While I was reading "Holy Anorexia,"I was wondering about the difference in behavior between anorexic females and males. Although male anorexia seems to be under the radar, "Male eating disorders are much more common than people know," according to this article. I found many of the points here (see link below) to be relevant to our discussions about gender and society's expectations from males and females, respectively. Unlike anorexic females, who typically "use extreme dieting as a gateway into an eating disorder" and are thus more visibly unhealthy/frail, anorexic males "are more likely to fixate on exercise, which may appear deceptively healthy." The notion of dieting vs. exercise already splits anorexic behavior into female vs. male categories. Furthermore, the article discusses the shame that faces men with eating disorders: "For many males, the fear behind acknowledging their eating disorder and seeking treatment is that others will see them as feminine, unmanly, or gay.” It is interesting that even in the most extreme circumstances, some males still feel bound to maintaining their masculinity and are fearful of succumbing to "a disorder that has always been seen by society as a 'female problem.'"
Finally, the following quote echoes an excerpt from "Holy Anorexia" ("Her newly won self-esteem and confidence initially receive the approbation of those she depends upon (...) causing her to deepen her self-denial pattern until it takes over as the only source of her sense of self.") : "In fact, a slender, muscular man is likely to get positive feedback and praise for his physique, which reassures him that his self-destructive behaviors are ‘paying off.’" Although males and females may deal with anorexia in different, gender-specific ways, they are still unified in their concern about their physique/body image, and in their desire to be accepted.
Here is the article: http://www.eating-disorder.com/Eating-Treatment/Eating-Disorders/male-anorexia-eating-disorder.htm
I was also wondering about the exclusion of males in the article’s discussion on anorexia. Eating and dieting are not exclusive to only females or males, so why should we define eating disorders to restrict them to women? In “Holy Feast and Holy Fast,” the author asserts that “eating … was stereotyped as a male activity and food preparation as a female one” (Bynum). However, if eating is a male activity, then men could also refuse to eat and drink just as they could choose to eat. Society’s fixation on female anorexics has negative effects on boys and men who suffer from the same problem. I found it interesting that the “diagnostic criteria for eating disorders are designed for women” (Vivo). As a psychology student in high school, I believed that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- IV) was a comprehensive and objective guide to mental disorders. But, it turns out that even the DSM can be flawed and biased. I also found it interesting that people assume that only gay men suffer from eating disorders, as if only “feminine” men could share a supposedly “female” problem. How will people’s perceptions on eating disorders and body image change as they realize that there are male anorexics?
ReplyDeleteI think that this subject is very interesting, and I agree with the two previous posts on the subject. The problem with anorexia (and other earing disorders) is on the rise, and women are not alone in their vulnerability. It is true that the rate for men is still significantly lower, however new researches suggest that the percentages of men suffering from it are higher than expected.
ReplyDeleteIn one study of ten thousand people in Toronto, researchers discovered that one out of six people diagnosed of anorexia was male.
Testimonies of men, who suffer from anorexia, resemble in nature with those of women. One man talks about what triggered his problem. His issues, such as loss of marriage and the suicide of his father made him obsess over food and fat intake that just took over his ability to reason. He said food controlled every moment of every day in his life. He found himself starving and working out hours and hours daily.
From these examples we can see that just regular heterosexual men have similar issues and insecurities as women do. And it is not exclusive to those men who are more feminine or homosexual.