Body Image Council

*warning, could be triggering for those who have suffered with eating issues*

THIS is an interesting interview with a woman from the UK who suffered with anorexia and whose recovery was hindered by the lack of specialists.

Research has shown that fantasy and play are considered important parts of girls’ socialization and development. Also, toys portraying gender and adult roles, like Barbie, provide girls with a tangible image of social values and social interactions.

Interestingly, a 2004 study in the journal Adolescence found that as girls approach late childhood and early adolescence they are less likely to engage in make-believe play with their Barbie dolls and instead increasingly expose them to “torture” or “anger” play — where the dolls are painted, shaved or pulled apart. The authors believe the latter, more hostile form of play is a healthy, normal outlet for expressing aggression and frustration that the children have learned would be inappropriate to do in public. The authors also noted that some girls likely attacked the dolls because they acknowledged they were “too perfect.”

entire story HERE.

So, after racing through my most recent edition of Bitch, it’s time to digest.

There’s a great peice commenting on the coverage over Oprah’s weight. Just to recap: Oprah lost a lot of weight back in 2005 and now 4 years later, is back “where she started”. Oprah’s doctors told her earlier this year that her weight fluctuation is a result of a thyroid problem.

What is startling, atleast to me, is the treatment of this very private and personal matter by the public (ie gossip magazines and blogs). And Oprah’s quoted in her latest issue of “O” where she talks about her weight issues saying basically that at one point, she thought I give up – fat wins.

This completely distresses me – here is a woman that broke racial and gender barriers in journalism/influence in the public sphere. And after her long dynasty, she’s still worried about what she looks like? She thinks that she’s only influential when she lost all of her weight?

I just think it’s ridiculous that someone who is such a role model for so many individuals, that the press – as well as herself – are eating her up and paying so much attention to her weight.

Men are more likely to think of women as objects if they have looked at sexy pictures of females beforehand, psychologists said yesterday.

Def read the entire artile (from the Guardian).

When Serena Williams won the Australian Open last week, she not only recaptured the number 1 ranking, she broke Annika Sorenstam‘s record for career prize money won by a female athlete. Excluding endorsements, Williams has earned $23.5 million in 14 years of professional tennis. NBC suggested she should just go ahead and change her name to “$erena.”

What an awesome role model for ALL women.