Archive for November 11th, 2008
Book Recommendation: Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters
I haven’t read this book yet, but, given my interest in (and experience with) disordered eating issues, MamaV recommended it to me this past weekend, and it’s the next book I’ll be picking up.
Courtney Martin’s acclaimed book is called Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, and you can read the Amazon reviews here.
Straight from the Amazon review, “This eye-opening look at twenty-first century culture and its impact on women reveals how food and weight obsession, driven in no small part by images of celebrities openly wasting away, threatens a new generation of girls as the feminist exhortation that “you can do anything” is twisted into “you must do everything.” It also inspires readers to consider what wonderful things might happen if the madness stopped once and for all.”
MamaV’s book club is reading it and discussing a chapter a week — an awesome idea! Since I haven’t read it yet, I don’t have much to add … but you can bet my thoughts about it are going to find their way to this blog.
How about you? Have you read this book? Would you like to join me?
15 comments November 11, 2008
Blurring the Lines: Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
When I began blogging, I always considered being a disordered eater a separate entity from having an eating disorder.
After all, every woman seems to be a “disordered eater” in one way or another.
And since I never truly binged; never binged and purged (I cry when I throw up; last time was alcohol-induced, at a Dave Matthews Band concert back in 1999); and never starved myself, I was “in the clear,” so to speak … at least in my own little head.
I didn’t classify myself with the girls who threw up their lunches or worked out for four hours a day and lived on lettuce leaves.
I had a complex, thinking, “Well, I’d do anything but that …” as though that made me less culpable or something.
In my head, I wasn’t one of “them”. I just exercised a lot and watched every morsel that went into my mouth.
But I mean, really, who was I kidding? I still had a big, undeniable problem. What might sound admirable (being a militant exerciser and keeping a meticulous food journal) was hurting me –and those I love and who love me — in more ways than one. (more…)
15 comments November 11, 2008
