This important new work uses the feminist perspective to illuminate and explore the relationship between the anguish of those who suffer from eating disorders and the problems of ordinary women. The book reviews the history of fashion, appearance norms for women, and body image problems, and provides a sociocultural context for studying recurrent symptoms of the disorder. Chapters offer illuminating discussion on such controversial topics as sexual abuse and its relevance to eating disorders, the mother?daughter relationship, the use of medications, hospitalization, and 12?step programs, and the potentially different contributions of male and female therapists in treating this population. Aimed at psychiatrists, psychologists, social works, and other mental health professionals working with patients suffering from eating disorders, this book also serves as a valuable text for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in women's studies courses.