NEW REALITIES NEWS                            April 2000

EATING DISORDERS AWARENESS WEEK:

EDAW featured a panel discussion entitled, "Maintaining
the Illusion". The four panel members were superb and the
audience, mostly astute young people in their twenties
-- more than half non-whites --  were attentive and passionate.

A lively follow-up to the individual presentations took place
in questions and discussion afterward. The focus of the
speakers concerned gender identity through body image.

A black, size 14 woman in television talked about her
experiences on the job and the discrepancy between coming
from a Caribbean society which values roundness and the
emphasis in the world of television toward being not only
overly thin, but blonde. She has been told that because
of her appearance, she can be the reporter or the detective,
but never the love interest.

She urged us all to write (e-mail) television and radio stations,
magazines, etc., and let them know when we are offended and
what we want to see. She said it does make a big difference.

Did you know that not only is there no standard for women's
sizes (a size 10 can easily be a size 7 in another designer's
repertoire) in clothing on this continent, but that now there
is also a Size Zero?

The nature of shame for being fat in a fat-hating society
is an event which permeates nearly every aspect of daily life
according to one speaker.  One of the lessons learned early
by children in our society (usually in the classroom if not
via the immediate family) is that "it is not okay to be a
person who is big in all sorts of internal ways."

She posed the question, "Can you still be a Feminist and
be on a diet?"  Her conclusion is, "No, although I know some
fine Feminists who would disagree."  She talked about the
divisiveness that the issue of fat creates between women.

This panelist concluded, "I just figure that the solution
to a lot of all this is that everybody's going to get a lot
older and a lot heavier." It is the nature of all growing
things to become broader and thicken with age.

"Twenty years ago, beautiful women looked down upon this
city from dozens of billboards and women would complain
about the commoditization of the female form. Men just
didn't get it. 'What can possibly be wrong with there being
a beautiful babe to look at?!' was most men's response."

Now," according to the only male panelist, "it's an equal
opportunity to Feel Terrible About Your Body for men, too,
as 75% of the billboards in Toronto feature extremely buff
young males dressed in almost nothing but seductive attitude."

filed by your intrepid reporter, A. Dugan
Observer at Large

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A subscriber writes:

'A MIND IS ONLY AS HEALTHY AS THE BODY IT INHABITS'

I ENVISION A TIME when I can choose to take on a task for
myself. To take on the task because I want to, not because
I think it will impress others and not because I'd feel less
of a person if I didn't.

I ENVISION A TIME when I am satisfied. A time when I no longer
look into the future and think, "If I can accomplish this,
then I'll be a good person." A time when I'll enjoy being who
I am at that moment in time, happy, with what I have and
satisfied with what I've already done.

I ENVISION A TIME when others can recognize this within themselves.
A time when all eating disordered people, either dealing with
or healing from, are no longer; a time when people will accept
themselves for their priceless worth; a time when body and mind
are one, not separate and not judged.

I ENVISION A TIME when families and friends of those with
eating disorders can cherish their own bodies and project
that on others.

I ENVISION A TIME when children are taught to love themselves.
A time when the accomplishments or disciplines of a child
are not valued, but instead, they are celebrated for their unique
aspects that make them special; a time when children will love
themselves and each other for their healthy state of being.

I ENVISION A TIME when the media celebrates 'healthyism.' A
time when a healthy mind, body and soul appear on the covers
of teen magazines. A time when teens idolize the 130 pound,
five foot four model because she radiates happiness from
within herself.

The future I envision is possible and can be realized.

Eating disorders do not exist in a vacuum but rather, they
affect each and everyone living in this modern world. A time
can he realized when the body is valued. It has a function
that we've forgotten; it protects the mind that so many people
solely value today.

People of the world, let's band together to better our friends,
our neighbours and ourselves. Spread the word that a healthy
body represents a healthy mind.

Love yourself to live for yourself.

Leslie Calisina.

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