Black Adolescents and Eating Disorders
{"Image DocumentName": "Black Adolescents and Eating Disorders", "Image ImageDescription": "Socioeconomic level can determine type of eating disorder. Acculturation to mainstream culture increases risk. Struggle with self-identity & self-esteem. Increasing trend of Black boys dating white girls. Limited studies exist for Black teens and eating disorders. Unrealistic \u2018media\u2019 models (Halle Berry, Naomi Campbell) Black adolescents suffering from anorexia were found to come from a significantly higher socioeconomic level than Black adolescents that did not have an eating disorder. Those suffering from bulimia, though, fit into the low socioeconomic group. Define acculturation as the process of change from the culture of origins, values and beliefs toward the integration of the host culture\u2019s values and beliefs. Further it is the adaptive process of the cultural adjustment and adoption of new culture as a result of interaction between the two cultures. Research suggests that disordered eating for Black adolescents was related to assimilation, or acculturation, to the White culture. Ironic as we interact and blend , we are losing our distinctiveness and possibly our self-identity. Traditionally, African-American culture has a greater acceptance of larger body proportions. But this protection weakens as they take on the values of the mainstream culture, a culture that does not accept who they really are or value their individualism. As I mentioned on the last slide, eating disorders are usually looked at as whites only , therefore there has been limited study and research on Black adolescent eating disorders. Therefore, when a Black female is seen by a doctor, this diagnosis often overlooked. With barriers coming down, there is an increased frequency of Black males dating white females. Psychologists suggest Black girls are trying harder to impress Black males because of this perceived preference to whiteness. It has been suggested that since Black girls are further removed from the Whiteness body, that it is especially difficult on them to fit this image. Black girls increasingly say they are tired of being devalued by Black boys. If you watch some of the music videos on TV, you\u2019ll see how Black women, in particular, are negatively portrayed. Even on TV shows about Black families, the females are devalued. Reading from book page 141. There has been an increase in visibility of Black women in the media, but most fit the more traditional \u2018whiteness\u2019 scale. For example, Halle Berry and Naomi Campbell.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}