Sunday, April 29, 2012

Sociology 360 - Final Blog Expansion

The Argument - How do WE spot social deviants?

                                                                       there they are...
                                                                      huffingtonpost.com

                For the purposes of the final project, I have chosen to expand on the theme of two blog posts, the "deviant language" blog post and the "how do we spot a deviant" blog post.  The reasons being that I believe in our culture, language is the tool that conveys ideas on deviance and that, as society progresses, covert rhetoric will replace overt dehumanization in order to perpetuate labels of deviant groups.  Language itself is socially constructed.  "Bad words" are only bad due to the meaning given to them by society.  Certain words are instantly recognizable as deviant - these words convey unsavory images of pain, taboo activity, or private (often sexual) behavior.  Words such as "fuck", "fag", and "nigger" are inherently deviant in our society because of the activity or history associated with them.  I wrote my previous blog post on the word "nigger" and the complexity of this word.  I touched on the history of oppressive usage, as well as efforts to reclaim the word by some members of the African American community.  Ultimately, I concluded that language itself is so complex that defining a word as "deviant" is not advantageous, as different groups derive different meanings from words.  I argued that the only commonality in the use of the word "nigger" is the emotional response it draws from the users and opponents of the word.  From fervent racism, to compassionate pleas for the end of racism, the word's very history is a labyrinth of opposing views. 
                                                                         forensicpsych.umwblogs.org forensicpsych.umwblogs.orgforensicpsych.umwblogs.org
                                                           forensicpsych.umwblogs.org

                                                                              forensicpsych.umwblogs.orgfff

                I feel as though the way we shame deviant groups is evolving in a world of increased technology.  Instant connection, global media, and intense scrutiny of public lives create a difficult environment for users of shaming language.  Today, the use of overtly deviant language is less and less socially acceptable than in previous eras.  No longer is it acceptable (in most places) to call members of the queer community "fags", but promoting legislation such as the "defense of marriage" act is legitimate.  Wearing a white hood and murdering African Americans is no longer socially acceptable, but donating money to George Zimmerman's legal defense is legitimate.  The process of social shaming using language is as much alive today as ever, though the use of overt rhetoric is fading.  Rather, I argue the practice of shaming deviant groups is thriving in the use of covert language of oppression, with many of the same damaging results.  Further, evidence of covert shaming rhetoric is seen in the areas such as race, physical and mental ability, sexuality, and criminal justice. 


The Theory

Disintegrative Shaming:  John Braithwaite

                                                                           anu.edu.au



                Disintegrative shaming is a concept developed by Braithwaite in which society labels deviants to the point of producing outcasts without allowing them avenues to rejoin the prevailing group as equals (Braithwaite 1989).  Perhaps there is no better example of this than in contemporary American race-relations.  The United States carries a history of slavery of African Americans and although abolition ended slavery, the end of the Reconstruction ushered in a period of Jim Crow law in the south that systematically oppressed African Americans for nearly a century after slavery.  Still, in the decades since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's, African Americans are routinely looked down upon by society and suffer over-incarceration, under-employment, and greater rates of violence and death.  This illustrates that despite official equality, the history of disintegrative shaming of African Americans throughout American history has closed off many avenues leading to mainstream, practical equality for African Americans. 




Labeling Theory: Howard Becker

                                                                        mural.ev.es
                Becker asserts, "social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders" (Becker 1963, 39).  Furthermore, Becker states that deviants need not violate official law, rather that actions seen as deviant by society are enough to indict violators in the public's view, with resultant consequences just as harsh as any official law violation (Becker 1963).  This pertains to how contemporary society views individuals with mental or physical disabilities.  Despite the fact that these individuals may be able to function fully and happily, because there methods of existence do not subscribe to what society deems acceptable these individuals are often stigmatized and oppressed. 


Control Theory: Travis Hirschi

                                                                           acs41.com
                Major tenants of Hirschi's Control Theory focus on an individual's commitment to the status quo, an involvement in socially acceptable activities, and a belief in the common system of values within the individual's particular group (Hirschi 1969).  Hirschi uses these tenants to explain criminality or lack thereof, though it can be extrapolated to include deviance more broadly.  Control theory can therefore relate to the ways in which legislators and politicians often advocate for the legitimacy of the status quo.  For example, in the United States, no politician can be elected without an open relationship with God, a preference for a hetero-normative, cisgender lifestyle, and these necessities of electability focus the legislation put out by governments, furthering the oppression of demonized groups. 


The Evidence


           Even in instances of tragedy and death, contemporary narratives on African Americans often dismiss the tragedy, or blame the victim for the cause of death.  An example is the death of 17 year-old Trayvon Martin.  Trayvon Martin is a young Black male who was shot to death by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Florida, despite being unarmed and moving away from altercation.  911 tapes revealed Zimmerman labeled Trayvon as suspicious in a mostly White neighborhood, leading him to investigate Martin's presence there, ultimately resulting in Martin's death.  According to reports Martin was dressed in a "hoodie", and Fox News contributor Geraldo Rivera uses covert rhetoric as he blames Martin's hoodie for his death:

                                                                      miamiherald.com
                                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Yxd8DHPas
     Rivera's comments on Martin's dress was not as much an indictment of his style, but of stereotypical African American culture and style more broadly.  Rivera argues this manner of dress, prominent in hip-hop culture is justification for Martin's murder at seventeen years old.   In this case, Rivera uses covert rhetoric to make blanket statements about stereotypical Black, hip-hop culture, and demonize the African American community.  The hoodie was not deviant when Sylvester Stallone wore it in Rocky, but it somehow caused Martin's death in 2012.  Moynihan covers trends in deviance stating, "we have been redefining deviancy so as to exempt much conduct previously stigmatized, and also quietly raising the 'normal' level in categories where behavior is now abnormal by any earlier standard..." (Moynihan 1993, 15).  


     While much has been said on racial discrimination in the United States, less covered is the reality of intense and life-altering discrimination against those labeled "disabled".  Anecdotal evidence abounds surrounding the systematic discrimination of individuals with physical and mental disabilities.  Marissa Weiss examined discrepancies in the treatment of able bodied and disabled female patients with breast cancer and found that "women with disabilities were 20 percent less likely to receive breast-saving treatment" (Weiss 2006, 1).  This shows mainstream society retracting an individual's dignity because they are already seen as physically deviant.  Becker states that deviants may often not realize their own deviance, and this resonates in the case of Weiss' article (Becker 1963).  Because society sees these women as physically inferior already, anecdotal evidence suggests medical professionals feel they are less deserving of non-mastectomy procedures, in addition to effective radiation treatment following surgery (Weiss 2006).  While this discrimination is not overt, the subtle ways in which perceptions of deviance manifest themselves are life altering all the same. 



     While discrimination against the disabled is often covert, further evidence of the effects of this can be seen from the testimony of the characters in the film Murderball.  This video effectively demonstrates the ridiculousness of the status quo regarding what is and is not a "disability".

                                                                      youtube.com

     Perhaps no other group is more adept at coding language than politicians are.  If one were to ask the Americans if politicians are still creating hateful and homophobic legislation, many would say no.  However, if one closely examines the bills and the rhetoric coming out of Washington D.C. it becomes clear that overt racism and homophobia as simply become more cleverly disguised as legitimate.  Take for example the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 piece of legislation defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman.  While members of the queer community are no longer threatened with arrest and detention for law-abiding behavior, they are legally denied marriage benefits despite civil unions, and are disproportionately targeted for violence.  Until recently, 2011, the Obama administration vowed not to support the Defense of Marriage Act and in February of this year, a federal judge found the law unconstitutional (Williams, Carolyn 2012).  This is a step toward equality though it has been 16 years since its passage of the house, and illustrates that both republicans and democrats have interests in maintaining the status quo, demonizing "deviant" groups. 
                                                                               mathismyth.blogspot.com


                                                                                 lgbtqnation.com
     Another example of government maintaining the status quo can be seen in the dehumanization of sex workers.  The topic if sex is so taboo in American culture that an entire group of men and women is ignored, criminalized and pushed underground - leading to increased danger, lack of hygiene, and a loss of basic human rights.  Despite mounting evidence solidifying the need to bring the sex industry into the main stream, such as epidemic STI rates, disproportionately high rates of violence, and a thriving juvenile sex industry, many law makers and law enforcers refuse to take a human approach to dealing with the sex industry.  For example, DeMello states, "sex workers have a mortality rate 40 times higher than the Canadian national average—media accounts emphasize that the victim was a prostitute, but not that she (or he) was also a mother, daughter, friend or, for example, animal lover" (DeMello 2011, 2).  However, there are bright spots though, DeMello's article "Humanizing Sex Workers?" introduces a novel concept in Canada of highlighting the humanity of sex-workers through advertising.  Examples are:


                          http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/10/12/humanizing-sex-workers/

     DeMello's closing line resonates as she states, "Let’s hope that Stepping Stone’s campaign does some good, making us think about sex workers as people, rather than punch lines and faceless victims" (DeMello 2011, 2).  The way in which those in power seek to not only enforce Hirschi's Control Theory, but also refuse access to "deviant" groups makes it possible for atrocities to happen, and for individual's lives to be ruined. 

The Closing Argument

     How do we spot deviants in our culture?  To do this one must be able to dissect the covert language of modern times.  Language is the medium through which society conveys messages on what is and is not deviant.   Though, as we have learned this semester, the entire idea of one person or group as more deviant than another is ridiculous.  If we can take anything away from these lessons in social deviance, it is that all people are deviant in some way, and the definitions, mechanisms, and manifestations change every day.  The problem with deviance is often not the actions, tattoos, gay love, and a furry fetish often do not ruin peoples lives; however the reactions to the labels of deviance have long-lasting and life-changing consequences.  Legislation banning gay marriage, creating situations in which partners of fallen gay soldiers, or police officers are ineligible to receive benefits - is an unforgivable atrocity in the 21st century.  Involuntary sex workers being pushed underground into a life of disease, abuse, and invisibility...all because we as a society are too afraid to acknowledge our own sexuality - is an unforgivable atrocity in the 21st century.  Being so ignorant as to believe that disabled individuals are wholly helpless and need able-bodied support, and using this belief to take away individual agency and worth - is an unforgivable atrocity in the 21st century.  Obviously these examples are a few of many, but hopefully the message resonates.  Deviance is not the issue, for deviance is a social construct and has as much real-world meaning as Santa Clause, or the Easter Bunny.  The reactions to labels of deviance are unfortunately all too real, and people's lives are ruined because of them.  Hopefully, as a society we move further in the future and gain the ability to use logic, reason, and compassion in our thoughts and values; and in doing so, improve the lives of innocent "deviants" the world over.  


- Steve


word count (2,025)



                                                                    Works Cited


Calhoun, Thomas, Conyers, Addrain & Thio, Alex (2010). "Readings in Deviant Behaviors, Sixth Edition".
     Becker, Howard - "Labeling Theory" (1963).  Pearson Inc.



Calhoun, Thomas, Conyers, Addrain & Thio, Alex (2010). "Readings in Deviant Behavior, Sixth Edition".

      Braithwaite, John - "Shaming Theory" (1989).  Pearson Inc.



Calhoun, Thomas, Conyers, Addrain & Thio, Alex (2010). "Readings in Deviant Behaviors, Sixth Edition".

      Hirschi, Travis - "Control Theory" (1969).  Pearson Inc


Calhoun, Thomas, Conyers, Addrain & Thio, Alex (2010). "Readings in Deviant Behaviors, Sixth Edition".
     Moynihan, Daniel - "Defining Deviancy Down" (1993).  Pearson Inc.

DeMello, Margo (2011). "Humanizing Sex Workers?"  The Society Pages.  Sociological Images. 



Weiss, Marissa (2006).  "Study Finds Discrimination Against Disabled Patients".  ABC News. 



Williams, Carol J (2012). "Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional by judge".  Los Angeles

                Times.



Images and Videos Taken From



youtube.com

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/10/12/humanizing-sex-workers/

lgbtqnation.com

miamiherald.com

acs41.com

mural.ev.es

anu.edu.au

mathismyth.blogspot.com

forensicpsych.umwblogs.org

huffingtonpost.com
               

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Film Review: "Live Nude Girls Unite!"

“Live Nude Girls Unite!” is a documentary film directed by Vicky Funari and Julia Query (also a dancer) that chronicles the efforts of dancers at The Lusty Lady peep show in San Francisco to unionize and advocate for improved working conditions in their workplace and for workers in the sex industry more broadly (www.imdb.com).  The overall theme of the film is the one we have covered in class as well and that is the dehumanization on sex workers.  The workers in the film were often at risk of being fired without notice, had to pay extreme “stage fees” simply in order to work, and were even open to becoming victims of violence as one dancer recalled a shooting incident at The Lusty Lady. 

                The main arguments supporting the thesis of the film, is the deplorable working conditions many workers in the sex industry face.  These conditions are experienced by underground sex workers such as prostitutes, as well as those working in the legal sex-industry such as exotic dancers and pornographic actors and actresses. 

 In this video, the dancers touch on the progression of the sexuality of their profession, which may at first seem like an illegitimate point, considering they work in the sex industry.  However, when you hear the workers themselves talk about the pressures to be physical with customers, the line between exotic dancer and coerced prostitute becomes blurred.  This is the heart of the issue for the workers in the film, because they work in the sex industry, their rights, views, and feelings are often overlooked in the name of maximizing profit for the owners of the Lusty Lady.

                The thesis of “Live Nude Girls Unite!” relates to our course in a number of ways, chiefly, the way the dehumanization of sex workers leads to great obstacles in their struggle for rights, and more generally, how individuals classified as the “other” are often stigmatized to the point of violating basic human rights.  In “Exotic Dancers: ‘Where Am I Going to Stop?’” Wesley describes the effects of the stripper stigma on young dancers in his study, stating, “…the initial experience of stripping for a living was extremely difficult for many of the women.  Apparently, the stigma of being a stripper challenged their self-identity as a conventional person like everyone else” (204).  This highlights the inherent guilt many dancers feel about their occupation, a guilt that is only worsened when basic human rights such as the right of workers to feel safe in their workplace is violated, which is very common thing in the sex industry.  This phenomenon is illustrated on film when co-director and narrator Julia Query struggles to tell her mother (a sex worker activist) that her occupation is a dancer the Lusty Lady.  The stigma created by society is so intense, that even amidst the backdrop of a powerful fight for the furthering of her own rights and the rights of her friends, Query cannot bring herself to tell her mother until the situation becomes unavoidable.  Therefore, it stands to reason that the strength of the inherent stigma of sex work furthers the ability of abusers to violate the rights and bodies of workers in the sex industry.

                In a broader sense, the thesis of the film also relates to our course because it depicts the broader dehumanization of those in the sex industry.  Dehumanization takes many forms such as the working conditions at the Lusty Lady, to increased rates of violence towards sex workers, and government policies that negatively impact the lives of the individuals in the sex industry.  In “Humanizing SexWorkers?” Margo DeMello talks about an ad campaign aimed at humanizing workers in the sex industry for the purposes of bringing to light an often shunned occupation.  DeMello argues that despite extremely high chances of victimization, many people are unable to see past the master status of “sex worker” and therefore steps that could aid victims of the sex industry are ignored (“Humanizing Sex Workers?”).  DeMello’s last line of the blog post states, “Let’s hope that Stepping Stone’s campaign does some good, making us think about sex workers as people, rather than punch lines and faceless victims” (DeMello).  This resonates because as is illustrated in “Live Nude Girls Unite!” as well as in our course lectures, the dehumanization of any group sets a dangerous precedent in society. 


                I found many arguments of the film convincing, and when presented with a list of rights abuses faced by the dancer’s it is hard to argue against the unionization of exotic dancers.  Of the most disturbing issues faced by the dancers in the film the one’s that stand out to me are the following:

·         Stage fees (paying the owner for time on stage) – these can be up to 200$ per night

·         The racial hierarchy experienced by dancers, where African American dancers are seen as less marketable to management.

·         The pressure to have sexual contact with customers bridging dancing and prostitution

·         Lack of general benefits such as sick leave, and vacation.

·         The threats of violence such as stalking, rape, or murder.

·         The threat of non-consensual video-taping and the resulting embarrassment or exposure.

·         The basic dehumanization of being paid to be sexually objectified.

One point I found difficult to rationalize is the feminist component of the film; there is something inherently contradictory between making money as a sexually objectified woman, and being a feminist.  However, I acknowledge the power over one’s own sexuality is a prominent tenant of feminism, and as a man, I question this from a perspective of male privilege. 

                Overall, I enjoyed “Live Nude Girls Unite!” as it provided the depth and seriousness needed to tackle a topic as rich as the marginalization of sex workers.  The film itself portrayed many women that do not meet the traditional definitions of “beauty” in American society and illustrated their personas of strength and sexuality.  Additionally, the film touched on a topic that is bigger than the Lusty Lady, and that is the dehumanization of workers in the sex-industry, the true size of which is most likely impossible to determine.  For further research, I would propose to follow up on DeMello’s glimpse into the ad campaign aimed at humanizing sex workers.  I would propose to examine attitudes of a stratified random sample of individuals within the communities the ads have been implemented in order to see if the ad campaign has been successful in altering the attitudes that individuals have towards sex workers.  I share DeMello’s hope that further humanization and legitimization of sex work and sex workers will lead to greater health care for prostitutes, and improved working conditions for sex workers more broadly.  Hopefully, as the ad campaign aims to do, society will learn to see these individuals as mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, and friends. 


-          Steve

Works Cited
DeMello, Margo.  "Humanizing Sex Workers?".  thesocietypages.org.  October 12, 2011.
Funari, Vicki and Query, Julia.  "Live Nude Girls Unite!"  Film.  2000.
Wesley, Jennifer. "Exotic Dancers: 'Where Am I Going to Stop?'.  Readings in Deviant Behavior. 
           Pearson Education Inc. 2010. 

Videos taken from www.youtube.com
Images taken from: www.imdb.com and thesocietypages.org



Sunday, March 25, 2012

Binge Eating Disorder: Social and Psychological Issues

Binge Eating Disorder

What is It?
Binge Eating Disorder, is a blanket term used to describe the act of consuming unusually copious amounts of food, and is often simultaneously associated with some psychological trigger.  Binge Eating Disorder is not currently included in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) however, it is scheduled to be added to the new DSM V, and was included in DSM IV as an area for further study (dsm5.org).  According to www.dsm5.org, binge eating is comprised of the following:

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

1. eating, in a discrete period of time (for example, within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances

2. a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (for example, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

B. The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:

1. eating much more rapidly than normal

2. eating until feeling uncomfortably full

3. eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry

4. eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating

5. feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterwards

C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.

D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months.

E. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior (for example, purging) and does not occur exclusively during the course Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.” (dsm5.org)

The act of binge eating is generally associated with obesity and weight management issues, though; binge eating also encompasses negative social ideas regarding an individual’s ability to control their own actions.  This lack of control, seen negatively in other deviant acts such as substance abuse and gambling, is coupled with the deviance of being obese or overweight and can cause many social and psychological issues in individuals that are struggling with Binge Eating Disorder (BED).  According to a diagnosis overview from New York University, “It is thought that 4% of US population has binge eating disorder. Women are slightly at more risk than men. The illness peaks at 40-50 years old” (psych.med.NYU.edu). 

An Example of Binging

A (Very) Brief History


                According to much of the literature, the act of binge eating is nothing new, the formal disorder however, is a relatively recent invention.  According to an article entitle “A Fear of Food: A History of Eating Disorders” posted on randomhistory.com, “it was not until the early 1990s that binge eating was recognized as distinct from bulimia nervosa. The reason for this probably has to do with the reluctance to associate obesity, per se, with an eating disorder (Gordon 2000)” (randomhistory.com).  Additionally, NYU states that Binge-Eating Disorder is associated with Bulimia Nervosa, furthering the connection between the two disorders.  BED is interesting because while most of the negative harm to the body is physical and related to obesity and weight gain, much of the treatment options revolve around the psychiatric treatment of the patients, illustrating the complexity of the diagnosis.

Relation to Other Disorders


                As with adult ADHD, Binge Eating Disorder was once a part of a narrower field of eating disorders which has been expanded on to include more diagnoses.  In “The Emergence of Hyperactive Adults as Abnormal”, Conrad and Potter state, “Adult ADHD offers a clear example of how a medicalized category can expand to include a wider range of troubles within its definition” (Conrad and Potter, 143).  Similarly, Binge Eating Disorder was born out of Bulimia Nervosa, and its rise coincides with a broader look by society into issues of obesity and health. 
                One can also view binge eating as a form of self-injury, and as with self-injurers, Binge Eating Disorder is often associated with other psychological stresses or triggers such as depression (psych.med.nyu.edu).  In “Self-Injurers: A ‘Lonely Crowd’”, Adler and Adler state, “According to Best and Luckenbill (1982), loners who are deviants are socialized by conventional society, not by fellow deviants, and yet they choose deviance.  They Choose deviance not because they want to contradict their socialization, but because they face situations where conventional courses of action are unattractive or unsatisfactory” (Adler and Adler, 131).  For Example, look at this woman’s feeling toward her own binge eating:


                Over-indulgence in food, can also be related to over-indulgence in other substances such as alcohol or drugs.  Specific to this course, Peralta published an article entitled “Hey, Don’t Blame Me…Blame the Booze” focusing on gender-appropriate roles of alcohol abuse, showing that binge-drinking contributes to the violation of gender-appropriate behavior.   However, there is also a gendered component to binge eating as NYU asserts that women are more at risk than men for engaging in binge eating (psych.med.nyu.edu). This is significant because it shows that binge-eating also violates gender norms, the norms of being the ideal woman. In American society and culture, women are more likely to be judged negatively or positively based on physical body characteristics, which can suffer under Binge Eating Disorder. 
Underlying Social Constructions: A HEAVY gender bias
 
One need only Google image search "Binge Eating" to find a heavy gender bias. 8 of the first 10 images depict either a sad woman surrounded by food, or a woman ecstatic to be surrounded by food, illustrating the association between binge eating and unstable emotions. Additionally, much of the literature connects Binge Eating Disorder with a variety of other psychologically deviant issues such as depression, and an inability to handle life's stresses. The following images are some of the first image returns when you Google "Binge Eating", they are numbers 1, 6, and 7 of the first 10.


A study published in Appetite, a journal dedicated to nutrition, entitled "Stress-induced laboratory eating behavior in obese women with binge eating disorder" states, "The stress-induced eating behavior of BED patients is characterized by a stronger motivation to eat (indicated by a fast initial eating rate) as well as by a lack of satiety perception" (Schulz, Laessle).  Women are the focus of this study, concentrating on the obese participant's lack of ability to cope with stress.  Amazingly, when using Academic Search Complete 3 of the first 5 search results of "Binge Eating" return articles or studies dealing specifically with female binge-eaters, and tie the act of binge eating to other psychological issues.
Of course, there is the more obvious deviant illustration, the association between Binge Eating Disorder and obesity.  This is an interesting connection because the history of Binge Eating Disorder seems to indicate it was born out of the Bulimia Nervosa diagnosis, traditionally associated with the severely underweight.  Nevertheless, the association between Binge Eating and obesity persists, arguably due to the multi-billion dollar industry of nutritional supplements aimed at weight loss, and prescription medication aimed at health improvement. 

Who REALLY Benefits from this Diagnosis?

From a health and physical fitness point of view, the obvious winner in the battle against obesity is the dietary supplement industry.  According to consumerreports.org, the industry grossed 26.7 billion dollars in supplement sales in 2009. 
An important factor in legitimizing a diagnosis or a medical condition is the role the medical community plays in furthering the reality of diagnosis, the fear of bad health, and fostering a need for patients to purchase prescription medication.  According to a press release by sfgate.com, a report by Global Industry Analysts predicts "Anti-Obesity" drug profits to reach 10.3 billion dollars by the year 2017 (sfgate.com). 
Still, there are more beneficiaries of this diagnosis, as psychiatric treatment is often labeled under treatment options for this disorder.  According to NYU, treatments include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Medications. 

Social Reasons for the Existence of this Diagnosis?
The social reasons for the diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder are varied, but mainly revolve around society's ideas of what is healthy, responsible, and emotionally stable.  The research I have seen shows a heavy gender bias toward females, despite NYU stating that women are only "slightly" more likely than men to deal with binge eating episodes (psych.med.nyu.edu).  As with most things in life, there is a flip side to the negativity of binge-eating. 
Though the DSM defines Binge-Eating Disorder as being characterized by a number of certain conditions, the overarching pillar of the disorder is consuming copious amounts of food, often in a less than healthy fashion associated with psychological loss of control, or an emotional trigger.  However, others argue that doing essentially the same thing, minus the stereotypical obese-woman dealing with stress, is actually a healthier way of eating

Let me explain, "The Warrior Diet" coined by Ori Hofmekler, is a system of eating aimed at weight management in which a person "underfeeds" for a period of up to twenty (yes 20) hours, only to "overfeed" for a period of 4 hours.  This "overfeed" takes place in the form of one giant meal.  As Hofmekler reasons, "The 'Undereating Phase' during the day maximizes the Sympathetic Nervous System's (SNS) fight or flight reaction to stress, thereby promoting alertness, generation of energy, fat burning and the capacity to endure stress" (warriordiet.com).  After literally starving yourself for 20 hours, the dieter then over-eats (binges) because, "The 'Overeating Phase' at night maximizes the Parasympathetic Nervous System's (PNS) recuperation effect on the body, thereby promoting calming down, relaxation, digestion and the utilization of nutrients for repair and growth. This feeding cycle stimulates the production of cellular factors such as Cyclic AMP or GMP, which stimulate hormone synthesis and fat burning during the day, as well as protein synthesis and growth during the night, respectively" (warriordiet.com)
And there you have it, once again the social legitimacy of an act considered deviant, is once again nothing more than a social construction pitting the perceptions of the powerful (wealthy) against the perceptions of the weak (poor).  Does it make any sense, that when this woman binges, it is unhealthy, deviant, and life threatening;
BAD!
But when this guy does it, and writes a book about it, and more importantly looks like he's healthy, then systematic binge-eating is healthy, mindful, and sexy.
GOOD! (as in Good God this is stupid)


 

The short answer is no.  Though as with most diagnoses, there are circumstances I am sure when this diagnosis is warranted, and that its recipients benefit from the treatment they receive. However, I find it interesting that the social constructions surrounding the disorder are so gender-biased, that this diagnosis happened to arise around the time the United States began critically looking into obesity, and that alternative systems of binge-eating are promoted as healthy options.  These factors add further complexity to the diagnosis, and to the socialization of medicine and health more broadly. 
- Steve

Word Count: 1,500 (1,802)

Works Cited


"A Fear of Food: A History of Eating Disorders". randomhistory.com. 2011.

Adler and Adler. "Self-Injurers: A 'Lonely Crow'". Readings in Deviant Behavior. pp. 129-132.
      Pearson Education Inc. 2010.
Conrad and Potter. "The Emergence of Hyperactive Adults as Abnormal". Readings in Deviant
      Behavior. pp. 138-144. Pearson Education Inc. 2010.

"Global Anti-Obesity Drugs Market to Reach US$10.3 Billion by 2017, According to New Report by
      Global Industry Analysts, Inc." sfgate.com/press releases. November 17, 2011.

"K 05 Binge Eating Disorder: Proposed Revision". DSM5.org. 2012.

McCoy, Krisha. "Binge Eating Disorder". NYU Langone Medical Center. psych.med.nyu.edu.
        2012.

Peralta, Robert. "Hey Don't Blame Me...Blame the Booze". Readings in Deviant Behavior. pp. 217-
        222. Pearson Education Inc. 2010.

Schulz, S. S., & Laessle, R. G. (2012). Stress-induced laboratory eating behavior in obese
women with binge eating disorder. Appetite, 58(2), 457-461.
doi:10.1016/j.appet.2011.12.007

"What's behind our dietary supplements coverage".  consumerreports.org.  January 2011.