Fransens, Jitske (2023) The Hidden Layers: Acknowledging the Political Dimension of Eating Disorders. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
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Abstract
This dissertation argues that a comprehensive understanding of eating disorders requires the acknowledgement of their political dimension, in addition to their social and medical facets. The study challenges the limited perspective that predominantly discusses the medical aspects of eating disorders by emphasising their stigmatisation and the importance of considering their social and political dimensions. The study comprises three chapters examining different dimensions of eating disorders. The first chapter explores their medical factors, including various disorder types and associated stigmatisation. The second chapter investigates the social dimension by analysing societal pressures and gender inequality, revealing a connection between eating disorders and female experiences in contemporary society. The third chapter explores the political dimension, refuting the strict separation between the social and the political. Drawing on the theories of de Beauvoir, Foucault, and Butler, it demonstrates how societal pressures, norms, and power dynamics contribute to eating disorders. The dissertation argues that socially constructed beauty standards are not merely cultural obsessions but unconscious political mechanisms that oppress women. The dissertation asserts that a holistic understanding of eating disorders necessitates the recognition of their social and political dimensions in conjunction with their medical facets. It emphasises the need for systemic changes to foster a healthy relationship with food and promote self-acceptance. By creating a culture that celebrates body diversity, rejects unrealistic expectations, and embraces acceptance, society can effectively address the complexity of eating disorders and cultivate a more compassionate environment. Keywords: eating disorders, political dimension, oppression
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Name supervisor: | McKeown, M.C. |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Sep 2023 09:44 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Sep 2023 09:44 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/264 |
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