The thin body has long been considered ‘normal' in Western culture, whereas the anorexic body has been framed as pathological despite the fact that both bodies often engage in regimes of undereating and extreme exercising which dovetail with one another. Pro-anorexia (or ‘pro-ana') online spaces, which emerged in the late twentieth century, have been criticised for their espousal of anorexia even though much of the advice they provide and the images they collate, derive from mainstream culture. Censorship and vilification by the media have meant that since their inception these spaces have undergone a number of changes. This thesis therefore investigates the thin ideal in pro-ana online spaces at a time when the boundaries between the mainstream espousal of thinness and the body image promoted in pro-ana culture are becoming increasingly blurred. Drawing on empirical research across a range of websites, forums, and social media which identify as pro-ana, I employ textual analysis to explore how thinness is constructed in these spaces. My investigation produced a set of themes which shape this thesis. Central were: the denial and disguise of disordered-eating practices; the pre-eminence of the white, middle-class, heterofeminine body; and the importance of pain in realising the thin ideal. The central claim of this thesis is that pro-ana online spaces expose the extent to which normative femininity is underpinned by practices which may be deeply disordered, but they are viewed as normal by mainstream culture. Pro-ana culture illustrates an extreme response to achieving thinness but it also critiques the ideal to which it aspires. Hence, this thesis concludes by turning to the potential for resistance in pro-ana online spaces and arguing that although they do not uncritically conform to the culture of compulsory thinness, they are nonetheless postfeminist enclaves which perpetuate the primacy of the individual.

Multifamiljeterapi (MFT) är en relativt ny metod för att behandla ungdomar med anorexia nervosa (AN) i Sverige. Syftet med denna pilotstudie var att undersöka hur patienter, mammor och pappor upplevde behandlingsinterventioner inom MFT samt om familjeklimatet förändrades efter genomförd behandling. Totalt undersöktes 14 patienter, 14 mammor och 14 pappor utifrån självskattningsformulären Behandlingstillfredsställelse och Familjeklimat (FCS). Resultatet visade att behandlingsinterventionerna storgruppsdiskussioner, smågruppsdiskussioner, gemensamma måltider samt övningar, lekar och rollspel, upplevdes vara hjälpsamma för samtliga grupper. Familjeklimatet förbättrades signifikant över tid avseende dimensionerna närhet och distans. En skillnad påfanns mellan patienter och mammor i upplevelsen av närhet då mammorna skattade lägre på dimensionen närhet än patienterna. Gällande kaos påfanns en interaktionseffekt då patienternas och mammornas upplevelse av kaos minskade medan pappornas ökade något. Resultatet tyder på att samtliga behandlingsinterventioner inom MFT är hjälpsamma och att familjeklimatet i stort förbättras efter behandling. Vidare forskning med större urval behövs för att bekräfta fynden. / Multi-family therapy (MFT) is a relatively new treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) in Sweden. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate how patients, mothers and fathers perceived interventions in MFT and if there was a change in family climate after treatment. In total 14 patients, 14 mothers and 14 fathers were examined with the two questionnaires Behandlingstillfredsställelse and Family climate scale (FCS). The results showed that the following interventions in MFT were perceived as helpful for all groups; discussions in large and small groups, group meals, exercises, games and role play. Family climate was significantly improved over time regarding the dimensions closeness and distance. A difference between patients and mothers was found in how they experienced closeness as mothers reported lower closeness than patients. An interaction effect was found regarding chaos as the patients and mothers reported a decrease in chaos while the fathers reported a slight increase. The results indicate that all the interventions in MFT are helpful and that, by and large, family climate improves after treatment. Further research with a larger sample is required to confirm these findings. / Multifamiljeterapi vid anorexia nervosa

No description available.

<p>Background: Anorexia nervosa is a disease that often strikes teenager girls. The causes of the disease are not entirely known, but there are redeemed and maintenanced factors. The factors describes as biological, psychological and sociocultural. Aim: The aim of the study was to illuminate the nurses problem in caring of girls that developed anorexia nervosa. Method: The method of this essay is a literature study. The essay is based up on scientific articles. Results: The care of the anorexics is affected by several different factors. The factors are the anorexics, the parents and the nurses. The anorexics describe the illness as a struggle to find out the meaning of the illness. Many of the girls do not feel confirmed, but they has a big need of this. The SAUK- model describes the need of confirmation. The anorexics parents often wanted to help but they felt excluded from the care of their daughters. This made them feel a sense of guilt. The biggest problem in giving a god care is the negative relation between the nurse and the anorexics. The findings in the essay shows that it was difficult to built therapeutic relationships because lack of empathy and engagement from the nurses.</p>

Background: Anorexia nervosa is a disease that often strikes teenager girls. The causes of the disease are not entirely known, but there are redeemed and maintenanced factors. The factors describes as biological, psychological and sociocultural. Aim: The aim of the study was to illuminate the nurses problem in caring of girls that developed anorexia nervosa. Method: The method of this essay is a literature study. The essay is based up on scientific articles. Results: The care of the anorexics is affected by several different factors. The factors are the anorexics, the parents and the nurses. The anorexics describe the illness as a struggle to find out the meaning of the illness. Many of the girls do not feel confirmed, but they has a big need of this. The SAUK- model describes the need of confirmation. The anorexics parents often wanted to help but they felt excluded from the care of their daughters. This made them feel a sense of guilt. The biggest problem in giving a god care is the negative relation between the nurse and the anorexics. The findings in the essay shows that it was difficult to built therapeutic relationships because lack of empathy and engagement from the nurses.

No description available.

Bakgrund: För de med diagnosen anorexia nervosa är orsaken till sjukdomen ofta svår att identifiera, många vet inte när eller hur sjukdomen började. Sjukdomen drabbar fler kvinnor än män och har oftast sin debut i tonåren. Den yttrar sig genom en förvrängd kroppsuppfattning och en viljestyrd strävan efter viktnedgång. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att få en ökad förståelse för hur kvinnor med anorexia nervosa upplever sin sjukdom. Metod: En litteraturstudie med kvalitativ ansats baserad på fem kvinnors självbiografier. Självbiografierna analyserades utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Det framkom två huvudkategorier, en utav dem var; Upplevelser av att leva med anorexia nervosa följt av underkategorierna; två delar, rädsla och ensamhet, kroppsuppfattning och skam- och skuldkänslor. Andra huvudkategorin var; Anorexia nervosa, dess betydelse för upplevelsen av en identitet med underkategorierna; kontroll, personlighet och bekräftelse. Slutsats: Kvinnorna upplevde både välbefinnande och lidande i sin sjukdom. Upplevelsen av välbefinnande kunde möjligen vara förklaringen till varför många utav kvinnorna upplevde svårigheter att lämna sjukdomen. Den skapade betydelse för dem i deras identitet. Kvinnorna upplevde även ett lidande i sin sjukdom, vilket bland annat kunde förklaras i att sjukdomen begränsade deras liv vilket orsakade isolering och känsla av ensamhet.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, 2000.

Thesis (M. Journ.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.