Constructing ourselves : women, eating and identity

Eating disorders in general, and bulimia in particular, are phenomena which are becoming increasingly prevelant among women in North America. Although these behaviours have generally been categorized as mental disorders, this study takes a more sociological approach to 'eating disorders' and concentrates on the social elements intrinsic to such behaviour. Relying on the conceptual frameworks offered by certain social constructionist sociologists of the body, this study explores the relationship between body, eating and identity. Emphasizing the element of choice which is intrinsic to the particitants' bulimic behaviour, this work explores how the women in this study socially construct themselves around their 'disorder'. Unlike the more popular tendency to say that we are socially constructed beings, independent of our will, this work reveals that, in fact, we also socially construct ourselves based on the options available to us, at any given time and place in history