Sociology Task: The Relationship Between Bulimia Nervosa and the Cultural Practices (Coursework Sample)

Bulimia Nervosa
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Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is an emotional disorder involving the distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, which is characterized by bouts of extreme overreacting that is followed by self-induced vomiting and depression, fasting or purging. 0.03 % of men and 2-3 % of women in the US have been diagnosed with Bulimia. This paper explores the relationship between cultural aspects on the social issue.
Over the recent years, culture has been identified as a leading etiological factor to the development of eating disorder (Burby, 1998). The rates of Bulimia Nervosa appear to vary among different cultures. For instance, western culture with the aid of advancing technology and media has formed a new beauty idea. Their notion of beauty has become barely living skeletons or malnourished models who are usually struggling with eating disorders. People now associate beauty and health with thinness. Bulimia nervosa is a culture-bound syndrome and its prevalence rates are higher in western culture, due to the obsession with weight.
Women conforming to this culture are forced to try as much as possible to remain thin and this leads to Bulimia nervosa. Their desire to remain thin affects their eating habits and they often resolve to dieting, fasting and induced vomiting. They put a lot of stress in the expectations of themselves. Many women in United States and other western countries want to be like the thin models, movie stars and magazine covers they see every day. The relationship between the cultural beliefs and biases and Bulimia nervosa is therefore negative.
The society also plays a great role in causing Bulimia nervosa. Social pressures for thinness are the root of this eating disorder. The society`s obsession with appearance especially thinness in women and pursuit of a perfect body. Some societies even discriminate people due to their size/weight. The relationship between the social role and bulimia nervosa is negative as the society leads to increase of the syndrome.
Social inequality is also a major contributing factor to Bulimia nervosa. People who achieve thin bodies are awarded most titles in beauty pageants and fashion shows while their fat counterparts are discriminated. TV personalities and celebrities also portray that picture and notion that thin people are beautiful and that being fat is not attractive. Th...