Positionally Statement

I am approaching this research surrounding body image and eating disorders from an extreme position of privilege and difference because I consider myself a survivor of Bulimia Nervosa after suffering for 10 years, as well as disordered eating; however, I had the possibility of approaching treatment and help through doctors and psychologists as well as psychiatrists. I was never in a position where I had to think about how much getting help was going to cost me since I had the financial and emotional support of my family. I am of a straight size; as an ally, I am not a person who lives inside of a marginalized body, and I do not face discrimination around my body size in my everyday life. It is a struggle whenever I am talking about my family, but I have never felt unsafe because of the way my body looked. The access to help that I had is not common, and even though it was a struggle and I only approached the moment of getting actually specialized help earlier this year and continue to be in treatment, I was always able to get help through other means, which is very helpful, and it is not something that everyone in my circle has access to. 

Through my research, I am looking at my stakeholders as young women who have suffered through eating disorders as well as body image struggles and focused more on body image since eating disorders is such a sensitive topic. I never want to make people feel unsafe, and I want everything to be as ethical as possible. I am very upfront about what is happening and set the parameters, and I let everyone I talk to know that our conversation will be added to my student blog; I ask whether they are okay with that to make sure I am following all ethical parameters. I also understand that this is a taboo and hard subject for people in Colombia to speak about and hear about, so if at any moment they want to retract their statements, they are completely free to do so. I am a mix of different cultures, which is also a part of my position because, even though I was raised in Colombia and identify as Colombian, I also grew up between the States and Europe, which gives me a different outlook on the subject and makes it even more necessary for me to be extremely sensitive to the different people I am speaking with.