ON THE GENESIS OF ANOREXIA-NERVOSA - A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

Anorexia nervosa may occur, in part, in an effort not to delay an adul t role but rather to delay the encumbered female adult role of being w ife and mother. By weight loss, the patient assumes an androgenous for m and role, in an assertion of desire for independence and self-actual ization, rather than a reversion to the role of dependent child. The i ncidence of anorexia is increased by the inappropriately thin female i deal in Western society. A focus on self-actualization and independenc e should be an important aspect of therapy, and continued efforts need to be made to a societal atmosphere of judgement of women predominant ly in the context of appearance and domestic duties.