As part of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the OU Health Education and Wellness Center and the OU Women's Outreach Center presented the film "Body Image: The Quest for Perfection" Tuesday in the Crimson room of Oklahoma Memorial Union.
The session was led by Joanne Nicholas, human relations graduate student and graduate assistant for the Women's Outreach Center. Nicholas began the session with the film and continued with a brief discussion.
"Media today tells us what the standards of beauty are, and this affects our perceived image," Nicholas said during the session.
Nicholas also focused on what can be done in order to correct the "unrealistic" image held by many young women today.
"We need to make every body type OK," Nicholas said. "(We should) start focusing on the positive aspects of each other and reinforce it among ourselves."
Nicholas said her goal is to make young women more aware of the messages of body images that are displayed in mass media and our culture.
Brynn Robinson, marketing freshman, said she enjoyed the video. Robinson said the message the video presented is one that every girl should come to realize.
"The media presents a distorted image," Robinson said. "We need to acknowledge this reality and adjust our own body images accordingly."
More sessions are planned for this week including "How to Help A Friend" today from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Traditions room of the union, "The Media, Body Images, and Eating Disorders" tonight at 7 p.m. in the Scholars room of the union and "Art and Soul: Reflections From Women With Disordered Eating" Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Heritage room of the union.
The groups will bring the educational week to a close with a day of self care, which includes massages. The Integrative Health Center will be offering free massages from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 247 of the Women's Outreach Center located on the second floor of the union.
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