Abstract
Studies examining the social forces behind eating disorders have found that unrealistic conceptions of feminine beauty exert pressure on millions of women suffering from eating disorders. However, untenable feminine ideals do not explain the social factors affecting men. Utilizing narrative and content analyses of accounts of women and men on Tumblr and eating disorder recovery support groups, this paper finds that men experience eating disorders and recover differently from women. Gender salience, and not simply femininity, had a powerful effect on the recovery process for both women and men. Drawing from the sociologies of narrative, gender, and masculinity studies, this study provides a more nuanced and consequential way of understanding eating disorder recovery and how recovery trajectories vary by gender. Four categorical narrative types emerged from the sample: Ecological, Sickened, Abused, and Warrior. Language in the narratives relied on traditional gender roles, and each narrative lead to different proportions of recovery outcomes. Individuals in this study used one of four narrative types. The warrior narrative, which was the only one used by men, was associated with a higher rate of relapse. The propensity to relapse varied between the narrative types, suggesting some may be more conducive for recovery.
Highlights
Over 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders [29, 33, 60, 66]
By articulating the narratives and used language of individuals with eating disorders in online eating disorder support groups and general social media platforms, this study reveals how the practice of doing gender varies between men and women seeking to recover from their disorders and how these variations lead to differences in their recovery outcomes
Given the distinct correlates between gender, narrative type, and the proportion of self-reported relapse, these findings demonstrate that the qualitative experience of having an eating disorder and recovering from it are different between women and men
Summary
Over 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders [29, 33, 60, 66]. Eating disorders “are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food and that1 3 Vol:.(1234567890)Gender Issues (2022) 39:368–386 significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning” [1]. Over 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders [29, 33, 60, 66]. Eating disorders “are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food and that. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) recognizes eight types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, pica, rumination disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED), and unspecified feeding or eating disorder (UFED). The factors driving individuals into disorder are social, neuro-chemical, and psychological [60, 66]. Most individuals who suffer from eating disorders hold a combination of these factors, none being necessary nor sufficient (ibid). Eating disorders have debilitating physical, psychological, and social effects throughout the lives of sufferers [29, 33]. The effects are often chronic, debilitating, and can have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences on individuals, their family, and community,even resulting in death
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