Question

1. The prevalence of eating disorders is particularly low in cultures that restrict female social roles and reduce a woman’s freedom to make decisions about her life (see text). How might you explain this relationship?

Answer 1

In cultures that restrict female social roles and reduce a woman’s freedom to make decisions about her life would not allow a women to exert conscious control over her appearance. Since women cannot voluntarily choose how they want to present themselves, particularly their bodies to others, it is likely that would developed anxieties with respect to their body image. This is because many of her actions are bound by the society over which she has little influence. On the other hand, if a woman is given the freedom to present herself in any way she desires, she would become more vulnerable to wanting to meet standards of an ideal body type, as she has the opportunity to do so. I feel that it is this mindset that explains a higher prevalence of eating disorders in the latter case.