Intersectional Advocacy Is Crucial This National Eating Disorders Awareness Month
People of all identities can struggle
February is National Eating Disorders Awareness Month, and the goal is to educate the public, share hope, and raise awareness about life-saving resources for those who need them. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week specifically this year is Feb. 22 through Feb. 28; the theme is “Every Body Has a Seat at the Table.”
Talking about diversity and inclusion within the eating disorder realm has always been under-discussed and crucial. The way TV shows and movies portray eating disorders still today is harmful and shocking: They focus on thin, white, cisgender women, even though we know people in marginalized communities are more likely to struggle because of the oppression and extra stressors they face. One recent, harmful movie example is “To the Bone.” While it showed people of different identities receiving treatment for their eating disorders, the main character was an emaciated, white, cisgender female, and the other characters’ storylines didn’t have any detail into the discrimination that may have played a role in their eating disorder.
While we’ve always needed more and better conversations about diverse inclusion, we need it more than ever this year. But why?
