ABSTRACT
Throughout a woman’s life there are a series of critical moments that ultimately shape the way she will see herself and her body as an adult. When I interviewed Dr.
Laura Ellick-a Long Island psychologist specializing in
body image and eating disorders (see Chapter 20 for a
summary of the interview)—I asked her about those
moments. She made me aware of several things. For one,
I hadn’t realized just how early our ideas about our bodies
begin to form. Dr. Ellick also helped me reflect on this
important consideration: more often than not, the
messages girls receive about their bodies are negative, or
stem from a place of fear. There is much less that is
discussed about the power of our bodies, the amazing
beauty of a woman’s body in its ability to create and
sustain life; instead there is more, so much more, that
revolves around what she calls “shaming.”
