Let's say it aloud: Bulimia.
In Germany, anti-Bulimia ads are being placed inside the lids of women's public toilets in college areas. Bulimia is the act of filling one's stomach with food to the point that throwing up is necessary or appears to be necessary. Many, many women or all ages are affected by Bulimia.
My gut reaction (or wayward yet intellectualized reaction) is that these ads may de-sensitize Bulimia, i.e. make it commonplace, and thus young women would not think twice about doing it because, well, everyone does it. But then I thought about the isolating aspect of Bulimia, namely, that it is a hidden activity and thus women are expected to just fix the problem and not make a fuss of it.
But please, make a fuss of it.
I am actually interested in the "control" aspect of Bulimia and its intersection with general feelings of a lack of control among youth. Some psychologists who specialize in easting disorders insist that control is central to eating disorders such as bulimia and that the strong desire for women to regulate their eating habits functions as a convenient method of conforming to societal standards of beauty. For young men its mostly internet pornography - they get to control their sexual situations while conforming to their roles as "predators."
See, we're alike!
Feministing also has an article.
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