Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body

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Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body Page 42

by Courtney E. Martin


  books/writings about, 8

  and college years, 216, 217, 221

  and eating disorders, 267

  and fat, 177

  and father-daughter relationship, 69

  and sex, 108, 114

  and spirituality, 250, 255, 267

  and sports, 260

  indulge-and-deprive patterns, 60, 61, 62

  intelligence, 8, 216, 243, 255-59, 260, 264

  intergenerational interactions, 241-43

  ipecac, 74, 74n

  Jane, 2, 232-33, 238-39, 246-47

  Janet, 174

  Japan, 10-11

  Jen

  Adderall addiction of, 116-18

  casual hookups of, 110-11

  childhood and youth of, 98-103

  college years of, 107-9, 113-16

  eating disorders of, 2, 3, 109-10, 113-18

  Jack’s relationship with, 116-18

  journal of, 118

  at Katie’s wedding, 119, 120

  as perfect girl, 103

  rape of, 111-12, 113

  reflections of, 119

  self-image of, 104

  and sex, 98-104, 105-6, 107-12, 113-16

  Johnson, Craig, 192, 202-3

  Joplin, Janis, 36, 124

  Jost, Stephan, 214

  Kelly, Joe, 63

  Kelly, R., 139

  Kilbourne, Jean, 9, 126, 223

  Kimberly, 199-202

  Knapp, Caroline, 8, 98, 217, 217n, 281

  Kramenetz, Anya, 140

  Krissik, Keri, 212

  “lad mags,” 146-47, 150

  Lady Sovereign, 138, 138n

  Latina women, 29. See also race/ethnicity

  laxatives, 24, 29, 129

  LeSac, Charles, 26

  Levy, Ariel, 105, 105n, 141

  “liked men better,” women who, 49

  liposuction, 2, 29, 113, 131, 246, 247, 248

  Lohan, Lindsay, 6, 123, 126

  love, 56, 72, 165-66, 176, 226-27, 255, 266, 269, 278, 286

  Love, Monie, 138, 139

  MacFarlane, Seth, 160

  machismo, culture of, 135

  McPhee, Katharine, 124

  magazines/journals, 39, 118, 146-47, 150, 194, 208, 260

  Maine, Margo, 72, 147, 203, 212

  maleness, image of, 61

  Manhattan teenagers, Martin’s discussions with, 81-82, 83, 85-87, 89, 91, 92, 93-95, 97

  Margolis, Cindy, 153

  Mariana, and hip-hop, 134-38, 140

  Marone, Nicky, 65

  Martin, Chris (brother), 17, 38, 40, 49, 127, 155, 195-96, 231

  Martin, Courtney

  admission of imperfection by, 268

  appearance of, 49-50

  aspirations/goals of, 41-42, 43, 45, 232

  beginnings for, 286-88

  birth of, 38

  black hole of, 195

  childhood and youth of, 11, 33, 34, 36-38, 40-45, 49-50, 59, 90, 142, 148-49

  college years of, 115, 209, 210-11, 214-19, 224-25, 242

  and competition among

  teenagers, 90

  family background of, 16, 17

  father’s relationship with, 4, 57, 58-59, 63, 65-67

  first period of, 65-66

  mother’s relationship with, 4, 38, 40, 41-42, 49-50, 53, 57

  new story for, 276, 286-88

  return to Barnard by, 227-29

  and sex, 102

  and sports, 190-91, 193-97, 201-4, 206, 209

  “truth talks” of, 85

  Martin, Jere Elizabeth (mother)

  activities of, 4, 17, 37-38, 41

  appearance of, 48, 49-50, 52-53

  aspirations of, 36, 41-42

  childhood and youth of, 35-36

  Courtney’s relationship with, 4, 38, 40, 41-42, 49-50, 54, 57

  family background of, 35

  and father-daughter

  relationship, 66-67

  as feminist, 4, 36, 37-38, 40, 42, 45, 54, 77, 80

  as “good girl,” 34, 35-38, 40

  health of, 41, 50

  mother’s relationship with, 4, 36, 38, 48-50, 52-53

  and music, 132-33

  parenting by, 38, 39

  and perfection, 42

  as role model, 4

  self-image of, 48

  sex education of, 102

  and spirituality, 269

  as superwoman, 41, 50

  and Woodman lecture, 77, 78

  Martin, Ron (father)

  and appearance of wife, 48

  aspirations of, 36-37

  and aspirations of children, 231

  Courtney’s relationship with, 39, 57, 58-59, 63, 65-67

  and feminism, 4, 37, 42-43

  profession of, 17, 38

  and sports, 190

  and wife as “good girl,” 36

  youth of, 131

  masturbation, 106, 110

  Maudsley, 277

  Maxim magazine, 146, 150, 194

  MCs, 133, 135, 138

  mean girls, 83-86, 87, 89

  media

  and attractiveness, 146-47, 150, 151

  and eating, 110

  and fat, 185

  and history of eating disorders, 29

  influence of, 12, 92, 153

  and new stories, 275, 285

  and obsessions as only

  dangerous when lethal, 24-25

  and obsession with thinness, 8, 9

  and prevalence of perfectionism, 29

  and sex, 98, 106

  and spirituality, 251

  and sports, 194

  media-literacy fatigue, 125-27

  Medina, Benny, 123

  Medusa, 138

  men. See boys/men

  Men’s Health magazine, 146-47

  Mensinger, Janell Lynn, 28, 176-77

  menstruation, 23, 65-66, 68, 101, 183, 192, 199, 208

  mentors/guides, 4, 241-45, 284

  Meronek, Paula, 122

  mind, and sex, 109, 110-13

  Mirasol, 200

  money, 41, 140-43, 155, 245, 248, 277. See also socioeconomic class

  Morford, Mark, 253

  Moss, Kate, 127, 285

  mothers

  blame on, 56, 175-76

  and body as holy war, 264

  books/writings about relationships with, 8

  and characteristics of perfect girls, 17, 18

  and competition among

  teenagers, 88

  conflict between views of

  fathers and, 78

  eating disorders of, 35, 47-48

  and fantasies about fat, 180

  and father-daughter

  relationships, 66-67

  fear of becoming like, 50

  and feminism, 35, 38-40

  as “good girls,” 5, 40, 55

  as hating own bodies, 45-46

  influence of, 9, 12, 56, 252-53, 268

  interpreting bodies of, 48-53

  and legacy of feminism, 43-53

  and new stories, 274

  and perfect-girl talk among teenagers, 95-96

  and prevalence of eating disorders, 29

  rejection of, 77-78

  responsibilities of, 232

  as role models, 44, 45-46, 47, 48, 55, 76, 78, 231-32

  and self-talk about fat, 178, 179

  and sex, 101-2, 105

  and spirituality, 268

  and sports, 202-3

  stress of, 50-51

  as superwomen, 39, 50, 76

  See also parenting; parents

  MTV, 12, 121, 129, 146, 251

  Muir, John, 1

  music, 131-38, 146. See also hip-hop; rap

  Myers, Michael, 177

  Nelly, 139-40, 139n

  new stories, 271-88

  and beauty, 283

  beginnings of, 285-88

  and conversations about eating disorders, 280-81

  and culture, 275-76, 280

  and fantasies, 272-74

  and power, 271, 273, 274-75, 276, 278-79, 281, 285
<
br />   and spirituality, 280

  and treatments for eating

  disorders, 276-78

  and truth and humility, 279-81

  uprising for, 283-85

  Nolen-Hoeksema, Susan, 110, 184

  nutrition/nutritionists, 84, 95, 96, 277

  obesity

  causes of, 171

  in children, 177

  definition of, 171n

  emotional and psychological

  aspects of, 173, 174, 177

  as epidemic, 25, 82, 170, 173-74, 175

  and fat bitch, 184-89

  and health/disease, 173, 174

  ignorance about, 172-75

  images of, 174-75

  and personality, 174-75

  and race/class issues, 177

  and sports, 208

  See also diets; eating disorders; fat; weight

  obsession

  and legacy of feminism, 44, 51

  as only dangerous when lethal, 24-25

  prevalence of, 26

  and quality of life, 31

  See also specific topic

  Oliver, J. Eric, 174

  Olsen twins, 123

  one-size-fits-all beauty standard, 166, 279

  Orbach, Susie, 25, 171, 175, 188

  “otherize,” 24

  parenting, 38-40, 54-55, 60-61, 67-72, 78

  parents

  and competition among teenagers, 88

  and new stories, 277, 278

  pressure from, 202-3

  and sex, 102

  See also fathers; mothers

  “partial-syndrome eating disorder,” 23, 62, 174

  Paul, Pamela, 153

  perfect girls

  characteristics of, 5, 17-20

  contradictions of, 18, 221-23

  as daughters of feminists, 18

  double consciousness of, 221-23

  and failure, 214, 269

  Gilligan’s views about, 34

  as god projects, 251

  and “good girls,” 34

  impatience of, 234

  pilgrimages of, 269

  as privileged, 238

  starving daughters compared with, 21

  stop being, 282-88

  See also specific topic

  perfection

  and admission of imperfection, 268

  and beauty of imperfection, 283

  books/writings about, 8-9, 10

  characteristics of, 45

  in college years, 213, 214, 216, 218-19, 221-23

  correlation of eating disorders and, 5, 28

  “effortless,” 5-6, 216, 222, 261, 262, 266

  Fonda’s views about, 78

  from good to, 35-45

  and history of eating disorders, 28

  as impossible to attain, 94-95, 268, 279

  and legacy of feminism, 42, 43, 45, 54

  never enough, 5

  and new stories, 283

  obsession with, 4-5, 13, 16, 17, 29

  prevalence of attitudes about, 18-20, 29

  teenagers’ talk about, 90, 93, 94-95

  See also perfect girls; specific topic

  perfection projection, 93-96

  personality, 174-75

  Pink, 12, 124

  Pipher, Mary, 65, 79, 80, 173, 234-35

  plastic surgery, 29, 95, 131, 247-48

  pop culture, 9, 40, 121-27, 129-30, 146

  pornography, 110, 121-22, 133, 146, 151-54, 161

  post-college years, 230-49

  appearance in, 243, 245-48

  aspirations/goals in, 230-34, 236, 238, 249

  career mobility in, 233-39, 241-48

  composing a life in, 230-31, 249

  control during, 236, 239-41, 248, 249

  disappointments in, 248-49

  eating disorders during, 233-34, 239

  feminist American dream in, 231-33

  fitness/exercise in, 240-41

  humility in, 237-39

  mentors/guides during, 241-45

  and role models, 231-32

  and thinness, 232

  power

  anorexia as, 253

  and appearance, 141-43

  of being young and mad, 278-79

  and body, 12, 142-43, 153, 182

  and confrontations about eating disorders, 226-27

  and father-daughter relationships, 59

  fear of, 276

  and freedom, 141

  and honesty, 165

  knowledge as, 258

  and money, 140-43

  and new stories, 271, 273, 274-75, 276, 277, 278-79, 281, 285

  and perfect girls, 142-43

  potential, 278-79

  of sex, 106

  and spirituality, 269

  struggles among teenagers for, 82-86

  pregnancy, 98, 101, 104, 105n, 106, 118, 136-37, 239

  pressure, 88-89, 196, 202-3, 216

  prudes, 101, 103

  “psychology of abundance,” 244-45

  puberty, 63-66, 68

  purging. See bulimia nervosa

  Pussycat Dolls, 124

  quick fixes, 149, 246, 255, 284

  Quindlen, Anna, 5, 249, 269

  race/ethnicity, 82, 83, 127-31, 177, 186, 220

  Raitt, Bonnie, 124-25

  rap, 40, 121, 133, 133n, 135, 139, 140, 178

  rape, 111-13, 112n

  reality

  and new stories, 273-74

  and spirituality, 255, 260, 262

  split between intellectual

  understanding and, 255-59, 260

  religion, 250-51, 252-55, 258, 261, 269. See also spirituality

  Remuda Ranch, 47

  Renfrew Center, 32-33, 47

  reputation, and sex, 102, 106, 108, 110, 118

  respect, 57, 96, 103, 105, 107, 109, 119, 137, 226-27, 284

  Richards, Amy, 54

  Richie, Nicole, 123

  rituals, 251, 253, 255

  Roberts, Julia, 125

  role models

  anorexics as, 252

  athletes as, 194-95

  for fathers, 60

  fathers as, 55, 76, 78

  and legacy of feminism, 55

  mothers as, 44, 45-46, 47, 48, 55, 76, 78, 231-32

  and post-college years, 231-32

  and spirituality, 251

  See also mentors

  Roth, Geneen, 8, 280

  Rothstein, Caroline, 220

  Rowe-Finkbeinger, Kristin, 216

  Sachs, Brad, 60

  Santa Fe teenagers, Martin’s discussions with, 82-86, 87-88, 91-92, 93

  school, 69, 70, 103, 105. See also college years

  Sedaris, Amy, 158

  self-acceptance, 174, 181, 258, 280

  self-confidence, 41, 94, 95, 96, 134, 142, 158, 164, 188, 238, 283

  self-consciousness, 84, 87, 134, 142

  self-criticism, 197, 214, 279, 280

  self-doubt, 20, 21, 113, 196

  self-employment, 234

  self-esteem, 41, 69, 190, 245, 247

  self-hatred

  and “brain drain,” 30

  and diets, 183

  and father-daughter relationships, 77

  and honesty in relationships, 164

  inevitability of, 188

  of Martin, 195

  and new stories, 275, 278, 281

  and obesity, 182

  and perfect-girl talk among

  teenagers, 85, 87, 90

  and sex, 110, 112, 114, 118, 119

  and spirituality, 260, 266

  self-image

  and aspirations/goals, 249

  and body as holy war, 263

  during college years, 216

  and honesty in relationships, 164

  influences on, 92

  and new stories, 276

  and perfect-girl talk among

  teenagers, 90, 94, 96

  in post-college years, 236, 249

  quick fix for, 149

  and sex, 104, 107

  and spirituality, 263

  self-w
orth, 2, 5, 127, 155, 171, 251

  Serena, 221-23

  “set points,” 170

  sex, 98-120

  and abstinence, 104, 105, 105n, 106

  and abuse, 113

  and athletes as sex symbols, 194

  and attractiveness, 155, 156, 158, 160

  and authentic sexuality, 110

  and black holes, 5

  and body, 98, 100, 103-4, 106, 109, 110-13, 114, 118

  and casual hookups, 107-9, 110-11

  choices about, 101

  communication about, 112

  as cookie, 107-9

  and counseling, 114

  demystification of, 102

  and disease, 104, 106, 114, 114n, 118

  and double standard, 103, 108, 110, 111

  and eating disorders, 109-16

  education about, 98, 102, 104-7, 111-12, 112n

  experimentation with, 104-5, 106

  and fat, 187

  fear of, 101, 102

  and feminism, 108

  as forbidden, 106

  with friends, 105

  for fun, 105

  and hip-hop, 136

  and “hot girls,” 156

  and identity, 108, 114

  images of, 110

  inflated meanings for, 98

  and media, 98, 106

  and mind, 109, 110-13

  and mothers, 101-2

  and one-night stands, 107-8

  power of, 106

  and prudes, 103

  and rape, 111-13, 112n

  and reputations, 102

  silence about, 106

  and sports, 106

  and thinness, 182

  and variety of sexual practices, 106

  See also pornography

  sexually transmitted diseases

  (STDs), 104, 106, 114, 114n, 118

  shame. See guilt/shame

  Shandler, Sara, 234-36

  Shanker, Wendy, 175, 181, 280

  silence

  about attractiveness, 161-65

  about eating disorders, 220-22, 253

  of fathers, 69, 70, 253

  and hip-hop, 133

  and new stories, 280-81

  and perfection, 223

  and pop culture, 122

  about sex, 106

  Simmons, Rachel, 80

  Simpson, Ashlee, 125

  Sinatra, Nancy, 125

  “sitophobia,” 27

  sluts, 65, 100, 101, 108, 114, 121

  Sobel, Howard D., 248

  socioeconomic class, 81-97, 177, 263

  Solomon, Akiba, 140

  “someday,” 180

  Sontag, Susan, 271

  soul, 77, 214, 258

  Spears, Britney, 121, 124

  Spice Girls, 92

  spirituality, 250-70

  ambiguity about, 250-51

  and aspirations/goals, 260

  and black holes, 251, 269

  in college years, 251

  and control, 259, 261, 266, 267-68

  and eating disorders, 252-53, 256-66

  and “handing it all up,” 266-70

  and holy war, 262-66

  and identity, 250, 255, 267

  lack of, 55

  and new stories, 272, 280

  and perfection, 251, 258-62, 266-69

  and power, 269

  and role models, 251

  and sex, 106

  and split between intellectual

 

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