Social and Psychological Aspects

"Triggering" Clothes?: Fashion and the Pro-Anorexia Community.

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Abstract

Pro-anorexia is a subculture of anorexia nervosa sufferers who vary from rejecting treatment to embracing the disorder as a lifestyle choice. Anorexia is consistently linked to body dissatisfaction and this dissatisfaction can be related to internalization of the thin body ideal. One of the main disseminators of the thin female body ideal is the media. Higher frequency of appearance-based social comparisons to such ideals contribute to thin ideal internalization and body dissatisfaction. A common element in pro anorexia communities is thinspiration, or media which promotes weight loss and idolizes extremely thin female celebrities. This research investigated pro-anorexia pages on Facebook and Pinterest in relation to the body and clothing ideals portrayed. Most pictures were user generated, portraying thin women who appeared to be under 30 years old. Clothing objects varied but were largely body hugging or body part revealing. Findings indicate the unique body and clothing ideals within this community.

How to Cite:

Harmon, D. & Rudd, D. A., (2016) “"Triggering" Clothes?: Fashion and the Pro-Anorexia Community.”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 73(1).