Body image is a common issue among college-aged women and TCU’s gender ratio is amplifying it, a TCU sociology professor said.
Campuses where the gender ratio is high have higher rates of disordered eating or even full-blown eating disorders, said Dr. Jeannine Gailey, the professor.
TCU’s undergraduate student body is about 60% female and 40% male.
“Body image issues with girls here at TCU are prevalent,” Brenna Bowen, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, said. “With more girls and fewer guys, a lot of girls see it as a competition, especially freshman year.”
Dr. Gailey discussed women’s body image issues, their origins and support strategies on Monday to kick off Women’s Health Week. The event, “Bundt Cakes & Body Image,” was sponsored by Campus Recreation & Wellness Promotion.
Free mini-bundt cakes were served. And, students had the chance to ask questions to Gailey and their female peers during the hour-long session.
“How do you know when a healthy habit goes too far; when it becomes unhealthy?” asked one student.
“In those situations, I like to ask myself, ‘why am I doing that,’” responded another student.
“If I am doing it because it makes me feel better, that’s healthy,” she said. “If I am doing it because I want to be skinnier, that’s not so healthy.”
Gailey emphasized a body-neutrality viewpoint, a more realistic take on the popular “body-positive movement.”
“The view that ‘all bodies are beautiful,’ keeps the focus on appearance, rather than on a person’s value in what they contribute,” Gailey said. “Body neutrality is one way to move towards acceptance.”
Gailey offered students tips for fostering a mindset of body neutrality.
Dr. Gailey’s tips:
- Instead of comparing yourself to others, make a list of things you like about yourself and keep it where you’ll see it.
- Instead of dieting or getting on the scale, nourish your body with food and exercise you enjoy.
- Instead of judging others because of your own insecurities, try complimenting others generously.
- Instead of spending time on social media and following things that really discourage you, try to curate your feed with things that make you feel good.
She said the ratio of men to women on TCU’s campus isn’t causing body image issues, but it can create a comparative culture among women on campus, which can lead to those insecurities.
TCU Campus Recreation & Wellness Promotion celebrates Women’s Health Week with a period product drive and continuous events.
Learn about different birth control methods on Thursday with the “Be in Control” event or a free self-defense class taught by a TCU police officer on Friday.
