we respectfully request that you continue to cooperate with us in maintaining the anonymity of A.A. members. The principle of anonymity is a basic tenet of our fellowship. Those who are reluctant to seek our help may overcome their fear if they are confident that their anonymity will be respected. In addition, and perhaps less understood, our tradition of anonymity acts as a restraint on A.A. members, reminding us that we are a program of principles, not personalities, and that no individual A.A. member may presume to act as a spokesman or leader of our fellowship. If an A.A member is identified in the media, we ask that you please use first names only (e.g. Bob S. or Alice F.) and that you not use photographs or electronic images in which members’ faces may be recognized. (AA.com)

Above is a letter to the public about maintaining anonymity while seeking treatment in Alcoholics Anonymous. So why are all the requests above thrown aside when a celebrity is involved? Sure, they chose a career that put them in the public eye, but where should that line be drawn. Maybe it is seeing them in a vulnerable state that makes the average joe’s of the world feel better about themselves to see a person who is normally seen as perfect to fall. Personally, I think it is disgusting.
There are websites on the internet dedicated to following the association of celebrities with Alcoholics Anonymous. According to InfoaboutAlcoholism.com, Melanie Griffith was seen and video-taped outside of an AA meeting in West Hollywood on March 6, 2006. (Info About Alcoholism) Not only is it terrible that we know where she was, but the exact date. Alcoholism is a disease and the individual suffering from it has some serious mental problems. That being said, why is it justifiable to follow this sick person around while they are trying to better themselves. There is no anonymity for celebrites.
Another example is Lindsey Lohan. The young starlet was seen partying in clubs while underage and suffering the visible side affects of drug abuse. She tried to attend meetings but the paparazzi swarmed her while she was enroot. Even when Lindsey tried a more secluded facility the media stalked her from the trees outside. One of her fellow member, whom she briefly dated while in the facility even spoke to the media about Lindsey’s Demons. Society says we hope that these people get better, but if we do not provide them with that opportunity then there is no way they can succeed.
In class we talked about how the average person will relapse seven times before they become healthy again. More disturbing is that 94% of participants in AA meetins do no succeed. Results like that combined with the invasion of privacy make it almost impossible for celebrities to successfully fight off addiction. AA is known for treating the individual and not the group, but maybe in the case of celebrities this is the best solution because apparently the group situation is not working. The people we admire onscreen may not be long for this world and their death certificates should not say overdose or liver failure, it should day death by publicity.

Links:
Celebrites in AA: http://www.info-about-alcoholism.com/Alcoholics_Anonymous_Celebrities.html
Letter to the Public: http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=227

Digital Scrapbook #4: Desperate for Ritalin

VIDEO LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLXDZ15uNt8
Desperate housewives is one of America’s guilty pleasures. Initially, I started watching this show expecting to see another drama depicting Hollywood’s idea of suburban marriage and motherhood. Even though Wisteria Lane endures more problems than the common street they bring to light issues that everyone can experience. For some reason, there is this myth that life in suburbia is perfect, but it is not true. Women who live in the inner city projects and women who reside in the suburbs do in fact have some common ground.
In Nancy Campbell’s article entitled “Introduction: Drug Policy, Social Reproduction, and Social Justice,” she addresses the problems that women deal with and how society views them. Campbell discusses how there has been a history of drug use within the domestic sphere. These drugs were even cleverly named, “mother’s little helpers.” Even though women have transitioned into the workplace, they still kept the responsibilities of taking care of the kids, cleaning the house, and providing food for the family. A normal human being should not have the amount of necessary to undertake all of the aforementioned responsibilities along with a full time career. This is where the drugs come in. Campbell mentions that methamphetamines were the drug of choice and were known as “pink collar crack. The problem with Meth is that not only is it highly illegal, but it takes a drastic toll on the mother’s ability to nurture but is an excellent source of energy, so an alternative method was inevitable.
This alternative is a legal form of drugs classified under dextroamphetamines, and commonly known as Adderall, Dexadrine, or Ritalin. Unlike Meth, these drugs can be legally obtained from a physician. The intended use of these drugs is for people suffering with Attention Deficit Disorder. According to Drugs.com, “Adderall is a central nervous stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. (Drugs.com) Basically, this medication temporarily puts its user in a zombie like state that allows them to do nothing but concentrate a certain task. This concentration prevents distractions from interfering with productivity, which is why it has become one of the most widely prescribed medications. This legal form of speed has become a trend amongst mothers, especially in suburban neighborhoods.
In the show Desperate Housewives, Lynette Scavo is a former marketing executive and now a stay at home mom. She has four monster-like children and is the character that most women can identify with. On top of that, this character has survived cancer, found out that her husband has a love child, and tried to transition back into work place unsuccessfully. This led her to drugs, but not the bad kind. (Is there really a good kind?) Lynette begins taking her son’s Ritalin and life is great. Her house is clean, the yard is kept up, dinner is made, the kids are at all of their extracurricular activities, and she still has some spare time for herself. (Episode: “Anything You Can Do”)
We should know by now that there is no such thing as perfection, especially within a family. Desperate Housewives did an excellent job portraying this truth. It even won a Prism award, which is given out for media that portrays drugs and addiction in accurate ways.( http://www.prismawards.com/winners/) After the Ritalin ran out, Lynette began fantasizing about suicide, had a freak out, and ran away from her house. Her friends followed her at which point she confessed all of her secrets. It is at that point that Susan and Bree, the image of domestic perfection explain that everybody has tough times with children.
I would never wish to be Lynette Scavo. I also would never see myself taking my child’s ADD medication. However, I know that I am busy as a college student without children, a husband, a full time job, or house to manage. This makes the idea that drug abuse in this form is much more plausible. I mean as long as the wife is fulfilling all of her responsibilities is it really a problem? That is the way society makes it seem. But if this is such a problem and everybody has it, then why don’t we talk about it. Society perpetuates this notion that motherhood is supposed to be perfect. If we pointed out that there is no such thing as an ideal mother maybe there wouldn’t be so much pressure on women, and maybe a decrease in drug use.

Links:
Adderall: http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html
Episode: Desperate Housewives “Anything You Can Do” -http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index?pn=recap#t=25253&d=25160
Campbell, Nancy. “Introduction: Drug Policy, Social Reproduction, and Social Justice.”

Digital Scrapbook #5: Glamour Magazine Loves Photoshop

In Cindy Childress’ article about Queen Latifa’s Glamour magazine cover we learn that even though society says that it embraces curves and has a desire to see healthier women in fashion, it really doesn’t. Cindy Childress discusses her time at rehabilitation for an eating disorder and how this was the first magazine she had looked at in awhile. Initially, the author was thrilled to see a “more healthy body featured on the cover of a popular women’s magazine.” (Childress 2005)
Her first reaction was that Queen Latifa’s cover was a good thing but upon further examination that changed. Interestingly enough, through this article we learn that people with eating disorders and overweight people have similar methods in dealing with concealment. Cindy quickly notices an empire waist dress, which is ideal for covering up some of those curves. A reference to a fellow anorexic who wears empire dresses for the same reason. Another valid point is made when the author states that the outfit Latifa is wearing disguises “the curves of which she is supposed to be proud of.” (Childress 2005)
Body shape is the second issue Cindy Childress has with this particular cover. As a former overweight woman, Childress says that she was the same weight as Latifa, but in no way resembled her perfect hourglass figure. At the same weight, Cindy eludes that she was apple-shaped. Upon opening the cover she finds out how this hourglass shape is more plausible. The answer was plastic surgery and a breast reduction, which could do wonders for anybody. Cindy’s main frustration lies in the fact that Latifa’s weight loss was the focus of that issue, even though her results were not attainable by the average woman.. Ultimately, this cover really does nothing to make strives as Cindy Childress states, “toward fat-positive media.”(Childress 2005)
Lately, the trend is that we are trying to put women on covers that are deemed to look “healthy.” Healthy equates as having curves, and having curves usually means that you are either Black or Hispanic. It is pretty safe to say that the only fat Caucasian woman on the cover of a fashion magazine is probably pregnant. Know that sounds terrible, but you can blame our patriarchal society for that.
To test my theory, I googled another celebrity who is commonly refered to as curvaceous. Glamour magazine struck again. In September of 2007, America Ferrera, the star of Ugly Betty graced the cover Glamour. Apparently, this was one of magazine’s most controversial issues. The fact that this cover even made it to print is embarrassing, and whoever was responsible for choosing the cover should be fired. The photo looks like somebody cut out her head and pasted it on a skinnier model. I even searched the web to find America’s pant size, only to find out that she wears a size 6-8. She is too thin to even constitute as plus sized. It just makes it more interesting that we celebrate this woman as a voluptuous Latina icon.
If you look at the additional cover stories, a great deal of them reference weight loss or concealment. The cover of Glamour’s issue says, “101 ways to dress your body better, The secret reasons women gain weight and how to stop, “ and finally, “1st annual figure-flattery issue.” (Glamour 2007) If a traditionally skinny model was on the cover then they would most likely not talk about weightloss or flattering your figure. This is just one example of the hypocrisy society exhibits toward normal women. Even though fashion magazines say they want to appeal to the average woman, they don’t want to actually put the average woman on the cover. In the actual article itself Glamour asks the actress some interesting questions. They are almost borderline insulting considering they basically tell her she is not what Hollywood really wants and is plus size.

GLAMOUR: So do you think Hollywood is moving away from the
tall, skinny blond as the actress ideal?
AF: It’s happening all over television: You turn on Desperate Housewives and there’s Eva Longoria; you turn on Scrubs and there’s Judy Reyes. I’ve gotten scripts for romantic comedies sent to me that were originally conceived for a blond-haired, blue-eyed actress. At the end of the day, studios are learning there is a market out there that doesn’t necessarily want to go with predictable choices.
GLAMOUR: How do you feel about being the newest spokeswoman for curvy figures in Hollywood?
AF: I don’t hate it. I feel like I’m a regular- size person—I’m a size 6 or 8, which is totally normal. Sometimes I worry more about losing weight than gaining weight, because this is how people know and accept me. I do feel like if I wanted to get in
better shape, there might be a backlash of, Why isn’t she comfortable with
herself anymore? So I try to figure out what my own goals are. (Glamour 2007)

America’s response to the second question makes the cover even more awkward. The actress mentions the fact that she feels that if she wanted to get in better shape then there would be some sort of back lash. I guess if she cannot actually get in shape then a digital make over would be an alternative.
After researching this topic, I think I am done with fashion magazines. (but not US Weekly) I can completely empathize with Cindy Childress as well. It must have been incredibly difficult for a person struggling with disordered eating to look at a magazine like that and get such mixed signals. She was being treated for losing weight and was supposed to be happy with the way she looks, but society is telling Cindy that no matter what she must fit the beauty norm. Thin is in, White is right, and Blonde is beautiful. With all of the mixed signals and negativity society casts on even average women, it is no wonder people have difficulty recovering from anorexia and bulimia.

Links:
Image from: http://ayyyy.com/2007/09/06/skinny-betty/
Childress, Cindy. “Queen Latifa’s Glamour Magazine Cover: Carmen
Glamour Interview with America Ferrara- http://www.glamour.com/news/articles/2007/09/americaferrera

Digital Scrapbook #6: Gia Carangi vs. Koren

(Photo of Gia with visible track marks)

Gia Carangi’s story is one we commonly associate with an HBO movie starring Angelina Jolie. However, the sad part is that this tragic tale is one that is true. It is a story beginning in Philadelphia with a broken family and a little girl longing for love. The divorce of her parents left Gia bouncing between two homes, resulting in a lack of discipline. She told friends she felt abandoned by her parents and yearned for attention. She experimented with alcohol, broke curfews, and was overall rebellious. On top of that she tried marijuana and pills to cope gain attention. She also decided in her early teen years that she was Bi-sexual, in fact it was the only thing in her life that she was confident about.
Gia’s mother tried to intervene and attempted counseling but Gia was already on a destructive path. Blessed with a beautiful face and body, Gia’s mother hoped that getting her daughter off the streets and into a career as a model would straighten her out. At 18, after being discovered she moved to New York City to pursue modeling.
Lonely and beautiful, Gia still desired love and attention from anywhere she could get it. Unfortunately for her, this affection came from the drug users and partiers in New York nightclubs. She admitted to using drugs initially for recreation but later it became a part of life. The 70’s was a bad time for a young girl to try and find herself in New York City, especially on the party circuit. She now identified as a lesbian and endured various relationships. To cope with the loss of girlfriends and the death of the few people close to her, Gia resorted to heroin. She spent all her money on drugs and was even photographed with track marks on her arms.
At twenty-one, Gia was dropped from her agency and vanished from the modeling world. At the same time she was arrested for drunk driving, began dating a female junkie, and moved in with her mother. Gia attempted rehab, but the death of another friend caused her to relapse. The fallen model reemerged in the public spotlight with permanent track marks and cysts on her back from frequent drug abuse. At age twenty-three Gia returned to treatment again and failed. She moved to Philadelphia with her girlfriend and worked as a cashier in a supermarket. The next few years consisted of prostitution, rape, and drug use which eventually led to Gia contracting AIDS through a dirty needle. While she was dying Gia was the center of her mother’s attention, and friends say this was the point when she finally got what she had always wanted. In November of 1986, Gia Carangi died at the age of twenty-six.

GIA VS. KOREN

Koren in "Smashed", was very much like Gia. Even though her parent's were not divorced, they were never really there, and if they were home, Koren's parents did not really repremand or teach her about life until it was too late. Like Gia, Koren also abused alcohol at a young age. As a teen she broke curfews and did the typical rebelling against her family. They were young, intelligent, and undoubtedly beautiful. Yer another similarity was their questionable sexual orientation and inability to maintain friendships. These shortcomings left them wanting more. Ultimately, these girls were on a quest for acceptance, attention, and love. Koren and Gia both shared opportunity. These girls had all of the tools at hand to become successful. Koren had college and cheerleading, but she threw that away. Very similar to the way Gia threw her modeling career away.
The differences are minimal but even the slightest difference has an impact. The most apparent deviation was type of drugs used. Koren's poison was alcohol, whereas Gia used anything she could get, later identifying heroin as her drug of choice. Their family structures were also different. Koren’s parents were absent but still married. Gia was abandoned by her mother at one point, endured a divorece, and was a frequent witness to fights. Regardless, both girls still seemed to be neglected. As I mentioned before, sexuality was also an issue for both girls. However, Koren maintained a heterosexual lifestyle even though it was not successful while, Gia was confident in her bisexuality. Part of her intense drug use could be attributed to the fact the bar culture was and still is a big deal for meeting people, especially since she identified as bisexual. The fact that Gia lived during the 70’s, the era of club drugs, made it almost inevitable that she would use. Both of these girls were on a path of destruction, but luckily for Koren, she won the battle. Unfortunately for Gia, she did not. The fact that there are numerous similarities in these situations is not surprising, because chains of events like these are not uncommon. The scariest part is that everyone can find a piece of themselves in Koren or Gia. Gia Carangi died right before Koren was born, her story is famous, yet it did not seem to impact Koren's decisions. I'm curious as to the effect stories like these have on young people, or our we just wasting our time with drug and alcohol education. It seems that experience is the "best" way to learn these days.

Links: The Gia Carangi Project: http://www.thegiacarangiproject.com/
Zailckas, Koren. Smashed: The Story of a Drunken Girlhood. Viking Adult. 2005.

Digital Scrapbook #7: The Appearance of Pro-ED Communites on Social Networking Sites

Even though this article entitled “Seeking Thinspiration” was written a year ago, it is interesting to observe the changes that have occurred due to spotlighting eating disorders on the internet. The internet is a place where everyone can go and be anyone they want without question or persecution. This article written by the BBC focuses on the changes in pro-Ana and pro-bulimia websites.
Previously, websites about eating disorders were private and somewhat embarrassing. Those who searched through them were typically alone and conducted all conversation anonymously. As mentioned in ‘The Ana Sanctuary…’ there are usually disclaimers and explanations as to what you are about to enter.

Welcome to this Pro-Ana (Mia) Support Group. We are about encouragement,
support, and assistance, to others like us who live with an ED and suffer with
the problems that go along with it…This site does not encourage that you develop
an eating disorder. This is a site for those who ALREADY have an eating disorder
and do not wish to go into recovery. Some material in here
may be triggering. If you do not already have an eating disorder, better it is that you
do not develop one now. You SHOULD leave. -Anonymous, Pro-Anorexia
Site (Dias, 4-5)

Viewers of these sites find places like these to be safe and one of the few areas where they are in complete control of the public. I imagine that most people envision an emaciated girl, sitting alone in her room, envying picture of others, and exchanging tips. This is drastically changing though.
As the BBC article points out, this trend seems to be changing. The once anonymous online world of pro-Ana websites has now made its presence known on social networking sites. The interesting twist on this trend is that on sites like Facebook or MySpace, people tend to post pictures of themselves and their names visible. (Seeking Thinspiration) Not only are people with eating disorders showing their faces, they are giving their names. Social sites like these also allow your friends to know everything about you, eating disorders included. Within sites of this nature lies the ability to create common interest communities or groups with people worldwide. The problem is that the loss of this anonymity is in a sense glamorizing the disorders these people are suffering from.
The article entitled, “Seeking Thinspiration” was written in 2007 and most of the groups has since been removed. For as many pro-ED groups as there were, there were twice as many anti-ana/bulimia groups. One group, Get Thin or Die Trying, a play on 50 cent’s song, was disbanded, but if you search hard enough you can find it secretly embedded in another group. The group has since changed its name to Stop Thinscrimination! (Revival of GTODT) and Don’t Discriminate Against Thin People. Both groups claim to be support groups for people suffering from disordered eating, however the posts are reminiscent of conversations on the Smoking Porch in Thin or the website described in the Dias article.. As recently as the past week, Facebook administrators have disabled the discussion board on this group deeming it to be “harmful content” This removal led to the creation of an exterior site. (http://www.phpbbplanet.com/gtodt/)

(Image from Facebook Group Stop Thinscrimnation!)

The article makes two points, the first argues that groups about eating disorders on social networking sites more harmful than supportive. Affirming this argument is a twenty-one year old Andrea from Missouri, who has suffered from anorexia for five years, been hospitalized fifteen times and has had six feeding tubes. She says that "When you are actively in your eating disorder, you desperately want someone to understand, and a lot of time you find groups like the pro groups on Facebook that are supportive of you continuing your eating disorder." (Seeking Thinspiration) Andrea goes on to say that, "When you are in the middle of it and don't want to give it up, you cling to these sites that tell you what you are doing is OK. Recovery is hard, staying sick isn't, so it's easier to hide behind these sites claiming that you are making a lifestyle choice, rather than admitting that you are sick and trying to get better." (Seeking Thinspiration)
On the other hand, they also acknowledge the fact that sites like these make it possible so those struggling with eating disorders are never alone. Some believe that online communities can bring people out of isolation, which is beneficial to the healing process.
I guess that I can understand the camaraderie and comfort of knowing there are others with the same issues out there. My main problem is with the word support. Support according to people with eating disorders does not seem to hold the positive connotation that it typically holds. Support seems to be tips, advice, and other information that hinders someone from getting better. In the Dias article, the support came in the form of “how to” sections and “thinspirations’” which are images for which these girls aspire. (Dias, 5) The most disturbing thinspiration appeared on a random Eating disorder blog. It was a picture of Terry Schaivo, a severely brain-damaged woman who spent 20 some years in a vegetative state, eventually resulting in her husband legally removing her feeding tube and her death. (Mamavision.com)





As the BBC article mentioned, a point with which I whole-heartedly agree, is the most disturbing part of the appearance of pro-Ana/bulimia groups on sites like Facebook is the glamorization. Eating disorders are usually about guilt, emptiness, depression, or a lack of control, but these sites make it seem as if the member are doing it to be trendy. In ‘Thin’ I thought Brittany had an eating disorder mostly for the attention. She did not want to get better because being the victim or being sick was where she found her niche. It is just difficult to imagine that there is no shame in suffering from a disorder like anorexia. Alcoholics and drug users are not proud of their addictions, but this new generation of online ED communities are embracing their disorders.
In slightly more one year after this article was written, it is interesting to observe the displeasure elicited from other non-ED members on social networking sites in response to disordered eating groups. Part of me feels for them, because an anorexic person may not like guns or may be offended by the all the drunk girl groups but does not demand that they are taken down. Both guns and girls being irresponsible and posting pictures could be deemed as harmful content, but those groups remain untouched. Denying somebody the right to express their viewpoints or opinions is criminal, but it becomes hard to sit back and watch (literally) young people kill themselves. It will be interesting to see what happens in another year as far as group regulation on MySpace and Facebook

Links: “Seeking Thinspiration” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6935768.stm
Facebook Group ‘Don’t Discriminate Against Thin People” http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25944822115&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fq%3Dget%2Bthin%2Bor%2Bdie%2Btrying%26n%3D-1%26k%3D200000010%26sf%3Dr%26init%3Dq
Facebook Group ‘Stop Thinscrimination’ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21102616111
Dias’, Karen. “The Pro-Ana Sanctuary: Women’s Anorexia Narratives in Cyberspace” The Journal of International Womens Studies. Vol 4 no 2. April 2003. https://carmen.osu.edu/
Image of Terry Schaivo: http://mamavision.com/2007/09/24/italy-aint-messin-around/

Digital Scrapbook #8: R.J. Reynolds is Guilty of First Degree Murder & I Can Prove It

(image: Project SCUM- tobaccodocuments.org)

Cigarette companies are sneaky. It is really sad that a company that knows our society is largely dependent on them is willing to specifically target out a group and basically help kill them. Last time I checked, knowingly killing someone was classified as premeditated and known as Murder in the first degree. This crime can be punishable by death. According to California law the definition of first degree murder:

• MURDER, FIRST DEGREE - In order for someone to be found guilty of first degree murder the government must prove that the person killed another person; the person killed the other person with malice aforethought; and the killing was premeditated. To kill with malice aforethought means to kill either deliberately and intentionally or recklessly with extreme disregard for human life.Premeditation means with planning or deliberation. The amount of time needed for premeditation of a killing depends on the person and the circumstances. It must be long enough, after forming the intent to kill, for the killer to have been fully conscious of the intent and to have considered the killing first-degree murder in California includes a killing that is "willful, deliberate, and premeditated," or that is committed in the perpetration, or attempt to perpetrate, certain felonies, including burglary, and not including the petty offense of shoplifting. (Cal. Penal Code S 189.)

In essence, these companies could be held responsible for the deaths of millions of people, yet somehow they manage to walk the streets freely. One of the best examples of specific groups being targeted was mentioned in Courtney Trouble’s article, “Where There’s Smoke…” there was mention of the controversial mid-nineties project S.C.U.M. (Trouble 2005) In case you were wondering, SCUM was an acronym for Subculture Urban Marketing. This marketing campaign was created in the early nineties by R.J. Reynolds Company to target lesbians/gays living in the Castro and homeless people living in the Tenderloin, both neighborhoods in San Francisco. As if members of the LGBT community did not have it hard enough already, they soon found out what patriarchy really thought of them.
Let’s break this down. In order for “someone” to be found guilty of first degree murder, the government must prove that the person killed another person. According to the American Cancer Society, “438,000 people die from illnesses related to cigarette smoking.” (American Cancer Society 2007) Well, there is your proof that somebody actually died.
Next, we must prove that “the person killed the other person with malice or forethought.” The documents for Project S.C.U.M. included some lovely handwritten notes. (as pictured above) “Consumer Subcultures --Alternative Life Style (handwritten: "Castro/gay") --International influence --Rebellious; Generation X --Street People...more applicable to Doral (handwritten: "Tenderloin" (tobaccodocuments.org) The scribbled comments do not seem like terms of endearment and they clearly put some forethought into this plan, hence the premeditation.
“To kill with malice aforethought means to kill either deliberately and intentionally or recklessly with extreme disregard for human life.” (Cal. Penal Code S 189) I could go off on a limb and say that the companies did this intentionally and deliberately but they would just counter by saying that they didn’t. However, the “recklessly with extreme disregard for human life” portion fits them to a tee. (Cal. Penal Code S 189) These corporations do not care about the people. In fact, the whole point of the S.C.U.M. proposal was to get more people to use cigarettes. Going further I could prove that this act has been premeditated since the R.J. Reynolds company was started back in 1875. Either way, this corporation is responsible for millions of deaths, but because of our love of money, they get off scott free.

Here is my case:
Defendant: R.J. Reynolds Company

Victims: The 438,000 people who die each year from smoking related illnesses

Motive: Money/Greed

Kill with Malice aforethought: Intentionally & recklessly with extreme disregard for human life

Premeditation: Yes
All of the Above= Murder in the first degree

Links:
American Cancer Society: http://www.blogger.com/www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Cigarette_Smoking.asp Project S.C.U.M. Documents: http://tobaccodocuments.org/landman/518021121.html
California Penal Code: http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/m053.htm
Trouble, Courtney. "Where There's Smoke...Tobacco Companies Have Used Some Icky Tactics..." Girlfriends. 26 Dec 2005
https://carmen.osu.edu/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/ouHome.asp?d2l_stateGroups=grid~gridpagenum~mycoursesstategroup&d2l_stateScopes=OrgUnitSession~GridPageNum~Search~PageNum%5EOrgUnitUser~LCS~MyCoursesStateGroup%5EUser~Grid~PageSize~HtmlEditor~HPG&d2l_statePageId=308579&d2l_state_grid=mcg12932~0~~Asc~~0&d2l_state_gridpagenum=mcg12932_pgN~0&d2l_state_mycoursesstategroup=mcg12932_tree~302123%2C302122%2C122310%2C175887%2C213536%2C213537%2C300435%2C300436%2C300437%2C300438&ou=993827

Digital Scrapbook #9: The Size 0 Debate & the Media

Zero, zilch, nil, none… all of these words are synonymous yet if it is “nothing” then how can it be a size of clothing. I am slightly at odds when it comes to the size zero argument. It is not that I am not acknowledging that people of this size do not exist but I just don’t understand the point of it. It is just a number, why not make it a size 1 and push back the sizing chart one tier. Creating a size zero just, brings about another goal for women to aspire to.
If you leave the confines of the United States, you will find that there is no such thing as a size zero. In England our size zero is equivalent to a size 4. In the remainder of Europe it equates to a size 32. Either way, every conversion table gives a different number, but at least it isn’t zero.
Most perplexing however, are the conflicting views of the media. They criticize the fact that such a size was even created and but simultaneously perpetuate the thin beauty ideal. One moment a celebrity is too fat, (most likely normal sized) and the next moment they are too skinny. Basically the media contradicts themselves on what they deem as healthy, which is a terrible message for an adolescent society that takes the media as fact. I am greatly annoyed with many other issues revolving around the size zero debate but there is on that I think is incredibly important, Anorexia.
Each year we follow fashion week to see the trends of next season. Even though Madrid, took a stand a few years back and banned models with a Body Mass Index of under 18 and requested that they are medically certified as being so, anorexia and size 0 is still an issue. The most drastic response comes from Nolita, a fashion label which exhibited an advertisement featuring a nude anorexic woman. The advertisements have been posted during fashion week all of Milan.
Isabelle Caro is the “model” used in this advertisement. She is a an anorexic who has lived with the disease for over fifteen years. Isabelle spoke of her reasons partake in the campaign by saying, “I’ve hidden myself and covered myself for too long. Now I want to show myself fearlessly, even though I know my body arouses repugnance. I want to recover because I love life and the riches of the universe. I want to show young people how dangerous this illness is.” One can only respect the fact that she is using her illness to prevent others from doing what she has done. The photographer who shot the ad, Oliviero Toscani said his goal was “to use the naked body to show everyone the reality of this illness, caused in most cases by the stereotypes imposed by the world of fashion.” (DailyMail.co.uk)
It was successful at eliciting shock and displaying the reality of what anorexia does to bodies, but it failed. It only created what pro-ana sites like to call “thinspirational” photos. Women looked at some of Isabelle’s pictures and just loved how all 68lbs of Isabelle was fat free. Some of them looked at her like the Gisele of anorexic people.
It is that same effect that bothers me about size zero. Size zero is just another goal for women to set for themselves. Adding another size just makes women seek control, because maybe their pant sizes aren’t growing. Maybe the size charts are just changing.
At the same time I also question the motives of this ad. People already living with anorexia are accustomed to the distorted images in their head, so looking at a picture of another anorexic may not be that shocking. If this company wanted to help people suffering with the disease then they would have to do more than cover a town in posters. Do not forget though, that even though they are bringing a problem to light, it seems more of a ploy to get their brand noticed. I mean, who has heard of Nolita anyway? If they really wanted to take a stand and make a statement, then they would use “real” women in their fashion shoots.

Links:

"Fashion Company's Shock Tactics in the Fight Against Size Zero": http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-483762/Fashion-companys-shock-tactics-fight-size-zero.html

MamaVision(picture links): http://mamavision.com/2007/09/24/italy-aint-messin-around/

Digital Scrapbook #10: Family Roles In Addiction

Family and Addiction go hand in hand as a codependent unit. Even though we are quick to point out that once person has a problem, every member plays a role that in some way affects the behaviors of the addict. These roles are often inadvertently accepted and unless they are realized will hinder an addict from recovering. Rehabilitation can help to a certain extent, but without participation from all of the people who frequently surround the troubled individual then a resolution is unlikely. This particular article on Hopelinks.net, attributes codependency as family/friends making decisions or taking on roles that make the addiction of a particular person possible. It suggests that there are six roles that an addict and its surrounding social group belong to. It lists the roles as the Addict, The Hero, The Mascot, The Lost Child, The Scapegoat, and The Caretaker (enabler).

*The Addict: The person with the addiction is the center, and though the key to alcohol and drug addiction recovery, not necessarily the most important in family recovery. The "world" revolves around this person, causing the addict to become the center of attention. As the roles are defined, the others unconsciously take on the rest of the roles to complete the balance after the problem has been introduced.
*The Hero: The Hero is the one who needs to make the family, and role players, look good. They ignore the problem and present things in a positive manner as if the roles within the family did not exist. The Hero is the perfectionist. If they overcome this role they can play an important part in the addiction recovery process. The underlying feelings are fear, guilt, and shame.
*The Mascot: The Mascot's role is that of the jester. They will often make inappropriate jokes about the those involved. Though they do bring humor to the family roles, it is often harmful humor, and they sometimes hinder addiction recovery. The underlying feelings are embarrassment, shame, and anger.
*The Lost Child: The Lost Child is the silent, "out of the way" family member, and will never mention alcohol or recovery. They are quiet and reserved, careful to not make problems. The Lost Child gives up self needs and makes efforts to avoid any conversation regarding the underlying roles.The underlying feelings are guilt, loneliness, neglect, and anger.
*The Scapegoat: The Scapegoat often acts out in front of others. They will rebel, make noise, and divert attention from the person who is addicted and their need for help in addiction recovery. The Scapegoat covers or draws attention away from the real problem. The underlying feelings are shame, guilt, and empty.
The Caretaker (Enabler):The Caretaker makes all the other roles possible. They try to keep everyone happy and the family in balance, void of the issue. They make excuses for all behaviors and actions, and never mention addiction recovery or getting help. The Caretaker (Enabler) presents a situation without problems to the public.The underlying feelings are inadequacy, fear, and helplessness (Hopelinks.net)

An excellent example of this dynamic is the Showtime series Dexter. A brief synopsis of the show is that Dexter Morgan, an introverted thirty-something lives a double life. By day he is a blood spatter expert for the Miami Police Department, all other times he is a brother, boyfriend, and serial killer. Dexter is not your average murderer thought, he is a vigilante who eradicates criminals that “slip through the cracks” of the justice system.

*Addict: Dexter Morgan, the series’ namesake is obviously the central focus of his world. As stated above, since he has the role of addict, the other characters take up roles to balance him out as we find learn of his need to kill.
*Hero/Mascot: Deb Morgan is Dexter’s non-biological sister and fellow police officer. Deb is a perfectionist who will do anything that will make her stand out on a predominantly male force. She always felt that her deceased father loved Dexter more, evoking a desire for closer relationship with her sibling. Dexter’s secret prevents that closeness but he comments she is as close to loving a person as he can come. Deb pretends that there are not problems and jokes that the killer could be a cop. Deb’s devotion to her only known relative blinds her to the fact that Dexter has a dark secret/problem.
*Lost Child: Rita, is Dexter’s on-and-off again girlfriend. The ex-wife of an addict and mother of two children, Rita is damaged. She ignores the fact that Dexter works weird hours and has abnormal tendencies in return for protection. In return for protection, Rita ignores what she suspects is a drug problem by keeping her mouth shut. She never insinuates that Dexter may have a problem, but appreciates the fact that he plays a fatherly role to her children.
*Scapegoat: Rudy and Lila are the scapegoats in Dexter’s World. Unbeknownst to Dexter, he had a brother, which like him was found a the scene of a drug deal massacre and shared a thirst for blood. Known as the “Ice Truck Killer,” Rudy stole the spotlight and took the fall for the murders even though his murders were not for the sake of justice. His motivations were an emptiness coming arising from the fact that Dexter’s was by a cop and he was left for the foster care system and the guilt of not being able to protect his mother. Lila, Dexter’s temporary fling was a fellow addict and sociopath. She recognizes Dexter’s weaknesses immediately in turn feeding her own addiction. Lila has an emptiness which she believes only Dexter can fill. Dexter returns to Rita which results in Lila stealing the spotlight. She sets her own apartment on fire, steals his girlfriends children, tries to get Dexter caught, and even sleeps with his best friend so she get all of the attention.
*Caretaker: Every person that surrounds Dexter is an enabler. Each character that he is “close” to knows there is a secret, but not the extent of it. They may ask questions but never follow through. His deceased father Harry was the primary enabler. Harry Morgan, also a police officer, sensed this addiction growing and instead of seeking help, he taught Dexter kill small animals and follow a set of noble rules.
All of these characters allow Dexter to carry out his need to kill. In order for Dexter to recover as the Hopelink website explains, each member will have to realize these roles and relinquish them. The members must find themselves whole as an individual and be there to support the addict. Since they are a codependent unit, they need to realize that their previous behaviors were allowing the addiction to exist. Unfortunately for Dexter, he has a long way to go.

links: Dexter Homepage- http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do

Family Roles In Addiction & Codependency: http://www.hopelinks.net/addiction/family/roles.html

THIN

Leaving class was the most awkward time I have had this quarter. The elevator was silent, and a normally chatty bunch was left silent. I had previously watched this documentary before, however, this time was different. The first time I was alone at my house, in contrast to in a classroom. Watching people tear up and shudder made it more powerful. It is not the vomiting, feeding tubes, starvation, or skinny bodies that is shocking. The part that really affects viewers is the fact that stars are real people, just like you and me. They are mothers, sisters, daughters, nurses, college graduates, and any other role you can identify with. It is one thing to read an article about the effects of an eating disorder or watch a lifetime movie, but to watch people slowly kill themselves should be difficult for anyone to observe. I’m not going to lie there were parts and people in this film that made me want to scream and also parts that made me want to help people with eating disorders.
Brittany was the character I liked the least. Granted, she was only fifteen when this was filmed, but I have never wanted to smack somebody more in my life. This girl was given the opportunity to help herself, and throughout the film she kept saying how she wanted to try. Yet, at the end, during her meltdown in group, Brittany says she was forced to be there and that she doesn’t want help, she just wants to be thin. I felt like she had just wasted a lot of time and money lying not only to herself but also the people around her. Personally, I think Brittany just wanted the attention, not the actual weight loss. She was so consumed with the pity that people feel for her what I noticed with her was a theme of no love. She felt unloved when her mom didn’t answer the phone on the first call, she wrote “no love” on her art sculpture, and she even said it multiple times throughout the film. This girl clearly has issues, but I believe they lie much deeper than the self-imposed restrictions on her eating. Brittany was set up for failure, and she kept perpetuating that idea. Brittany’s mother has eating issues. As soon as I heard about her chewing and spitting game and how “fun” it was, I was appalled. It is no wonder the girl is so screwed up, her mother sends her mixed messages. She wants Brittany to get better, but at the same time she wants to be smaller than her daughter and not lose her enabling partner. I also wonder what else is going on in the life of that young girl, because her father is not even mentioned. I pity Brittany, but I am bothered by the fact that she always makes excuses and runs away unlike the other girls at Renfew.
Polly was the character that surprised me most. I thought she was the woman who was most likely to make a full recovery. She was so strong minded and seemed like a fighter, which is why it made me sad to read that she had committed suicide. Alisa and Shelly didn’t do much for me. Yes, both their stories were heartbreaking, but neither of them really wanted to get better. They both said one thing and did another. Shelly should not be a nurse, especially in a psychiatric hospital, she should almost be a patient there and the fact that Alisa is in charge of two children also scares me.
I liked this film a lot though because it’s real. There is no filter, there is swearing, puking, vulnerability, and hope. Hope that young girls can watch this and see that eating disorders are not cool, and that they should not be glamorized in the media. I appreciate the fact that these women were so gracious in allowing us to observe them, and I can only hope they are all better, even little Brittany.

REPOST: JILL

Something is going on with either blogger, cut & paste, or microsoft word..if this doesn't work I can just e-mail it to you..

Listening to Jill speak was intense. All of our eyes were on her. It was so hard to believe that this individual could have a problem like an eating disorder. She is intelligent, thin, pretty, funny, and charismatic. There was only one disturbing part… each of us could find a part of ourselves in Jill’s story. Whether it be a bad experience at the pediatrician or emotional eating, we all can empathize with what she went through.
I found a lot of aspects of my life where I could identify with Jill. She spoke of her Irish dancing and it's toll on her body. My sport of choice was swimming. Swimmers are not supposed to be fat people, so I fit in there. I was aware that kids pointed at the fat kids, and “ooooed” at the big splashes they made. (which I’m sure were about the same as everyone else’s) However, I suffered from hypothermic episodes because of my low body fat and was forced to take special drinks during practice to keep me from losing weight. You could see every muscle, every vein under my freckled skin. I soon learned that I might as well have been the fat kid because I was a freak too.
Most people don’t see thinness as a problem, but it is. Instead of growing wider I grew taller. By 3rd grade I was 48 inches….and 48 pounds. I was embarrassed by my “skinniness.” Kids called me string bean, bean pole, gangly, monkey, and adults stared at me like I should have been on a Christian Children’s Fund Commercial with Amazing Grace playing in the background. This was also when biker shorts and crotch-snap body suits were the trendy, and I couldn’t fit in. My biker shorts looked like basketball shorts, and because I was so long body I had to go up in size, which made my body suits look like a tucked in t-shirt.
Clothing remained an issue, in 7th grade, I was 5’7” with double D breasts and I wore a size 14 Limited Too kids pant. I remember my best friend got her first pair of L.E.I. jeans and their were size 7. I tried them on every time I went to her house but they never fit. The smallest junior size was a 1 at this point and I would swim in them. So I had to settle for capri pants before they were even popular because any kids pants were too short for me. For most of the year I wore shorts or long skirts my grandma would alter for me, because this was before there were long lengths in jeans. In college finally filled out a little, but thankfully there are many more options for me today.
The hardest part of my appearance was my Mom. She is 4'11" and plump partly because of a childhood growth problem. We look nothing alike, and people would ask her if I was adopted, if my dad was previously married, or if I was one of her nieces. When they would find out I hers, reactions ranged from gasps to odd looks. Each time a piece of her crumbled, but she never said a word. All I wanted to do was look like I belonged to my family.
I found myself in Jill’s story because her insecurities were the sources of her problems. Her doctor told her she was chubby, and mine showed me a box chart that explained that I was “Oddly” skinny. Telling a child she is odd in any aspect of life, especially at 8 will certainly have repercussions. Like Jill I won’t use a scale because I don’t want to know if I have fluctuated, plus I don’t need a scale, if my pants fit then I’m the right size.
She also mentioned about her emotional NOT-eating. I’m exactly the same way. My parents and friends can always tell when something is not right because I basically deflate. It’s not intentional; it’s just that my sadness, anxiety, anger, fear, whatever it may be consumes any ounce of hunger. I don’t consider it an eating disorder because I’m not doing it to lose weight, for control, or with any ulterior motive. It’s never for more than a few days anyway.
What was inspirational was the fact that she overcame her problem and turned it into something useful. I respect her for using her experiences to help others and inform people that you don’t have to be crazy to have an eating disorder. I may have not been the fat kid, but I was the skinny kid either way you aren’t normal.

Jill

Listening to Jill speak
was intense. All of our eyes were on her. It was so hard to believe that this individual could have

a problem like an eating disorder. She is intelligent, thin, pretty, funny, and charismatic. There was only one disturbing part… each of us could find a
part
of ourselves in Jill’s sto
ry. Whether it be a bad experience at the pediatrician or emotional eating, we all can empathize with what she
went through.
I found a lot of aspects of my life where I could identify with Jill. I was a competitive swimmer since age four. Swimmers are not suppos
ed to be fat people. I din’t necessarily limit my calories at age
four, but I was definitely aware of my body.