Workshop to address body image in society

Body images is an issue that continues to trouble both men and women of all ages.\nIU Women's Student Association, in conjunction with Eating Disorder Awareness Week, will conduct a workshop titled "Love Your Body," where body image in the media and society will be discussed, WSA co-president and senior Angela Bole said. The workshop will take place at 7 p.m. today in the Collins Center Coffeehouse.\nThe Health Center usually runs an eating disorder program during this week, Bole said, but because of a lack of funds this year, the WSA event is the only program scheduled.\nThe meeting includes a video from the National Organization for Women, called "Redefining Liberation," Bole said. The video focuses on negative images of women in the media and the pressure women receive from seeing these body images daily on TV, in magazines and in other forms of media, she said.\n"These unattainable images may result in a negative self-esteem and self-image," WSA co-president and senior Sarah Oberlander said. "A negative self-image can then manifest itself as an eating disorder." \nRead Center president, sophomore Aimee Dawson, said being a student leader and somewhat involved in the business world, the pressure to have the right image has become more of an issue. In the arena of politics, she said, looks and image are often more important than one thinks.\n"I feel like the more I become involved in the business world, I am not taken as seriously," Dawson said.\nThe urge to diet and to lose weight was also a concern for Dawson in high school, where she said she felt most of the pressure to obtain the perfect body.\n"When I lived in Florida, the pressure to create the perfect image was really on," Dawson said. "The pressure I feel is not necessarily from the media, but more from what I believe to be representative of a strong, successful, beautiful woman, all in one package."\nLack of energy and a concern about the effects of eating disorders stopped her from going too far, she said, which is not always the case for many women who fail to keep their dieting under control.\n"The knowledge about eating disorders makes me a little more aware of trying to not look like that," Dawson said.\nAn open forum for discussion will follow the video. Those attending will have a chance to discuss the video and issues of body image, Bole said. Anyone who is interested is invited to attend and participate.\n"I hope people realize what an important thing this is to talk about and not be silent about," Bole said.