An assignment I actually enjoyed doing..

I have been preparing for a massive presentation for uni during the last few weeks. It was, one of the more enjoyable presentations I have done in a while. Not only did it include role playing, it also required us of script writing and dressing up. Doing this group assignment was quite fun (not something I can say for the majority of the group assignments). The topic we chose, anorexia nervosa, was also very interesting.

Generally, I wouldn't have a clue what those girls suffering from anorexia goes through, but being a girl, I can somewhat relate to the weight issues and the need to look the best. But at the same time, I was shocked by the extent of malnutrition they go into. Anorexia can kill you. And it can be associated with things like substance abuse, depression or anxiety disorder. It can easily be a plea for attention or a reaction to pressure from others (the ballet dancer who suffers from bulimia in Centerstage is an example).

Knowing all this, I was particularly horrified when I overheard a girl talking to her friend. I was standing behind her on the escalator, so it was a bit hard not to eavesdrop. She was telling her friends how she had suffered from anorexia with an air of almost boasting about it. She said something like 'I was totally anorexic and all, but I am now fine!'. This girl would've barely been 15 years and she was just going on about anorexia as if it had been a temper tantrum she chucked in front of her parents. Maybe that was what it is, but she didn't sound like she regretted having anorexia. There was no words of warning to her friends about it either. Meanwhile, all I could think of was the girl who went into a coma because her body couldn't handle her jogging for a few miles because she was so malnourished and weak.

There are success stories too. Clearly this girl I overheard talking about anorexia was fine, since she was on her way to the beach. And she didn't look too skinny either. People who realize that they are at risk, get help and are motivated to get better do win the fight against anorexia.

That's what our assignment was supposed to be; help people (we focused on girls from around 16 to 18 years) with anorexia get better, or at least try and prevent relapse using group therapy.

One of the things I came across while looking up treatments for anorexia was that focusing on other aspects of beauty, such as make-up and hairstyling, was helpful, so it distracted them from body size and things like that. And I thought it would be good idea to include a session in our group therapy where the girls would be taught about makeup tips and all. However, that idea was pretty much slammed by our tutor, saying that focusing on the outer beauty, especially with a group of girls who have an obsession with that was not such a good idea. Which is quite true.

However, I am not going to pretend for a minute that 'inner beauty' is all that matters in the society. Looking good and outer beauty is an issue as well. And ignoring it doesn't solve anything. In an idealistic society, yes, it could work.

I thought the view of outer beauty could be challenged and not fall for the conformations that media asks us to. We tackled that problem with having a session that helped the girls view the media critically. Because media is a huge issue when it comes to things such as what people should look like.

Doing this assignment was an eye opener for all of us. And every time I forgot to have lunch (yes, that did happen sometimes) I would feel a bit guilty.