Caroline H arvey The P las tic Doll Student conducted e-mail interview with Rhonda Jackson, a counselor who

o helps with eating disorders at Shepherd University.

Interviewer: What do you think are some factors leading to eating disorders such as anorexia? Rhonda Jackson: There are many factors that contribute to eating disorders including genetic predisposition, family dynamics that the individual grows up in, history of trauma such as sexual abuse and there is of course the influence of the media. I work with college students who are at very high risk for disordered eating because of the stress of adjusting to college and the strong desire to fit it and be accepted. Interviewer: Do you think Barbie is one of these factors? Rhonda Jackson: I do think Barbie has a strong influence in setting a standard for young girls about what is a perfect body. Even when Barbie is portrayed in predominantly male occupations, firefighter, solider, it is still with a body that could not support that type of physically demanding work. Because children, mainly girls, play with Barbie on a day to day basis this message about what is the perfect body becomes woven into the fabric of these childrens perceptions. It happens at a very subconscious and subtle level. Interviewer: Do you think Barbie's image helps develop negative thoughts in the minds of young girls? Rhonda Jackson: I think pre-teen and adolescence is already filled with many negative thoughts about ourselves, for girls and boys. They struggle with so much insecurity, a strong desire to be accepted and the range of what is considered acceptable is so small. I do wish that Barbies body was more accurate and that there were more body types represented. Does this answer this question? Interviewer: In general, at what age do girls start developing eating disorders? Rhonda Jackson: We typically see eating disorders in adolescence when the pressure to fit in and be accepted becomes so strong. There is also an increased exposure to media and messages about what you need to look like in order to be accepted and successful. Teens are also naturally engaged in power struggles with parents at this time as food becomes a way to have something to control at a time when life can feel very out of control. As I mentioned before college age is also a time when women and men are at high risk for disordered eating. Interviewer: Have the number of diagnosed eating disorders increased, decreased or stayed the same in the last 50-60 years? Rhonda Jackson: The research seems to indicate that the prevalence of eating disorders among adolescent girls has increased over the past 50 years and researchers speculate this is due in part P age 1

Caroline H arvey The P las tic Doll to media. Eating disorders among young men have also been on the rise. Men are also exposed to many images about the perfect male body. Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time!

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