Recovery as an “Act of rebellion”: a qualitative study examining feminism as a motivating factor in eating disorder recovery
Abstract
Patients with eating disorders (EDs) often feel ambivalent about recovery, and motivation-enhancement interventions are ineffective for many patients. Identifying new targets for motivational interventions may be particularly valuable. We interviewed 13 recovered ED patients to identify factors that motivated recovery, applying thematic analysis to identify central themes. Here we discuss exploratory findings about one theme from these interviews: the role of feminist ideas in ED recovery. Forty-six percent (n = 6) of our participants reported that feminist themes helped them recover. Participants described understanding harmful cultural forces (e.g., weight-related stigma), developing strategies to fight these forces (e.g., challenging stigmatizing language), engaging with feminist texts, hearing about feminist ideas from clinicians, and forming relationships with female role models. Interestingly, participants did not all refer to their experiences as “feminist,” and one rejected the label. Our exploratory findings indicate that feminist ideas can motivate ED recovery, suggesting directions for future research.
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Lived experience recovery definitions centre a continuing process of personal transformation, reclamation of power, reconnection with the self and changing navigation of socio-cultural-political domains, in contrast to the medical definition of recovery as an endpoint.
“In contrast to the medical definition of recovery as an endpoint, lived experience recovery definitions centre a continuing process of personal transformation, reclamation of power, reconnection with the self and changing navigation of socio-cultural-political domains [124–128].”
From A lived experience response to the proposed diagnosis of terminal anorexia nervosa: learning from iatrogenic harm, ambivalence and enduring hope (2023) · cites this paper as [128]
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- Authors
- Venturo-Conerly, K., Wasil, A., Shingleton, R., & Weisz, J.
- Affiliations
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard University (US)
- Venue
- Eating Disorders
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-04-02
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 265-271
- ISSN
- 1064-0266 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-530X
- OpenAlex
- W2935531823
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Eating Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Harvard College Research Program
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- eating disorder recovery, feminism, motivation, weight stigma, female role models, feminist texts, stigmatizing language, recovery motivation, recovered patients
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Female, Humans, Motivation, Feminism, Qualitative Research, Social Stigma
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