Emory University counselor and Psychologist Dr. Cynthia Whitehead-LaBoo discussed the views different cultures have concerning body images in a lecture last night in honor of National Eating Disorders Week.
In a speech titled "Does Everybody Hate their Body," Whitehead-Laboo stressed that Western European American culture has the narrowest -- and potentially the most dangerous -- view of what is beautiful in regard to the human body.
More than in any other culture, white woman, often in response to the media and views of others, are harsh on themselves.
She said, 96 percent of American women are unhappy with their weight.
For Caucasians, a thin frame is often matched with success, happiness and intelligence, while a heavier figure is associated with sloppiness, laziness, poverty, and poor self-control.
"There is nothing telling someone it's okay not to be a toothpick," she said.
Harsh self-criticism is often passed down from mother to daughter in American and European cultures. Pressure to have a small stature is unknowingly transferred from generation to generation in a relentless cycle. Girls as young as 13 focus on their appearance, finding fault with whatever they do not consider to be perfect, she said.
In the African American and Latino cultures, on the other hand, Whitehead-Laboo said that roundness and voluptuousness are attributes.
"It is considered a tragedy not to have a behind [in the African American race]," she said with a laugh.
The songs "Baby Got Back," by Sir Mixalot, and "Doing the Butt" are examples of African American men voicing their opinion that it is preferable for women to be slightly large, she said.
In another example, Rosie O'Donnell and Madonna were on a trip to a Latin American country and O'Donnell received the more favorable male attention, she said.
"A bone is for the dog, meat is for the man," explained one male inhabitant of that country when O'Donnell asked why she got all this attention.
In Asian countries, popular clothing sizes for females are a two or a three, as Asian women are traditionally much smaller. she said.
However, as western influences increase in Asian countries, so too does the average size of Asian women. With the introduction of such western eateries as Kentucky Fried Chicken and TGI Friday's, the average size of Asian women is rapidly becoming larger.
Whitehead-Laboo's speech also touched on the occurrence of eating disorders in the gay community.
Fewer lesbians than heterosexual women suffer from eating disorders due to their rejection of traditional sex roles, she said.
As gender identities arealtered and more lesbians become comfortable with maintaining a feminine appearance, these lesbians may be more susceptible to eating disorders.
Among homosexual men, there is no true skinny or thin ideal valued, she said, but gay men who are effeminate, are often susceptible to anorexia.
Whitehead-Laboo stressed that "no one is immune," from developing eating disorders.
According to a 1998 study by the Dartmouth College Health Service, about 100 students were dealing with eating disorders.
The study found about half of these students were receiving treatment. On average, 11 to 45 percent of college students have eating disorder behaviors.
