Date of Award
6-2009
Document Type
Union College Only
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Biology
Second Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Kenneth Debono
Language
English
Keywords
girls, freshmen, senior, surveys, eating
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to investigate the underlying causes of the increases in abnormal and dangerous eating behaviors that take place on Union College’s campus, specifically looking at freshmen and senior girls. Between entering Union as a freshman and leaving as a senior, it has been predicted that eating patterns and attitudes towards food are significantly different among these two groups of girls. It is hypothesized that due to Union’s conditions, being a small, upper-middle class white private college, along with some unidentifiable pressure to look a certain way, female students feel extreme pressure to conform to the Union body ideal. Those who stand out strive to fit the norm, regardless of the extremes they must take to diminish their flawed physical differences. In a world that stresses uniqueness, individuality, and loving oneself while simultaneously expressing to women that thin is the only way to be beautiful, it is no wonder that college females face these bodily pressures to conform to the thin ideal.
Recommended Citation
Gold, Amy Caron, "Disordered eating patterns and behaviors in Union female first-year and fourth-year students" (2009). Honors Theses. 1309.
https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/1309