Why Representation Matters: Exploring the Lack of Diversity in Eating Disorder Recovery Narratives

 Lack of Diversity in Eating Disorder Recovery

Disclaimer

I live, + have always lived, in a what society has deemed a "thin" + somewhat “conventionally attractive” body. Just to be clear, when I say “conventionally attractive” I don’t mean what I think is beautiful. I am talking about a body that is pretty close to society’s "Eurocentric Beauty Standards" However, I know I need to own the fact that I have not always recognized this.
NOTE: This is not therapy, nor should this be a substitute for therapy. This is merely for educational purposes with the intent of sharing information, education, and advocacy for this social justice issue that I am passionate about. 

TLD;

According to HAES, "Thin privilege describes advantages that societal deemed thinner people have because they meet certain standards of what is considered ideal or beautiful" -HAES

I personally struggle to recognize this on a daily basis due my own distorted cognitions surrounding my body and self worth due to a lifetime of living with an eating disorder. I am not perfect, and I am still un-learning how diet culture and society's beauty standards have infiltrated my mind and my view of the world. I am in the process of learning about Body Liberation, HAES, and the need for more diverse representation.

I can now see that we as a society, need to recognize that this bias sadly exists, so we can see how we’re being impacted by fat phobia, diet culture, and body expectations. Once we are able to notice it, and see it occurring in our daily lives,  we can explore ways to combat and reject it.

Society tells us what beauty standards are through the models it chooses, news reporters it hires, movie stars it photographs, Instagram and Tik-Tok stars it worships, and so much more. 

About

This blog post explores the lack of representation for marginalized communities in the media and society's portrayal of eating disorder recovery narratives. We attempt to address how this lack of representation affects those who struggle with eating disorders and the importance of amplifying diverse voices in the conversations we are having around eating disorders and recovery!

The Problem

Here's the surface level problem with the media representation of eating disorder recovery only showcasing one very  narrow narrative, it sends the message that

 Only certain people are affected by these struggles

which can prevent those who don't fit into those boxes (which is a pretty huge percent of the population) from seeking help or feeling validated in their experiences. It's important for those of us who have a platform to amplify diverse voices in the conversation about eating disorders.

We can highlight the experiences of individuals from marginalized communities who are often left out of the narrative. By doing so, we can help to break down harmful stereotypes + send the message that literally ANYONE can be affected by eating disorders. Unlike people, eating disorders don't discriminate, they effect ALL PEOPLE IN ALL BODIES.

Action Items

Luckily, there are steps we can take as individuals to support diversity in eating disorder recovery and the how they are represented in the media. For example, we can seek out  voices of individuals from underrepresented communities who are sharing their experiences on social media or through other platforms. Eating disorders affect individuals literally, every single race, gender, + sexual orientations. Sadly, our media representations of these struggles often centers only on white, thin, cisgender, + heteronormative narratives. 

Which is so sad considering how narrow and cookie cutter esqu' that is. This lack of representation can and does have harmful consequences for those who are struggling with eating disorders who do not fit that very specific criteria & may perpetuate harmful stereotypes about who is actually affected by them.

Marginalized communities face even more struggles and very unique challenges when it comes to eating disorder recovery. For example, Black & Indigenous people may face barriers to accessing treatment that their white counterparts do not, aka thank you systemic racism & lack of resources in their communities. Transgender + non-binary individuals may struggle to find providers who are knowledgeable about their unique needs + experiences. And people with disabilities also face barriers to accessing treatment and may feel excluded from traditional recovery spaces. We can also support organizations that prioritize diversity and inclusion in their work, such as The Loveland Foundation or Project HEAL.

TLDR;

To wrap it all up, we are giving you the TLDR; version, Representation matters in eating disorder recovery -in treatment, research, stories of recovery, and more!

By amplifying diverse voices & highlighting the experiences of those who are often left out of the conversation, we can help to break down harmful stereotypes & send the message that anyone can be affected by these struggles. Eating Disorders don't discriminate! Lemme say that one more time, Eating  Disorders do NOT discriminate against ANY person or ANY BODY! I wonder if we can all work together to create a more inclusive + supportive recovery community.

CTA

How have you seen representation (or lack thereof) impact your own experiences with eating disorder recovery? Share your thoughts + experiences in the comments below. Let's continue the conversation + work towards a more BRAVE + supportive Recovery Space for ALL HUMANS. Be sure to follow along for more on Instagram & TikTok. We can't wait to connect with you!