Introduction
In “There Was a Girl,” Katy Waldman addresses the problem of anorexia, a condition that affects thousands of girls and women in the United States. Although the phenomenon of anorexia has been discussed quite meticulously in media, the root cause of the problem, specifically, the idealized body image promoted to women and girls in media, has not been dismantled (Veillette et al. 2574; Steinglass et al. 466). By using a personal perspective and rendering the problem from the position that does not allow for victim-blaming, the author delineates that social stereotypes reinforced by media lie at the crux of the problem.
Problem
In her essay, the writer strives to embrace the concept of anorexia and explore the mindset that encourages the development of the specified disorder. Specifically, Waldman points out that she was “A miserable anorexic” (Waldman). By attempting at wrapping her mind around how she and her sister came to the point of developing anorexia, Waldman struggles to encompass the combination of personal issues and the influence of external factors as the key prerequisites for developing the disorder in question.
Key Arguments
Waldman makes it abundantly clear that the active process of foisting idealized images of women on the female population affects the well-being of the specified population vastly. However, Waldman’s argument should not be simplified to the mere need for societal transgression: “Anorexia is an inveterate liar whose grand theme is your identity” (Waldman). Another crucial conclusion that the author makes is that there is an inherent problem coded in one’s biological system that contributes to the aggravation of self-destructive behaviors, which is characteristic of anorexia (Frank 2; Munro et al. 15; Sarner-Levin et al. 28).
As the author points out, “There is a biological wire” (Waldman). Therefore, when focusing on the issue of self-harm, in general, and the development of anorexia, in particular, one has to encompass not only social factors but also the ones linked to a patient’s biology.
Important Moments
While the argument provided by Waldman is overall compelling and cohesive, several moments in her narrative stand out for the reader especially clearly. The idea of one’s identity is intrinsically connected to a distanced image created by others is the first notion that allows one to encompass the scale of the problem: “I starved, in other words, to acquire that old classical capability: metamorphosis” (Waldman). Thus, the inseparable connection between the development of an eating disorder and the active and insipid process of foisting stereotypes on women becomes apparent.
Another crucial concept that supports the argument is the endeavor that Waldman makes to gather evidence about anorexia by viewing it through the prism of history.. For example, the narrator explains that “Being “good” – exercising in moderation, feeding myself – felt so futile sometimes” (Waldman). Specifically, Waldman emphasizes that it took countless studies and several decades to “discredit the notion of anorexia as a purely endocrinological illness” (Waldman). The introduction of the historical perspective into the narrative amplifies the strength of the argument and depicts anorexia as a legitimate health concern.
Conclusion
The clever use of arguments and the introduction of a personal point of view into the story made it possible for the discourse to sound even more important, emphasizing the deleterious effects of stereotypes on the development of eating disorders, specifically, anorexia. In her story “There Was a Girl,” Waldman focuses on the destructive nature of the disorder and the difficulties that one may have identifying it until it becomes too late to apply any measures to assist a patient. However, in the long term, erasing the unrealistic image of a female body from media and introducing a healthy perspective instead should be the ultimate goal. Herein lies the importance of the change; it is crucial to help young women to change their attitudes toward their bodies and promote positivity as the core principle for these attitudes.
Works Cited
Frank, Guido K. W. “The Perfect Storm – A Bio-Psycho-Social Risk Model for Developing and Maintaining Eating Disorders.” Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, vol. 10, 2016, pp. 1-8. Web.
Munro, Calum, et al. “An Integrative Bio-Psycho-Social Theory of Anorexia Nervosa.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, vol. 24, no. 1, 2016, pp. 1–21. Web.
Sarner-Levin, Kyra, et al. “Anorexia Nervosa, Selflessness, and Gender-role Identity: A Study of Daughters and Parents.” The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, vol. 55, no. 1, 2018, pp. 25-34.
Steinglass, Joanna E., et al. “Temporal Discounting across Three Psychiatric Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder.” Depression and Anxiety, vol. 34, no. 5, 2016, pp. 463–470. Web.
Veillette, Laurie A. S., et al. “What’s Weight Got to Do With It? Mental Health Trainees’ Perceptions of a Client With Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 9, 2018, pp. 1-11. Web.
Waldman, Kate. “There Was a Girl.” Slate.com. 2015. Web.