Opinion JENNIFER CALFAS EDITOR IN CHIEF AARICA MARSH and DEREK WOLFE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS LEV FACHER MANAGING EDITOR 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily’s editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com 4A — Wednesday, February 25, 2015 Claire Bryan, Regan Detwiler, Payton Luokkala Aarica Marsh, Victoria Noble, Michael Paul, Allison Raeck, Melissa Scholke, Michael Schramm, Matthew Seligman, Linh Vu, Mary Kate Winn, Jenny Wang, Derek Wolfe EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS O f all the relationships in my life, the one I have with my body is the most turbulent. My body image, over the years, has continually fluctuated. Honestly, strike that. It alters daily. Depending on the day, my perceptions can range from vaguely accepting, to indifferent, to criticisms I’d never dare direct at another person. I’d like to say I’m entirely comfortable in my own skin. I’d like to say that when my gaze meets the one of the woman staring back at me from the surface of a brightly lit mirror, I don’t grimace. I’d like to take a photo with friends without a self-conscious and disparaging thought creeping into my head. I struggle whenever I try to decipher the roles bodies play in our lives and in society as a whole. I’d prefer to view bodies as merely vehicles to breathe, travel, play, work, create, love and enjoy life. However, I know perceptions surrounding the physical body in our society are far more complex than that. Whether we’re being introduced to someone or merely sitting in class, our bodies are one of the first impressions we make. From that initial moment, we begin the process of appraising, or “sizing each other up.” In our society, we classify and compartmentalize. We toss around adjectives like “tall,” “stout,” “lean,” “twiggy,” “chubby,” “athletic” or “muscular.” We fix these designations on people until the descriptions seep under our skin. We formulate idealized classifications of bodies that deserve to be labeled as healthy or as attractive. We even create incorrect images of what individuals struggling with their bodies look like. Yet eating disorders and body image concerns afflict individuals across a wide spectrum that’s overlooked far too often. Despite the common misconception that eating disorders only affect individuals who are young, white, heterosexuals, they’re not exclusive to any particular group. Classified by the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as “persistent disturbance(s) of eating or eating-related behavior that results in the altered consumption or absorption of food that significantly impairs physical health or psychosocial functioning,” eating disorders are experienced by individuals of any age, sexuality, gender, race or socioeconomic status. In order to address the discrepancies and misconceptions about disordered eating across the nation, the National Eating Disorder Association recently kicked off National Eating Disorder Awareness Week by surrounding the campaign around the phrase “I Had No Idea.” Personal experiences and interactions have convinced me the stereotypical images and perceptions of eating disorders are not true, but until I did the research, I was unaware of numerous aspects regarding the subject. Even though the DSM offers detailed definitions and symptom descriptions of eating disorders, the information and research surrounding the discussion is constantly evolving. Binge-eating disorder — a type of eating disorder characterized by “frequent episodes of consuming large amounts of food, but without behaviors to prevent weight gain” — previously fell under a category of non-specified disorders. The emergence of this disorder into the manual shows eating disorders aren’t limited to anorexia and bulimia. Likewise, the existence of other-specified and unspecified categories in the DSM helps to reinforce the fact that eating disorders vary as much as the individuals who suffer from them. A variety of diverse sociocultural and genetic factors contribute to the development of eating disorders and the manifestation of symptoms in individuals. For example, eating disorders — although they are commonly categorized as an issue pertaining mostly to women — greatly impact men. In the past 30 years, the percentage of men who are dissatisfied with their bodies has risen from 15 percent to 43 percent. For binge- eating disorder, in particular, men compose 40 percent of the individuals diagnosed. Men who exhibit signs of binging episodes or symptoms of bulimia may partake in excessive amounts of exercising. While women may focus on slimming down, men with disordered eating patterns focus on maintaining a more stereotypically masculine form by obtaining muscle. The stigma of eating disorders being exclusively associated with women deters men from seeking treatment. In addition, gender roles and stereotypes play a role in the manifestation of eating disorder symptoms in members of the LGBTQ community. According to NEDA, stressors, “such as coming out and harassment in school or in the workplace, can impact levels of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse — all of which are common co-occurring conditions and can be contributing factors to the development of an eating disorder.” For members of the transgender community, attempting to obtain a masculine or feminine ideal could provoke anxiety and dissatisfaction with one’s body. Research regarding aspects such as the idealized forms in LGBTQ community, the effects of discrimination, and the factors contributing to eating disorders is still ongoing. Taking excessive exercise and gender roles into account, many people may consider athletes exempt from eating disorders as result of their strenuous exercise schedules mandated by their respective sport. However, appearances can be deceiving. The stress of competition, of maintaining the form of one’s body and of wanting to improve can contribute to the development of an eating disorder. Likewise, in aesthetic sports like gymnastics, wrestling and ice-skating, the form-fitting uniforms participants are expected to wear can increase one’s concern about the way their body looks to others. In an environment like the University — where competition, independence and high standards thrive — students may refrain from seeking help or feel like the condition is a phase they can struggle through and improve on their own. However, numerous resources — at CAPS and UHS — exist to assist students with each variable of eating disorders and body image concerns. Just as a culmination of diverse factors can contribute to the development of eating disorders, many diverse approaches need be taken to increase awareness about the wide variation of body concerns among students. There is no immediate solution for the widespread prevalence of eating disorders, but there are numerous steps that can be taken to raise awareness. The first is to increase our knowledge of these conditions. Raising awareness, learning more about diverse populations affected and understanding symptoms can help in removing inhibiting stigmas and allowing people to begin to view their bodies outside of restricting, incorrect idealizations. —Melissa Scholke can be reached at melikaye@umich.edu. Eating disorder misconceptions MELISSA SCHOLKE Thank you, Victoria’s Secret Angels TO THE DAILY: I’m not a size two. My stomach isn’t as flat as a washboard when I sit down. I enjoy an occasional slice of pizza. I’m already well aware that I’m not destined to model, or marry a hot rock star, or be the face of some cosmetic line. But full dis- closure: I’m not one who doesn’t know the difference between Top- shop and Top Cat, and I don’t cause passersby to shriek in horror as I walk past their gaze. As I stared at my laptop with an empty Cheez-It bag in front of me, an article from Harper’s Bazaar was conveniently, or perhaps incon- veniently, brought to my atten- tion by a friend. It read, “If you’re bummed about waiting a full year for the next Victoria’s Secret Fash- ion Show, today’s news is sure to lift your spirits.” Wow, Harper’s Bazaar, you really speak to me, don’t you? I’m a 19-year-old, stressed-out col- lege freshman who gets bummed out by bad grades, disappointment and not knowing what I want to do with my life. But I will never be bummed about having to wait a full year (gasp!) to see the entranc- ing, immortal, glamazon Victoria’s Secret models grace the catwalk in nipple covers and bathing suits made of floss. No thanks, I’ll pass. I would hereby like to thank the Victoria’s Secret Angels for remind- ing me that looks are what peo- ple covet the most, and that your tanned and toned bodies (kudos to that California girl, Katy Perry) are what set the societal standard for beauty and sex symbolism. Thank you for reminding me that I, and 99 percent of other girls like me, will never touch those standards. While you bronze your chests with self-tanner and wear push-up bras, I wrap my chest in thick scarves to inform the world that I’m more than just a body — the exact antith- esis to the messaging which these fashion shows promote. Maybe I’m just cynical, or maybe I’m just jealous. But what I do know is that I refuse to aspire to be like women who, with a little luck and a lot of starvation, suc- ceed in superficiality. See, angels aren’t real, and I choose to watch real women do real things. Sorry if that’s a “bummer.” Sophie White LSA Freshman Students may feel like the condition is a phase they can struggle through and improve on their own. — Detroit mayor Mike Duggan on Tuesday, in reference to the city currently bringing in higher revenues than estimated by the 2015 budget. “ NOTABLE QUOTABLE So we’re going to stay conservative in our revenue estimates, and make adjustments only when we’re absolutely certain the money is there.” Why I can’t support “Fifty Shades of Grey” TO THE DAILY: I’m all for female writers. I’m all for exploring sexuality. I’m all for safe, consensual sex. I’m not all for “Fifty Shades of Grey.” When I first started hearing about “Fifty Shades of Grey,” I didn’t pay much attention. Several of my close girlfriends had picked up the book as their first foray into erotica and would occasionally remark to one another about their enjoyment of the piece. They found the scenes sexy, the visuals steamy and even if the writing was subpar, at least they were finally getting a female-centric perspective of sex (something often lacking in male- engineered porn and other erotic expressions). I’m supportive of people tak- ing control of their sexuality. I’m supportive of people reading and watching various types of material to determine their intimate prefer- ences. I’m in no way shaming any sexual preference, fetish or the BDSM culture depicted in “Fifty Shades of Grey;” if that works for sexual partners, by all means, they have my blessing. My problem with “Fifty Shades of Grey” is that it presents an abu- sive relationship in a glamorized way. “Fifty Shades of Grey” is a disappointment in that it normal- izes abuse and has joined a cultural trend of romanticizing behavior on the big screen that is dangerous in reality. Outside of their sexual rela- tionship, Christian Grey attempts to control Anastasia Steele. He stalks Ana, wires her phone with- out her knowledge, limits who she can talk to and when, controls what she eats, is prone to threat- ening outbursts and frequently isolates Ana from other company. The problem with Grey and Steele’s relationship is that the dominating behavior continues outside of the bedroom; it’s manipulation dressed up in a sexy tuxedo. Christian Grey isn’t a sexual fantasy; he’s a preda- tor you could find on any street. Instead of spending money on the dissemination of this unhealthy relationship archetype, I urge you to find ways to give back to those most affected by the popularity of these movies: abused women. I donated the ticket price to “Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women” online. Volunteering and speaking out against unhealthy relationship behaviors are other important ways to help change our unhealthy sex- ual culture. We have the consumer purchasing power to change what we see in our media. Now is the time to use it. Bethanie Lehman LSA Freshman E-mail RachEl at Rdawson@umich.Edu RACHEL DAWSON Send letterS to: tothedaily@michigandaily.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Change the schedule and Christian privilege TO THE DAILY: The Michigan Daily recently published an editorial in which it argued that, for the reason of reli- gious accommodation, the Uni- versity should avoid scheduling future fall terms to end as close to Christmas as the Fall 2015 term, which ends on Dec. 23. In so doing, the Daily uncritically and unjustly upholds the hegemony Christian- ity exercises over the University’s schedule. Our entire calendar is already designed to cater to Christian holi- days. We will never have classes or exams on Christmas or Easter, and we have an entire break that is de facto designed to facilitate the cel- ebration of the former. This level of accommodation is not avail- able to other religious groups. For example, Hanukkah overlapped with final exams last term, and yet there were no widespread peti- tions or editorials demanding that we reschedule the Fall 2014 term to avoid this conflict. Given the diversity of holidays celebrated by members of the University commu- nity, there are undoubtedly many more holidays that regularly con- flict with our academic calendar. The reason is simple: the Univer- sity’s calendar, like most calendars in America, is planned around the Christian calendar, and other reli- gious groups are given little, if any, consideration. Requesting religious accommodation for Christmas beyond that which is already grant- ed is a blatant display of Christian privilege, and completely over- looks the unequal consideration the University already gives towards Christianity in scheduling. The Daily asserts that Pro- vost Martha Pollack’s request to reschedule the end of Winter 2016 classes by two days to accom- modate Passover constitutes a “glaring inconsistenc[y]” in sched- uling policy. However, this point is clearly unfounded: the proposed one-day gap between the begin- ning of Passover and the end of classes in that policy is exactly equal to the one-day gap between the end of exams and Christmas already in place. Additionally, the proposed changes still had exami- nations overlapping with some of Passover, whereas Christmas does not, and will never, overlap with finals. Finally, the Daily ignored that Pollack’s requests also sought to accommodate a Christian holi- day: Greek Orthodox Easter. The Daily’s request to accommodate Christmas with an even larger gap than that which was requested for Passover therefore constitutes a “glaring inconsistency,” not Pol- lack’s actions. I am highly sensitive to the increased cost of travel around Christmas, and for this reason I do not disagree with the proposed changes. But to assert that the cel- ebration of Christmas deserves increased religious accommoda- tion when it already receives more accommodation than any other hol- iday is both insensitive to the ways our University and nation privilege Christianity, and unfair to the non- Christians whose religious calen- dars receive nowhere near the same level of consideration automatically granted to Christians, if any at all. Cullen O’Keefe LSA Junior