Happy V-Day

Valentine's Day came and went without much fanfare at our house.  It was a normal, busy work day - although I did have special calls and messages from my husband and children.  Then when I arrived home I picked up the newspaper and was reminded of "V-Day", celebrated with a local production of "The Vagina Monologues" and its theme of halting violence against women.  What touched me even more were the messages of support and encouragement sponsored by local businessmen. I thought too of an event earlier this week, described to me by a client, which was held to support Breast Cancer Awareness, and attended by many young men in her community.

All of that started me thinking:  do we have the same support by men for our cause, Eating Disorders Awareness? Although there have been a significant number of male experts in the treatment and research fields, there have been precious few men championing the cause of awareness and prevention, with Michael Levine being one notable exception. And thankfully, during the past several years, more and more men have stepped to the foreground to become spokespersons about the devastation these diseases can render. Often it has taken incredible courage to do so since their own wounds are still raw from the battles recently fought by their wives, mothers, or daughters.

Unless men know someone touched by these illnesses, they can be overlooked or trivialized by them. Perhaps at one time the same thing was true regarding violence against women, or breast cancer. Eating Disorders Awareness Week is just around the corner. Let's be sure we aim our messages at men AND women, because doing so will strengthen our movement. Until next time, Gail