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by Laura Howting '02 When I think "political activism," I think protests, sit-ins, and letters to congresswomen. I think issues like human rights, the environment, and nuclear disarmament. I think of policies that are protested like economic and military sanctions on Iraq, and I think of cultural practices that are condemned, like racism in South Africa and female genital mutilation in the Middle East. But, right now in the U.S., in Northfield, and at St.Olaf, there is a huge problem that infringes upon some of the rights listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the right to life, the freedom from discrimination, and the freedom from torture, that many of us don't speak too much about. We can tell why we think the U.S. continues to train Latin American soldiers at the School of the Americas, and what some of the effects of the U.S. sanctions on Iraq are, but we cant tell you why the woman that sits behind us in Spanish class threw up her dinner last night, or why despite the amazing rights women have gained in the last forty years, the cases of eating disorders have risen. Almost as unspoken as our issues of diversity at St.Olaf are our eating disorders. I call them "our" eating disorders, not because every one of us is bulimic or anorexic or a compulsive over-eater, but because they are more than just a disease that an individual has, they are a product of a culture that we live in and create, and most importantly, a culture that we can work to change. How do we change? Can we sign a petition outside the caf tonight to make them stop happening? We tried by wearing purple ribbons, but like any other problem whose causes rise from discrimination, in this case Lookism and not Racism, one of the best ways to fight it is with consciousness, and consciousness may start with ribbon wearing, but sometimes its hard to know what to do past that point. We need to educate ourselves and be sensitive to the issues that Oles with eating disorders are dealing with daily. To begin with, stop and analyze the media and the culture reflected in it. Not only does our culture present "ideal" body images that are unhealthy for 99% of society, it places an extreme amount of importance on the appearance. Like skin color, your weight should not define you like it does in America today. Women have voting rights, hold jobs in all different industries (although they still aren't paid as much as men,) yet the image of women that is portrayed in our media keeps getting thinner. It says, "Don't worry, I'm not threatening." It says, "Woman's biggest problem is how much they weight and how they look." Stop buying beauty magazines. Be conscious that although many eating disorders may start with body-image issues, they extend well past them. Anorexia can be used as a tool for control. (I can't control the world around me, but I can control my weight.) Bulimia, which is often spoken about less than anorexia, is actually a lot more common at St.Olaf and a lot harder to manage and end, in part because the physical threats aren't as immediate, although the long-term damages are very bad. Bulimia, unlike anorexia which develops younger, is often called the "college girls' disease" because that is when it begins in a lot of women. The act of binging and purging can be used as a stress-managing device (relax by purging), and has the same addictive effects as something like cigarette smoking. Bulimics, unlike their anorexic friends, come in many different sizes and shapes. Unlike many common misperceptions, bulimics are not food-lovers and mealtime is often torturous. Be conscious of this. Try not to schedule your social life around meals and eating, find something else to do. At meals, learn to see food as what it should be: nutrition and pleasure, nothing more than that. It is not a treat "I can't eat that cookie, I didn't go running today," or a sin "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I ate all of that." Try not to focus your conversation around weight or food "How many calories are in this?" or "She's really gained weight!" Most importantly, be an available, supportive friend. Let your friends know that you care about them because of who they are, not how they look. Let your them know that there are resources. There is a safe, comfortable place on campus to get help. The counseling center offers one on one confidential counseling, as well as support groups and opportunities to talk to others going through the same thing. Like any other human rights issue, the causes run deep, but your action can help those who are suffering, especially if one of them is yourself. Call the counseling center today and start down the road to freedom.
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