Rocko402003’s Weblog

We started watching the documentary Thin this week, and despite all of the disturbing things that I saw, one scene definitely stands out. 

Polly and another patient at the center got a pass to leave for a few hours in the day.  Even though it is against the rules, they use that pass to go get new tattoos.  They each choose to receive the symbol for recovery for eating disorders to be inked on their skin.  Despite the fact that it was obvious that Polly was making progress to better her health, the conversation she had with the artist obviously showed that she was still fighting against her eating disorder.  However, despite knowing that the two girls suffered from anorexia, the tattoo artist not only encouraged their illness with comments of “don’t get fat”, but offered advice as to how they could maintain their thin physique by eating in a way that could still speed up their metabolism.

Pardon my french, but WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!  It amazes me how many people talk about how eating disorders are serious issues, but at the same time, there are still those who reinforce the ideas of achieving a perfect physique, despite the fact if it comes borderline to death. 

It is absolutely insane to think about the values put on body image, especially when they are reinforced by some of the most unlikely characters.  It makes me wonder if I had gone to the same artist, had made a comment about my weight, and how he would have replied.  Not only do I cringe, but I think I would have walked out with an unfinished tatt.  Ironically, because of how they feel about themselves, the two girls think nothing of it, because his remarks only help them to think that their mentality behind their weight is ok in other peoples eyes.