The Body Image Project: February 2008

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Age 43

I am a mother of a teenage daughter. I watched my 5’5” child waste away to 70 pounds and felt completely helpless. I felt as though I failed my daughter. I knew I had to get her help or she would die. After seeing an eating disorder specialist, my daughter is now on the mend and regaining her health. She still has her struggles and faces many challenges, but I now see that recovery for my daughter is possible.

Monday, February 25, 2008

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February 24 - March 1, 2008

In the United States, as many as 10 million females are battling - often silently - with eating disorders. Society's emphasis on physical beauty has created an overwhelming pressure to remain thin in an attempt to obtain the "perfect body" (by any means possible). Due to the shame associated with eating disorders, many cases go unreported although treatment is available and recovery is possible. An eating disorder is a very real illness with serious, dangerous consequences. This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Share your story.

For more information, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Age 17

In middle school I remember being happy. No one talked about their weight or their body. I am now in high school and the girls at my school are constantly criticizing their bodies and the bodies of others. There is always talk of this girl throwing up, or that girl not eating, or another sneaking into an unused classroom to do another 100 sit-ups. It’s almost like a sick competition. It’s become more of a struggle to feel OK about yourself. Before high school, I thought I looked alright. Now I’m just trying to fit in with the rest of the girls. It’s like we all strive to look like the other and I don’t even know why.

Want To Share?

The Body Image Project is an online project searching for women and girls of all ages to share their individual experiences and feelings about their own body image perceptions. The goal of the project is to have women and girls take the brave step of sharing their story, break the hold these perceptions have and ultimately reveal to those who share and those who read the thoughts of others – you are not alone. It is a rare opportunity to share without fear of judgment - share in a healthy manner. We ask that individuals include their age so the reader witnesses the wide-range of ages and the wide-range of issues women and girls are facing (often silently).

Share your story. Keep it short and simple - the impact will be huge.

To share your story, simply email your words to bodyprojectsubmission@gmail.com.

Background

Body image dissatisfaction is a growing epidemic in our society. Women, teenagers – and now young girls – have become obsessed with obtaining the “perfect body” which can lead to an unimaginable sense of self-loathing. Society targets women with constant attacks on their bodies creating a false belief that our value – our worth – is based on appearance alone. We have become enslaved to the beauty myth and to our unwavering attempt to fit in, skewing the mental picture we have of ourselves.

The Body Image Project simply asks “when you look in the mirror, what do you see?” Do you embrace your physical appearance, or yearn for change? Do you accept your physical differences or take extreme measures in an attempt to change your body? How far are you willing to go to feel better about yourself? Are you happy?

Be honest. Be open. Express yourself without fear of judgment.

Through your words and shared thoughts, The Body Image Project will take an unflinching look at how women and girls perceive their bodies, allow individuals an opportunity to reveal their perceptions of their own self-image and explain how far some are willing to go to fit in.