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Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'
Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux
1 review
ginnymay's review against another edition
2.0
This book started out great with informative and well written prose discussing the biographical side of the Alcotts and the adaptation journey of LW.
But I mostly took umbrage with the brief portion pertaining to Beth/Lizzie Alcott and the idea that her death could have been due in part to anorexia. I have no problem with speculation about the cause of death of a fictional character or an historical figure. We have no way of knowing what the real-life Lizzie Alcott died of, and because of that we can posit the theory that she died from causes tied to anorexia. I am less convinced of this case for Beth, who, aside from being not mentioned in a single mealtime scene, is never given any other on-page ED indicators. But even then, she's a fictional character so we can theorize whatever we want about her fictional death.
But I mostly took umbrage with the brief portion pertaining to Beth/Lizzie Alcott and the idea that her death could have been due in part to anorexia. I have no problem with speculation about the cause of death of a fictional character or an historical figure. We have no way of knowing what the real-life Lizzie Alcott died of, and because of that we can posit the theory that she died from causes tied to anorexia. I am less convinced of this case for Beth, who, aside from being not mentioned in a single mealtime scene, is never given any other on-page ED indicators. But even then, she's a fictional character so we can theorize whatever we want about her fictional death.
However, when Rioux made statements about anorexia that weren't directly tied to Beth/Lizzie, then we had a problem. Now, I am neither a psychologist, doctor, nor a dietician but I have experienced an Eating Disorder and spent half a year in IOP treatment and still am working with an ED therapist. Because of this I am able to speak to the inaccurate/incomplete information that Rioux asserts as fact.
When Rioux asserts that essentially those with anorexia begin engaging in behaviors in an effort to delay their own maturation (development of secondary sex characteristics/onset of menstruation) out of a desire to not grow up, she's excluding the vastly unique ED experiences that can develop for reasons entirely unrelated to delaying maturation. Whether this is due to her honest ignorance of these causes or her feeling that these causes didn't support her theory and therefore weren't worth mentioning, I know not. But to anyone reading this book without that understanding or background, it's really harmful to imply that there is only one cause of anorexia and that it is always innately tied to delaying adulthood.
Similarly, the statement "Anorexics are usually submissive, obedient, and self-sacrificial to the point of being unaware of their own needs and desires." also needs to be unpacked. Firstly, the term "Anorexics" is not a thing, a person has anorexia they are not 'an Anorexic' (that's like calling someone with depression a "Depressive"). Secondly, this statement, beyond just being so incredibly broad, is also partially untrue for the majority of individuals with EDs. Anorexia can present in all kinds of people, including in assertive, high-achieving, and competitive individuals. Especially because control and perfectionism are common factors in ED development (as evidenced in a 2014 study "Perfectionism in Anorexia Nervosa", conducted and authored by Samantha Lloyd, Jenny Yiend, Ulrike Schmidt, and Kate Tchanturia).
I understand that Rioux cannot innumerate the intricacies of every ED just to posit a theory about Lizzie’s death, but I do think that portion would have benefited with some clarifying/qualifying statements, cited sources, and a handful of Sensitivity Readers.
I understand that Rioux cannot innumerate the intricacies of every ED just to posit a theory about Lizzie’s death, but I do think that portion would have benefited with some clarifying/qualifying statements, cited sources, and a handful of Sensitivity Readers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Terminal illness
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