For some reason many people think only women have eating disorders. The idea of a man having an eating disorder is often unheard of. However, twenty-five to forty percent of eating disorder cases are male. The stereotype of only women having these issues is just one of the many misconceptions about eating disorders.
Men are faced with many of the same pressures about body weight as women are. Starting very young, boys are told they have to be between a certain weight range to play the sport they want to play. The unrealistic rule makes the boys aware of their weight, and often times insecure about it. The misconception is detrimental to the millions men who suffer from eating disorders in their lifetime. The stereotype leads most of them to feel embarrassed. They feel as if it is not possible for them to have this happening to them because it is not known as normal. It ultimately stops them from seeking help from others. Their eating disorders continue to worsen without help from others and eventually it is too late. Educating society about eating disorders can help save and improve the lives of thousands of people.
4 Comments
It's sad that even in the world of eating disorders, there's a strict division across genders. I think that the extra pressure to be "tough and macho" for guys pushes them towards denial that they are in need of help. While women are at risk to these mental illnesses because of our conformist standards on outer appearance, men are also at risk to them because of the long-held assumption that they must never seem vulnerable. We must change these stereotypes and acknowledge that men are human too, and are just as susceptible to body negativity as women are.
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Myra
8/31/2016 02:53:06 pm
Well said, Amy. And I think you also touched on something really important. This issue speaks to a larger discussion on gender norms in our society and particularly amongst high school age students, who are often more susceptible to conforming to established norms so that that they feel like they fit in in their local communities. This vulnerability often makes them more susceptible to mental illness and eating disorders.
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Robby
9/2/2016 05:49:16 pm
This is very interesting. While I know women who are, somewhat, open about having issues concerning body image or eating habits, I do not know any men who admit to similar problems. Maybe I do not hang out with enough body builders, because I could see more potential for obsessive eating/exercise habits. It is interesting that these issues may manifest differently across gender lines.
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9/9/2016 05:07:26 pm
Thank you for making this blog post; too often (while important) the media only focuses on women struggling with body image and eating disorders and shies away from men. This is an all too often stereotype as there are plenty of men (I knew many myself) who are suffering from equally severe issues as women regarding body image. Thank you for bringing light to this topic that is too often hidden away and leaves men ashamed and embarrassed to talk about; lets crush this stereotype.
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Our Blog's PurposeInforming you on the harmful effects of society's constricting image of beauty as well as the courageous people who combat it. Archives
December 2016
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