
Students unpack issues with eating disorder portrayals

Photo courtesy of Full House, Wikipedia
As a part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, students gathered in the Women’s Center to discuss toxic portrayals surrounding eating disorders in the media. By talking about characters in books, movies and television shows, students uncovered problematic discrepancies between stereotyped media portrayals and everyday people who face these issues.
The Women Center’s Office Manager, Berly Rivera, led the discussion and group activity, in which students created a list of words and images associated with the phrase “eating disorders.”
“I wanted to explore this idea of what we talk about, and what we don’t talk about,” said Rivera.
The list drafted by the students revealed that the majority of characters portrayed in the media are typed as straight, white women. Out of all the popular movies that tell stories about eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia, there is very little diversity, considering characters are not typically male or any ethnicity other than Caucasian.
Popular television shows like “Full House” and “Degrassi” portray characters who battle eating disorders for short periods of time, usually over the course of an episode or two. The lack of depth in these characters’ situations exemplify how eating disorders are undeveloped in media generally targeted at youth and young adults. Characters like D.J. Tanner and Emma Nelson also represent that white female archetype.
Students also identified rare occasions where the media portrays eating disorders realistically. The intensely graphic movie “To the Bone” tells a story about a 20- year-old anorexic girl who undergoes a series of treatments with various therapists. A strikingly realistic aspect of this movie, is how it incorporates the male perspective of her peers, a point-of-view that is often left out of the conversation.
However, even though this movie includes some realistic elements, it is only relatable for a specific demographic. Once again, a white female character is ushered through many inpatient programs, but in reality, only wealthy upper class people could afford such therapy programs.
Many of the people in these therapy programs are characterized as either slim people who suffer from anorexia or overweight people who battle with bulimia. The media selectively depicts the extreme cases of eating disorders, and neglects those who fall in the middle of the spectrum.
Through student’s personal narratives, it was revealed that words like “fat” and “skinny” harbor so many meanings that their connotations vary from person to person. Students also shared their thoughts and habits involving self-love.
Freshman Mariella Zijdel concluded, “It’s so true that we are quick to encourage others, but we are ourselves’ worst critics.”
On Friday, March 2, the Women’s Center will join the Office of Equity and Diversity Programs and the Association of Latinos Moving Ahead to educate people about the unique challenges Latinx's face through eating disorders, and how the mainstream negative narrative surrounding eating disorders neglects their community.
To conclude National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Active Minds and the Women’s Center will be hosting activities where students can write positive messages of self-love on Thursday and Friday between 12 and 2 p.m. in the Fishbowl.
kbongard@ramapo.edu
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More ramaponews News Articles
- CPB hosts highly attended Stuff-a-Plush event
- Girl codes to follow when going out with friends
- Diversity luncheon speaker highlights teacher responsibilities
- John Quiñones speaks at Ramapo's Diversity Convocation
Recent ramaponews News Articles
MOST POPULAR RAMAPONEWS

Ramapo men's basketball loses in playoffs to NJCU By KATIE SUTPHIN

Antonio Brown initiates trade after teammate conflicts By NICHOLAS OSPINA

CPB hosts highly attended Stuff-a-Plush event By GABRIELA OLSZEWSKA

Kareem Hunt gets a second chance with Browns By MACARTAN MCCABE
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST RAMAPONEWS
- Ramapo men's basketball loses in playoffs to NJCU
- Antonio Brown initiates trade after teammate conflicts
- CPB hosts highly attended Stuff-a-Plush event
- Kareem Hunt gets a second chance with Browns
- Girl codes to follow when going out with friends
- One Day at a Time tackles timely issues in new season
- Anthony Davis trade rumors will have to wait for the summer
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Millennials Most “At Risk” When It Comes To Life Ins...
- Coalition Vows To Reform Dark Underbelly Of Timeshare...
- Helping Heroes
- What To Do About The Flu
- Save Energy And Money
- Five Tips To Help Kickstart Your Savings
- How Do We Know LASIK Is Safe?
- Building A Medicaid Bipartisan Bridge
- Footballer Jerry Rice Makes Big Play For Kidney Health
- Tips For Easy Snow Removal
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Some of the Biggest Misconceptions About Life Insurance
- Online Conference Connects Global Startups and Investors
- Corporate Takeover Tale Offers Blueprint for Survival
- Women Say They're Ready to Put Their Money to Work for Them
- This Year, Rethink The Way You Plan a Vacation
- Fall in Love with UPtv's New Uplifting Series: Design Twins
- Pop the Question with the Perfect Song
- Post-Holiday Wake-up Call: Signs Senior Loved Ones May...
- New Year, New Goals: Tools to Get You Where You Want to Go
- How Self-Publishing Made This Author A Best-Seller
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Struggling Student Launches Mobile App GrahamMe That Awards Daily Scholarships and Cash Prizes
- Enter the 2019 SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards Today!
- Cengage Offers College Students Free Access to Career Resources with Cengage Unlimited Subscription
- ACTA Launches HowCollegesSpendMoney.com
- Nikon Announces The Second Year Of The Nikon Storytellers Scholarship, Reaffirming Its Commitment To Education For The Next Generation of Creators