Don’t let “˜L.A.’ image dictate life, style

I never expected my late-night studying endeavors in Powell
Library could potentially expose me to someone else’s secret.
Walking into the bathroom, I heard gagging and coughing in one of
the stalls. When the door closed behind me, the girl jumped up from
her kneeling position on the floor and stayed standing until I
left.

It could be that she had the stomach flu and was studying when
nausea hit. Or it could be that her Chemistry 20A midterm was
wreaking havoc on her nerves. But I had to wonder if she was
afflicted with an eating disorder.

According to several recent studies, more than five million
people, 90 percent of whom are young women, are afflicted with an
eating disorder. Twenty-five percent of college-aged women will
experience anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or overeating before
they graduate. I wouldn’t be surprised if that percentage is
even higher on the UCLA campus.

Living in the Los Angeles area, we are constantly surrounded by
the bold and the beautiful. Trying to compete with movie stars and
models can have a negative impact on one’s self image. And a
negative self image is directly correlated with the development of
eating disorders. Going to class, I see girls dressed in tiny
skirts and heels, tightly clenching their thighs to prevent any
“jiggle.” Who are they trying to impress? To put it
simply ““ everyone.

There is a definite “L.A.” air on campus. Women are
expected to have blonde, flowing hair, thin legs, small hips, large
breasts and Paper Denim & Cloth jeans. Men are expected to have
toned, tanned bodies, Abercrombie shirts and perfectly gelled hair.
Whatever happened to the archetype of college students rolling out
of bed and going to class in sweatpants?

My sister just graduated from Cornell University in upstate New
York. I recently sent her a picture of my new friends here at UCLA.
Her first reaction was, “What hot Los Angeles club were you
going to?” We were going to dinner at Chili’s in
Westwood. She couldn’t believe the kinds of outfits people
wear to class here. At Cornell, she says, people wear jeans and a
turtleneck or T-shirt to the hottest party of the year.

I strongly believe the reason for the practical clothes and lack
of makeup at Cornell is the location of the campus. Sandwiched
between trees and farmland, Cornell doesn’t have much of a
big-city influence. At UCLA, we’re surrounded by Bel Air,
West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. And it seems we are expected to
dress the part.

Since when were students transformed into models? Why
didn’t we leave our preconceived notions of stereotypical
beauty in high school?

I’m not saying everyone should always look grungy and
unkempt. As I write this very column, I’m wearing
tight-fitting Abercrombie jeans and a backless, teal tank top. I
know I play into the Los Angeles image just as much as the next
person. It’s hard not to when one is critiqued constantly on
her appearance by the people with whom she goes to class.

Californians claim to be so health conscious ““ promoting
organic vegetables, soy products and diet soda. But then I look
around the food court at Ackerman Union and see tiny girls picking
at bowls of white rice from Panda Express because that’s the
only “healthy” food option. How did the idea of healthy
food suddenly transform into no food?

California has 19 eating disorder clinics (most of which are in
Southern California), the most by far out of any other state. And,
as you may have guessed, there is no specified eating disorder
clinic anywhere near Ithaca, New York. Something has got to change
before we all start wearing prom dresses and tuxedos to class. UCLA
students need to stop playing the role of the typical L.A.
model.

And if you have an eating disorder, please don’t let L.A.
make you believe you’re not good enough as you are. Embrace
your body’s beautiful features and flaws. And please, talk to
a friend, a parent, a stranger, a health worker ““ talk to
someone so you can begin to heal.

Jensen is a first-year English student. E-mail her at
[email protected].