Something I've noticed...

This is just something that I've been thinking about. It's NOT meant to be racist in ANY WAY, so please know that. I was just wondering if anyone had noticed that it's mostly white girls who are anorexic? Black, native american, etc people just seem so much more confident in their bodies and the way they look. Has anyone else noticed this? Or is it just me? Just thought it was interesting...it might be just the area that I live in or something. Like I said please don't take any offense at this, anyone.

That's not rascist, that's a psychological statistic.  Most anorexic/bulimcs are white, due to many factors, including their sensitivity to outside media messages (pictures of skinny white girls, etc).  Their concept of beauty fixates on thin, while most nonwhites fixate on curves.
Also, most whites are taught from an early age that if someone doesn't like them, it must be because they're fat.  Nonwhites are mostly taught that if someone doesn't like them, its because of their race.  The generally accepted image of beauty for a nonwhite person is someone with a little extra baggage.

One thing I've noticed, more often than not, is if a white or Asian person has curves, they're fat and need to lay off the McDonalds.  If a hispanic or black person has curves, they're voluptious and beautiful.

I think it's just how society is these days.

its just the diff  in upbringing i suppose.

fat is fat in my book no matter the color i dont discriminate!  Equal oppertunity hater here!

Original Post by cellulitedelight:

One thing I've noticed, more often than not, is if a white or Asian person has curves, they're fat and need to lay off the McDonalds. If a hispanic or black person has curves, they're voluptious and beautiful.

I think it's just how society is these days.

 Not quite society but in their community they have different ideals.

That's a sweeping statement.

I am of latin and lebanese background, which usually would translate into massive boobs, big booty and jiggly thighs. Well I did have that - and then I developed Anorexia.

I recently visited Argentina for the holidays and was absolutely astounded at the number of girls suffering from eating disorders. The confidence is dropping, stick thin is in.

I blame society.

cant ever blame society for a concious choice.

sure, there's an element of choice. But there's also pressure. And impressionable teenage girls do crazy things when under pressure.

In Europe, anorexia is on the rise. I lived in Romania for a year during high school, and the girls there were skinnier than any girl i have ever seen in the united states. Here in the states, I am considered almost underweight, and I wear size small in almost everything. Yet in Europe, I was told many times how "fat I was" and on top of that, I couldn't even fit into the biggest size in the juniors dept. there. It was horrible. so, i think a lot of the emphasis on being superskinny comes from European roots, which most caucasian americans have.

this is extremely complex and beyond such easy explanations that broad definitions of culture and context can provide.  it's also becoming less true all the time. 

yes, it's about pressure to conform (if you're black, you're never going to look like kiera knightly, no matter how skinny you are), but it's also about the distinction between individualistic and collectivist societies.  in much of white society, we value individual accomplishments and successes, whereas in most of the rest of the world, obligation to family and community is much more important.  in a collectivist culture, the kind of self-involvement implicit in body fixation just isn't supported.

i always thought asians had a high level of body expectations also? from what i understand, their society isnt as "ok" with being so large (like in america, its normal to see and no problem, but being huge is a lot more pressure elsewhere). i think there is a trend of that changing as american eating styles continue to move to other areas of the world... but its not quite as acceptable yet (i think thats a good thing!! being fat isnt "ok" or "who you are"!! its just being a glutton and eating more then you should be... o.O)

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

cant ever blame society for a concious choice.

See, I'm not sure if they're always making conscious choice to be anorexic. I have a few relatives in Asia, and they don't think they're being anorexic. My aunt sometimes only has an apple for lunch, or just a grapefruit. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that anorexia is 'the norm' over there - by that I mean eating severely low calories, I'd guess 800 is not too far off of a number.

It's all subliminal, in the media, in people you see on the street. They're all thin and pretty, ergo, I should be too. And since food is correlated with weight gain...quite simply, eat less. No conscious decision is made in the process, per se. I have a feeling I'm not doing a very good job at explaining; but in Hong Kong, you just are thin.

If you aren't, you're ridiculed. Often. And by strangers. And ogled at. And pointed at. And talked about. Loudly. There's really not an option to be "slightly overweight" and be normal like there is in the good ol U S of A. And when I mean slightly overweight, I mean like a healthy BMI of 23. When society (and especially the teenage population) are that cruel - do you really have another option but anorexia/bulimia?

Am I generalizing here? I'd like to request other Asian girls who have been back to the motherland to step up and speak. (Or of course, other countries similarly plagued).

So yes, I blame society, or more precisely, I blame the media.

I have been pondering this for such a long time and have come up with this conclusion.  Which is that much different than other opinions stated here but here goes...I believe the most influential factor in self image is your community, which includes your family, friends, and all those people you see on a day to day basis.  These people who raise you first teach your how to feel about yourself through example first and then through words.  Secondly, these notions are then reinforced through media images, society ( those around you but you personally dont know) etc. 

I take a little offense to this statement...in much of white society, we value individual accomplishments and successes, whereas in most of the rest of the world, obligation to family and community is much more important.  posted by pgerogian

My family is average weight, or even probably would be considered under weight by other black families and I am the overweight one.  I feel pressure from them to be like the rest of them.  But that concern I believe comes from knowledge that overweight people are more likely to develop certain illnesses, and not from a perception of body image. 

I have friends of varying background who all struggle with weight issues whether it be that they feel they are over weight or under weight. 

How you choose to deal with this is the real question and whether or not extremesare necessary or even helpful. ie. not eating at all or not digesting the food you do eat

I personally dont ever want to be stick thin, its not beautiful in my eyes and I want to be more beautiful than I already am, which means healthy in mind, body, and spirit. 

Original Post by coldthindream:



I blame society.

umm, aren't YOU society?

i think its the western culture, if you go to eastern countries it is easy to see that body shape is not as important and more fuller shapes are desired. In India for example, beauty is more importnat for the face (albeit a bit shallow) rather than the body as well. i guess they consider beauty as not famine-strucken or something. meh i dunno

Different cultures like different things, that's not to say that any one culture is exempt from eating disorders but there is less pressure.

You only need to watch music videos to see what culture finds what attractive.

Original Post by attinew:

i think its the western culture, if you go to eastern countries it is easy to see that body shape is not as important and more fuller shapes are desired. In India for example, beauty is more importnat for the face (albeit a bit shallow) rather than the body as well. i guess they consider beauty as not famine-strucken or something. meh i dunno

That's definitely not true for most East and Southeast Asian countries. 

ok fine maybe what i said was true for my mum's generation and my own culture but when i watch modern south indian films it is clear that being really skinny isnt extremely important.

im not too sure about other eastern countries though because ive never been

I blame the chip in my brain, it tells me if I don't eat tacos I will explode.

Original Post by frokusblakah:

I blame the chip in my brain, it tells me if I don't eat tacos I will explode.

Does that happen to you sometimes, frokus? If it does, I'll do a little dance.