You ever heard that made-up term, “thinspiration?” If not, here’s a synopsis: they’re photos of emaciated, deathly thin women/sometimes men. They’re posted online and used so people can motivate themselves to lose weight- normally they are used as a mode of inspiration (hence, “thin” spiration) for people with eating disorders. There’s something wrong with this picture.
Fellow Blogger John’s Post gives us important specifics of the actual physical, psychological and statistical factors about eating disorders and college students, so I’d like to expand on his data and add the problem of the internet’s influence. Think for a second how many times the average college student goes online a day. And then think of the amount of images flooding on the screen right in front of them, and how easy it is to access them. Add these all up and think of the possible problems they pose for people with eating disorders or eating disordered behavior.
I’m not so sure I want to die, but these motivational pictures and sayings are persuade me to risk my life! YAY!
Let me give you an example, (note: this site is not promoting eating disorders) of a “motivational concept” that thinspirational websites thrive on: “The Thin Commandments.” Seriously?
There shouldn’t be pictures of people whose ribs are showing as a mode of motivation. Do you really want to risk your life so you can look like a prisoner of the Holocaust? This isn’t a joke. Once Tumblr issues a new policy that prohibits sites that have images of starving Thinspirations, you know it’s serious business.
This is an issue that’s been prevailing for a while throughout the nation. I think a question to ask yourself when you see these pictures and are possibly “thinspired” by them, is this: What if my best friend wanted to be this skinny and risk their lives? What if my little sister or my cousin wanted to look like this? I’ll answer it for you: It’d be horrifying. They wouldn’t want you to risk your life, either.
Does it bother you that the media shows these images? Why do you think so many girls want to look like starvation victims?
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