Individualiseringen som det postmoderna samhället resulterat i, har försatt individer i en otrygghet där dessa tvingats anamma strategier för att hantera det ökade ansvar som individualiseringen inneburit. Dessa strategier ämnar att ge mening genom att vara verktyg i människors identitetsskapande som därigenom minskar otryggheten. Strategierna förekommer i olika kulturer som föreskriver meningsskapande förhållningssätt. Medlemskapet av gemenskaper är individens egna aktiva val. Identitetsskapandets kärna sker i samvaron med andra individer. Denna samvaro har för många unga förflyttats till Internet där nya former av identitetsskapande möjliggörs. Dessa är lika verkliga som den fysiska världens identitetskonstruktioner. Unga personer söker sig till Internet för att finna strategier till att lindra otryggheten som det postmoderna samhället och dess utseendekultur skapat. Syftet med denna uppsats var att undersöka om den internetbaserade subkulturen kring ätstörningar var en form av ungdomars och unga vuxnas identitetsskapande. Uppsatsen belyser även skolkuratorers roll i arbetet med ätstörningsproblematik inom skolan. Uppsatsen har utgått från en abduktiv ansats där en innehållsanalys av 15 svenska bloggar skrivna av ungdomar och unga vuxna genomförts. 18 skolkuratorer har även responderat i en enkätundersökning med fokus på ämnet utifrån den professionella rollen. De teoretiska perspektiv som uppsatsen utgått från var socialkonstruktivism och Zygmunt Baumans teori om identitetsskapande. Uppsatsens studier visade att subkulturen var ett instrument för identitetsskapande hos svenska ungdomar och unga vuxna. Den pro-anorektiska identiteten sammanföll inte med den fysiska världens normer och gav inga trygga kontakter vilket försatte individerna i en ambivalens där otryggheten åter uppstod. Majoriteten av skolkuratorerna hade kännedom om subkulturen kring ätstörningar, men få uppgav konkreta arbetsrutiner med hanterandet av ätstörningsproblematik i skolan. Detta betraktas som ett viktigt förändringsarbete inom socialt arbete då professionen arbetar med unga individer som riskerar att utveckla ett ohälsosamt beteende med grund i subkulturens ideal.

Following study is about the anorexic behavior and the pro-ana movement, which is a web-based subculture where the followers of this, stands for anorexia as an identity position and lifestyle, rather than a disease. The purpose of this study was that, from a sociological perspective give possible interpretations of the anorexic behavior, and interpret why some anorexics choose to be a part of and identify oneself with the pro-ana movement. The reason has been to conduce more knowledge and understanding of the topics, but also to contribute with a deeper perspective and sociological approach to the former research that is already available. To conduct the study, qualitative research has been used, and the chosen methodology was document analysis/text analysis. The collected empirical data consisted material from two pro-ana forums, four blogs and six twitter accounts, where all the users of those claimed to be supporters of the pro-ana. The empirical data has been interpreted by Howard S. Becker's theory of deviance, Erving Goffman's theory of stigma and his dramaturgical theory. In addition, previous research has also been used as a support. The study has shown that anorexics by being stigmatized for their deviant behavior may take different consequences for their actions. These are in the form of social isolation, concealment of behavior and resistance from the rest of society etcetera. Furthermore, the study also revealed that the major reason that anorectics choose to be a part of the pro-ana is because they are in need of interaction with likeminded people. Through membership the anorectics may get the status and attention they need, and at the same time take part of a community where they are not questioned, but rather perceived as fully normal.

This research explores the controversial nature of the pro-anorexia (pro-ana) websites. While previous studies have been conducted on the nature of these websites, it is essential to uncover the motivating factors behind maintaining a pro-ana identity. The purpose of my research is two-fold; a) uncover the definition of the idealized female body within the pro-ana websites, drawing connections between the idealized female body as conceptualized within our current society, and within the pro-ana websites; b) to demonstrate the core values held by pro-ana users that enable them to pursue their goal of achieving the idealized female body. <p> The theoretical framework for this thesis is based upon the work of feminist scholar Susan Bordo. Specifically, her analysis of the idealized female body within Western culture acted as the lens through which pro-ana websites were examined. A five step critical discourse analysis approach put forth by Norman Fairclough was implemented to guide the research and data analysis. Textual data was collected from three different pro-ana websites over the period of one week. In addition to discourse analysis, a brief content analysis was used to distinguish the common themes of posting topics. <p> From the results of the content analysis, the definition of the idealized female body according to the pro-ana users was created. In addition, the three underlying values held by pro-ana users during their pursuit of the idealized body -- discipline, self-surveillance and drive emerged from the data collection and analysis. It is important to distinguish that an underlying need to maintain constant control is present. <p> As the existing literature on this topic is still undergoing development, the results of this study offer key insights into the underlying motivations of those users found within pro-ana websites. It is clear that further research is needed in order to distinguish new and desperately needed approaches to treating eating disorders as they are only becoming more prevalent within society.

This research explores the controversial nature of the pro-anorexia (pro-ana) websites. While previous studies have been conducted on the nature of these websites, it is essential to uncover the motivating factors behind maintaining a pro-ana identity. The purpose of my research is two-fold; a) uncover the definition of the idealized female body within the pro-ana websites, drawing connections between the idealized female body as conceptualized within our current society, and within the pro-ana websites; b) to demonstrate the core values held by pro-ana users that enable them to pursue their goal of achieving the idealized female body. <p> The theoretical framework for this thesis is based upon the work of feminist scholar Susan Bordo. Specifically, her analysis of the idealized female body within Western culture acted as the lens through which pro-ana websites were examined. A five step critical discourse analysis approach put forth by Norman Fairclough was implemented to guide the research and data analysis. Textual data was collected from three different pro-ana websites over the period of one week. In addition to discourse analysis, a brief content analysis was used to distinguish the common themes of posting topics. <p> From the results of the content analysis, the definition of the idealized female body according to the pro-ana users was created. In addition, the three underlying values held by pro-ana users during their pursuit of the idealized body -- discipline, self-surveillance and drive emerged from the data collection and analysis. It is important to distinguish that an underlying need to maintain constant control is present. <p> As the existing literature on this topic is still undergoing development, the results of this study offer key insights into the underlying motivations of those users found within pro-ana websites. It is clear that further research is needed in order to distinguish new and desperately needed approaches to treating eating disorders as they are only becoming more prevalent within society.

This is a qualitative study which purpose is to examine the experiences of the recovery process after a treatment for eating disorders.                                                          The questions we have decided to examine are; how did the women adapt to a healthier life after treatment, what are the women's perceived experiences of the aspects related to identity and identity work, and what external social influence was seen as important for their adjustment process to a healthier life? Methods: We have used computer-supported and semi-structured interviews. There were a total of nine women who took part in the study.                                                                                                                     Results: Majority of these women have been recovered from their eating disorders, but some still have major or minor problems. They found it rather difficult to adjust their life's without an eating disorder. Conclusions: Increased self-awarness led to greater control over the eating disorder. The women could begin to confer the new features that they identified with. The social network is described as having been a major factor in the recovery process.

There are several possibilities for those with an eating disorder, who wishes to get treatment and recover to get help and support. But for those who are not ready to recover, there are not any help to receive. Pro-ana is a youth culture where individuals who want to achieve the anorectic ideal help and support each other. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse the content and the need for the Pro-ana community on Internet, among young people with eating disorders. More specifically the aim was to find out how young Swedish people uses the Pro-ana communities on Internet. The study was an ethnography based on concealed observations of 6 different Pro-ana websites on Internet. During the observations five themes has been used: anonymity, thinspiration, life choice or disease, help or no help and identity. The analysis was based on Goffmans (2004) The presentation of self in everyday life, and the authors thesis about how humans represents them self in the accompany of others. Pro-ana websites consists of diary notes about weight, food, exercise and how to cope with an eating disorder. The Pro-ana culture online has become kind of a support group to which young people turn when society has no knowledge and no resources to meet them and social work are very limited on these sites. When not dare to tell friends and family about their situation, they turn to Pro-ana, which has been described as a sanctuary away from society’s judgements.

<p>There are several possibilities for those with an eating disorder, who wishes to get treatment and recover to get help and support. But for those who are not ready to recover, there are not any help to receive. Pro-ana is a youth culture where individuals who want to achieve the anorectic ideal help and support each other. The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse the content and the need for the Pro-ana community on Internet, among young people with eating disorders. More specifically the aim was to find out how young Swedish people uses the Pro-ana communities on Internet. The study was an ethnography based on concealed observations of 6 different Pro-ana websites on Internet. During the observations five themes has been used: anonymity, thinspiration, life choice or disease, help or no help and identity. The analysis was based on Goffmans (2004) The presentation of self in everyday life, and the authors thesis about how humans represents them self in the accompany of others. Pro-ana websites consists of diary notes about weight, food, exercise and how to cope with an eating disorder. The Pro-ana culture online has become kind of a support group to which young people turn when society has no knowledge and no resources to meet them and social work are very limited on these sites. When not dare to tell friends and family about their situation, they turn to Pro-ana, which has been described as a sanctuary away from society’s judgements.</p>

Pro-anorexia content, or content that promotes the development and sustainment of eating disorders, is an important topic that has been understudied in the literature. Previous research has primary examined the content featured on pro-anorexia websites, but few researchers have conducted experimental studies examining the direct impact viewing pro-anorexia content has on individuals struggling with an eating disorder. The current study was an experimental study that exposed participants to three conditions: proanorexia content, pro-recovery content, and a control group. The researcher examined the impact that viewing the three levels of content for 10 minutes had on individuals who met criteria and who did not meet criteria for an eating disorder on the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale. Participants were examined using the Eating Attitudes Test to examine eating disorder symptomology and the Body Assessment Scale to examine body satisfaction after every condition. The results of this study showed that participants who met criteria for an eating disorder reported increased eating disorder symptomology after viewing the pro-anorexia condition.

This thesis argues that the recent erasure of digital pro-anorexia ("pro-ana") narratives by websites such as Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram represents an attempt to silence female self-starvers and reify the authority of medical associations to speak for female bodies. I draw parallels between these attempts and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's theory of epistemic violence, since the experiences of women are effectively discredited, through metaphors that render the thin body dangerous, to shore up professional medical authority. As an attempt to privilege the experiences of the self-starvers, I analyze one Tumblr blog with eating disorder content to listen to the letters users anonymously write to their bodies in contrast to narratives written by "recovered" self-starvers that are officially endorsed by the National Eating Disorder Association. Finally, I argue that the Internet provides us with the opportunity to foster response-able witnessing, for which Kelly Oliver has advocated. I extend Oliver's research to argue that we must foster response-ability for all attempts to bear witness. I suggest that creating response-able spaces where others might witness their different embodied experiences can enable female self-starvers to reclaim subjectivity that medicine has taken from them. In so doing, they might learn to become response-able to their eating disorders, and, eventually, their own bodies.

Länge har den medicinska diskursen dominerat med närmast ensamrätt att förstå och förklara ”avvikande” beteenden och det förhållande till kroppen som av dessa följer. Antingen har ätstörningar förklarats med hänvisning till individens biologiska förutsättningar eller, i enlighet med mer sociokulturella intressen, som ett slags resultat av samhällsstrukturers obevekliga makt. I flera av de studier som ligger till grund för denna uppsats kan man skymta något som Megan Jane Warin diskuterar i sin doktorsavhandling Becoming and Unbecoming. Nämligen att man kan närma sig en förståelse för anorexi genom att betrakta själva tillståndet till den sjukes egna kropp som dynamiskt – som samtidigt präglat av närhet och avstånd. Det är denna öppning som föreliggande uppsats utgår ifrån och med hjälp av ett retoriskt perspektiv försöker precisera och fördjupa. I en analytisk diskussion undersöks hur kvinnokroppen diskursivt konstrueras för att begripliggöras i samtidigt personliga och offentliga rum, samt hur konsekvenserna av detta manifesteras i två fenomen på nätet som rör kvinnor och kvinnors kroppar. Med hjälp av Judith Butlers teorier om begriplighet, subjektskapande och kroppens roll däri, samt Michel Foucaults teorier om den makt som subjektet både utövar och underställer sig samtidigt, närmar jag mig en förklaringsmodell som närmast kan liknas vid ett gummiband – där den kamp mellan närhet och avstånd som tidigare forskare refererat till specificeras till en kamp mellan intern begriplighet och kontroll.