Sunday, March 25, 2012

Blog Post 4: Food for Thought

We tend to view ourselves more negatively

Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating) are becoming more and more prevalent, especially among our youth in the United States. It is no doubt influenced by our environments such as the cultural pressure to be thin.

Romans and their Vomitariums

It is intriguing to understand that eating disorders were not created by our modern society, but they actually existed a long time ago before excessively thin actresses and models started to appear everywhere. In some cultures, eating disorders were not viewed as deviant acts. In the 13th century, there were “holy anorexics” who believed they were in control on their spiritual health and being anorexic proved their devotion to God because food was a sin. In the case of bulimia, it was the time of Ceasar that encouraged bulimia because their culture valued continuous eating and partying. They even had “vomitoriums” where people could go vomit, followed by more drinking and eating. Also, in Egypt, bulimia was even used as a health practice. And here comes an event that we’re familiar with: the relationship between food and wealth in the Middle Ages. Yes, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins according to the Catholic church, but it’s interesting to note that because of the hardships the people have gone through because of wars, they casted away their religious beliefs and engaged in bulimic activities. Because having the luxury to eat large amounts of food was considered a sign of wealth, perhaps the rich have given themselves a justification to their deviance (defined by their religion) to continue their acts of bulimia. It is similar to how we have websites that encourage eating disorders with support from subcultures (pro-ana and pro-mia) nowadays. Interestingly, as a side note, not all types on self-injury disorders have a subculture for victims to depend on. For example, in our reading Self-injurers: a “Lonely Crowd” by Adler and Adler (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010), they have mentioned that self-cutters prefer being alone to be able to concentrate on their acts of deviance in contrast to the people described above. Additionally, self-cutters have noticed that their behaviors are causing practical problems such as visible scars in the workplace, so they have switched their cutting area to more private areas. These individuals can go by unnoticed, like binge-eaters, but anorexics and bulimic individuals will notice a sudden weight decrease that will alarm others of their disorder.

From the 1960s and onwards, doctors have finally found labels to assign to those who have eating disorders. Anorexia came first in the 60s, bulimia came second in 1977 (and its first appearance in the dictionary), and binge eating only came to light in the 90s. Overall, what is deviant and what is not really depends on which era and culture you live in and is really malleable.

Extreme Photoshopping: Almost Unrecognizable
Source: MailOnline

With all the social acceptable reasons to engage in eating disorders back in the days, things have changed. In no way that those who engage in eating disorders are viewed normal, especially now since the disorder is recorded between the pages of the DSM. In other words, those who are anorexic, bulimic, or binge-eaters, are all mental. Not only they are mental, but they have some sort of self-hate against their bodies and low self-esteem regarding themselves. Always restless, they find ways to make themselves feel better by limiting their food intake for example, but unfortunately, there is no end to their problems. The increasing usage of Photoshop in advertisements to alter the images of the human body (especially women) in order to make them look more attractive is almost equivalent to a stab to the heart. As a result, the media is constantly whispering messages such as “you will never be good enough, you will never be perfect”. Also, the fashion industry is another possible contributor to the skinny epidemic. It would be very depressing to know that your body is no where near the size of that glamorous model walking on stage. Additionally, even the National Health Service is recommending people to go on a Ketogenic Enteral Nutrition (KEN) diet. It is a process of having a tube feeding a liquid of protein & nutrients, up from your nose, delivering your food to your stomach. Needless to say, this is a very extreme and shocking diet. According to the doctor, the heavier you are, the more you lose the weight. Four to nine percent of your body total weight can be lost in 10 days.
Isn't it interesting that some people are anorexic because they are poor and deprived of food in certain areas of the world, versus countries abundant in resources who choose not to eat instead? Not only that, our society is constantly trying to put us in a difficult position. We are either subjected to all sorts of weight loss techniques (ranging from simple dieting to surgery) in order to feel more confident about ourselves. Additionally, they tell the very same people that they have a eating disorder (application of labels). Either way, we're stuck. The continuous projection of thin bodies will only contribute to further low self-esteem among the general population.


Very thin models
Source: Business Ethics

No wonder adults, children, and teens are being affected by eating disorders. It is a noticeable phenomenon, especially for females. Among eating disorder patients, approximately 90% are women and 10% are men. Among children, 13% to 41% of girls have admitted dieting or exercising to lose weight, in comparison to only 10% to 29% of boys. This phobia of being fat can start at a very young age with children associating thinness with success and popularity. For example, an 8 year old boy thinks that as long as you can see muscles on your stomach, you are not fat. Otherwise, you are fat, and will be shunned by your circle of friends.

Taunted by weight at young age
Source: Microaggressions

Men are also affected
Source: AnorexiaPictures.net

Unfortunately, the increasing view of body dissatisfaction is not only to be present in the media, but is also present in our families. Parents and members of our families can also police your weight and encourage you to eat more or less, as if they are the ultimate judge of your appearance instead of yourselves. For example, from what I’ve seen in my family, we are really cruel against each other. If we haven't seen someone who has gained weight recently, someone will be blunt and point out that they’ve gotten fatter. If you have lost weight, you will be praised and will be used as an example to those who are still “fat” in the family. Our cultural standard to remain thin has created a phobia of being obese. Once you are overweight, you will be demonized by society, and we have read many articles regarding this issue, such as The Stigma of Obesity by Goode (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010), showing a very saddening case of an individual’s shame (eventually causing death) due to being mocked by society because of their weight. Additionally, even having obese friends can even put pressure on you because others tend to think less of you and start doubting your judgment.

Bulimia

With nowhere to turn to, many people end up in pro-ana or pro-mia websites to look for comfort and to seek help to become even more thin to satisfy themselves (in which they will never be). With the glorified images of anorexic models, these websites are actually very unhealthy to the mind as one can actually end up dying from extreme diets. Social Issues Research Centre wrote an article about pro-ana and pro-mia websites and have pointed out that those communities have drawn a clear line between themselves and the rest who are aware that they have a disorder. In other words, they are in denial and proud to be in control of their condition. Pro-ana communities have even managed to separate themselves from the “anorexics” label by calling themselves “rexies” instead.

Though we may not have noticed, we are all somewhat affected by this cultural phenomenon of staying thin at some point in our lives, even myself. Even the sight of grease floating around your French Onion soup might give you shivers. Low self-esteem can be hard to combat, but as long as you can fight the demons of society, and even yourself, you can then start to appreciate with what you have today. With that said, it would also be inappropriate to automatically assume that someone has a eating disorder if they seem very thin. Their physical appearance can be natural and genetic. Bottom line, we need to appreciate every type of bodies.

So, eat to live or live to eat?

Word Count: 1,465

References

Thio, Alex, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers. 2010. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Film Review 4: Generation RX

What is the main thesis of this film?

There is actually a propaganda going on that many people, especially parents, are not aware of. Our pharmaceutical companies persuade physicians and teachers to prescribe drugs such as Ritalin or Prozac in order to fight ADHD or depression because suddenly "children need it". In fact, these are all false claims. As a result, we now have a large amount of young children getting drugged one generation after another, hence, “generation rx”.

What were the main arguments in support of the thesis?

The autism epidemic is actually a false claim, used by the government and pharmaceutical companies, in order to reap large profits when these companies discovered a new drug. These profits are benefited from children who might be unnecessary misdiagnosed with this mental illness, which is a grave error because not only it may delay or damage their small & on-going developing brain, these drugs may actually cause suicidal thoughts and depression.

How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?

Once an individual has been labeled as autistic or some sort of other medical label, it is hard to detach oneself from this label, or even to grow out from it. As Rosenhan’s study “Being Sane in Insane Places” (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010) has explained, whether you are sane or not, once you have been defined as mentally ill, there is no turning back. Doctors, nurses, and others will be wearing colored lenses and view you as forever crazy or sick. With this said, drugging and misdiagnosing our children could cause them grave mental harm socially and psychologically. This could turn a healthy active child into a depressed or crazy child (with children actually believing that they might be actually sick) because of our nation’s value on capitalism.

Additionally, disorders are socially constructed (and turned into a bible for psychology: the DSM), which is no surprise that some experts can’t even explain what is a mental disorder since knowledge is learned and discovered (so are medical labels and diagnoses). Even the film has shown a clip of a FDA conference between journalists and psychiatrists/physicians who were unable to determine the exact symptoms of ADHD and were very vague about it, saying that symptoms may vary. With these unconvincing ideas, the FDA continues to defend their position that children still need to continue taking Prozac or Retalin in order to succeed in school. However, many scholars have proven that this is wrong. An animated video of these ideas and arguments is on Youtube, "RSA Animation: Changing Education Paradigms".

Interestingly, since these medical labels are socially constructed, the definition of ADHD as expanded from children to adults being diagnosed of this disorder. An increase of self-diagnosing, as explained from the reading “The Emergence of Hyperactive Adults as Abnormal” (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010), continues to describe the whole social process of a label, the plasticity of medical definitions, and drug dependency due to life failures.

Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing?

Every part of the film was convincing, especially the segment about these drugs causing depression and increasing suicide rates. The drawing of a 5th grader jumping off a building was extremely disturbing. I believe it shouldn’t be that hard to find the correlation between these factors, and many scholars have proven that the problem is very obvious, present, and persistent. Unfortunately, corporate companies and the state has turned a blind eye towards this issue because this very issue is profitable to them.

Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?

I usually look for some sort of criticism about every film if I can’t find any arguments that were not convincing. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately, meaning the film was really great), I cannot think of any arguments or criticism.

Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.

The amount of children showing signs of continuing depression and rise of suicidal thoughts is very distressing. If the child was originally happy, these symptoms should be very obvious to the public.

Since the FDA keeps denying the fact that their drugs to treat ADHD or autism have no side effects, I would love to prove them wrong by conducting two studies. First, I would try to find children who are currently being treated and on medication for these disorders. Finding clues whether their disorder has improved or worsened should not be difficult by looking at cues such as drawings (or any other forms of art), language, and facial expressions. Second, I would then continue this study into a longitudinal one. How are these adolescents/adults feeling today, as children who were diagnosed with ADHD? Do they really feel happier, as the commercials have promised, or do they feel worse? If the study results are convincing, I might be able to turn the game around (only if!).

References

Thio, Alex, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers. 2010. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Film Review 3: Tough Guise

What is the main thesis of this film?

The main thesis of the film Tough Guise questions the image of masculinity portrayed in our media and valued by our society. There is also an absence of any other male identity in the realm of manhood. Is such image destructive? In fact, it is. Men and young boys were socially pressured to take on the role of the tough guy even though they are really not all that tough mentally and physically by putting on a tough guise. In the end, not only they are hurting themselves, but they are hurting others such as victims of school shootings. Perfect examples and reason behind school shooting tragedies are explained from one of our readings, “What Triggers School Shootings?” by Kimmel and Mahler (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010).

What were the main arguments in support of the thesis?

The tough guy image is repeatedly being shown towards the male gender from youth to adulthood, which is difficult to avoid since the image is embedded in our culture. The body measurements of action and hero figures are getting more and more macho which is not realistic at all. Growing up, these boys also face on-going criticism from fellow peers by calling each other “gay” or “fag” whenever a boy acts feminine. By labeling the boy with such labels, he will either try to get back into the “tough guise” or become self-destructive (which may lead to depression and suicide). Additionally, the media constantly portrays unrealistic images of buff men as male heroes that will conquer all and will never back out from problems. Because of these iconic heroes, boys and male adults will try act tough just like the heroes which creates a problem because not every guy is tough; there is a huge spectrum that defines what is a man. Race also plays a huge factor in the universe of manhood in the media. Minorities are ridiculously always being portrayed as the violent gangster guy, an abuser or batterer towards women (which also includes white men), or fighters (Asians being ninjas). The media is teaching men that violence can solve problems, but in fact, it creates even more problems.

How does the thesis of this film relate to the course?

Hypermasculinity is destructive and unrealistic because there are many ways to be a boy or a man, but sadly, all those other images besides acting tough are deviant. Acting “manly” is not the only definition of being a man, just like how there is a huge spectrum between the gender binaries. You can be totally feminine, a tomboy, a regular guy, or a macho man. All kinds of gender should be allowed. Again, the media and our culture only allows and glorifies one inflexible image for men: the tough guy. The film also touched upon how the media uses masculinity to devalue social movements such as the civil rights movement, women’s right, and the LGBT movement. Such riots are threatening the dominant group (including the media), which is why subtle or even overt messages are present in movies or music to remind the population that the deviants are still subordinate of the norm: the white culture. This reminds me of the reading “Images of Deviance” by Pfohl (as cited in Thio, Calhoun, and Conyers, 2010) that talks about how the dominant group transforms the messenger into a deviant person in order to lose credibility in his/her words. For example, the media constantly makes fun of feminism and as a result, sexism still exists and feminism is still not being taken of seriously.

Which arguments/points did you find the most convincing?

I find the segment about the backlash from the media (or the dominant group in our society) very convincing. Because of all the social movements that are happening gradually, the dominant group’s values are being threatened. Even though many of these social movements have been accepted, there are still some issues that remain. Making fun of homosexuals or feminists in movies is a good example. The general population laugh about it and might start pondering “wow, these women are crazy!” or “gays are so funny”. These minority groups are slowly losing their credibility. In the end, the dominant group still won. The battle between these groups would be a great place to start talking about control theory.

Which arguments/points did you find the least convincing?

Our professor will probably not like this, but again, I don’t have any criticism for this film. I found every point well made and explained. Everything in the film makes sense to me because I originally held these views and arguments too. Violence and masculinity are destructive.

On another note, a fellow classmate criticized how the buff male image has pretty much retired from the media and replaced by more regular looking men. I somewhat disagree with his statement. Though the physical appearance may have slimmed down, the actual mass is still larger than the average Joe, and what matters the most is that the "soul" of masculinity still lives on. The pride, the dominance hierarchy, the violence, the blood, and respect are still strongly present. For example, the TV show "The Walking Dead" embodies much of these values and it even annoys me at some point (the show is still entertaining, though).

Choose one argument, point or question that most stands out for you. How would you study this point? Briefly design a research study around that point.

I want to find the root of all evil.

I wish to conduct a study and find when boys start to learn about masculinity. I know it’s probably around the age when boys start to develop cognitive abilities, but I would like to know how it happens exactly. Is it the television in their room? The cover of their children’s book? Their parents, perhaps? I will be using boys from age 0 to 12 as my sample. Also, it would be interesting to compare my results with others from a different culture and see how “masculine” the United States is in comparison to other countries. Also, finding traces of masculinity in girls and femininity in boys would be interesting as well. However these results may not be real because the children might lie in order to act like their gender.

References

Thio, Alex, Thomas C. Calhoun, and Addrain Conyers. 2010. Readings in Deviant Behavior. 6th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.