Pro-anorexia: Extensions of ingrained concepts

Abstract

Pro-anorexia is an internet-based movement that hails eating disorders as a lifestyle choice. This article aims to reveal pro-anorexia members' underlying conceptualisations of anorexia that contribute to the maintenance of the disorder. Cognitive linguistic analysis was undertaken on a corpus of data collected from systematically selected pro-anorexia websites. The findings show that the members structure their eating disorder experiences through two central conceptual metaphors: ANOREXIA IS A SKILL and ANOREXIA IS A RELIGION. It is argued that these structures represent an extension of, rather than a radical break from, the accepted conceptualisations of female beauty in Western society. This view challenges the legitimacy of public anger that has been directed towards the pro-anorexia movement and its members.

Thinspiration vs. thicksperation: Comparing pro-anorexic and fat acceptance image posts on a photo-sharing site

“…We then expect those groups to have similar habits of communication and accentuate their similarities. For example, research on pro-ana websites has found that individuals categorize themselves based on their weight, space, social interactions and dedication to perfection (Figueras Bates, 2015;Knapton, 2013). Additionally, studies on the fat acceptance movement indicate that members tend to categorize themselves as an "autonomous, self-transparent and self-authoring community" (Murray, 2005, p. 275).…”

“I Am a Waste of Breath, of Space, of Time”

“…Then there are no further decisions to make." This interaction between self and goddess "Ana" could be viewed as the realization of the conceptual metaphor ANOREXIA IS A RELIGION, identified by Knapton (2013) as one fundamental key conceptualization in the pro-ana movement.…”

Self-Presentation Processes in Personal Profiles in a Pro-Anorexia Group

“…In the linguistic level, some differences between the words used for self-presentation in proeating disorders and recovery sites have also been established (Lyons et al, 2006;Wolf et al 2007 and. In the discursive level, Knapton (2013) and Figueras (2015) has highlighted some fundamental metaphors in pro-ana websites and online groups that define the pro-ana identity. More recently, researchers have focused on how pro-ana discourses are projected in image-based platforms such as Instagram (Ging & Garvey 2018) to reify the ideal pro-ana self.…”