4/30 post

Greg Demetriou

I think Waters’s article is a perfect example of the importance of critically thinking about reality. In respect to depression, a one size fits all mentality will not serve all those affected by depression worldwide. This is 100 percent due to the fact that our social beings are products of society, and not of individual decisions. Waters articulates that different cultures feel different symptoms of depression. Specifically Waters explains, “In short, beliefs about the cause, symptomatology, and course of an illness such as depression tended to be self-fulfilling. Explanatory models created the culturally expected experience of the disease in the mind of the sufferer.” (pg. 195) As depression is explained as the manifestation of problems with society depression as a whole become a very complex diseases. That is to say, depression is unique in the fact that it is experienced with inexplicable frequency, and the symptoms present are unique to the individual. As the symptoms are unique to individuals they reflect a larger problem with some aspect of society. This truly complicates the disease for health care providers, especially compared to other diseases. If a person has a heart attack doctors can almost always derive the cause, and there is a standard medical protocol to go about treating that person. With depression the world standard or usual cannot exist because it is an individual experience. As is the case, a through comprehension of the larger society can help these professionals combat the symptoms of depression.

            In terms of globalization, I cannot help but feel that the western influence, specifically the American influence, is the source of an uprising in people with depression. I say this because the standard for depression in America is questionable at best. I am not saying that there are not people who legitimately have depression, and need medication to treat their symptoms. I am stating that the combination of a culture of instant gratification, and overt displays of its most deviant behaviors, prompts doctors to reach for the prescription pad with little to no hesitation. Waters explains, “Kirmayer documented how feelings and symptoms that an American doctor might categorize as depression are often viewed in other cultures as something of a  "moral compass," prompting both the individual and the group to search for the source of the social, spiritual, or moral discord.” (pg. 196) This direct testament to the ultra-liberal standard for depression in America must have an affect on people in other countries, especially because there is so much money to be made in the medication. I know this article talked about how the researchers at the particular drug company wanted input from people who understood society. But that was not so they could ultimately help patients. It was so they knew what symptoms with which their advertisements lead.

            Convincing people they are sick and then charging them an arm and a leg to treat them is exploitation. The problem is it is masked by doctors and is rooted on a legitimate health issue. When drug companies focus treatment on selling prescriptions instead of treating disease they develop an ability to control consumers. When Dr. Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine for polio he did not make any money off of it. He maintained that a discovery like that was for the betterment of all people and not for his individual economic benefit. I know that times have changed dramatically from that point in history, and ultimately these people making money off these drugs are geniuses. They were able to exploit the insecurities of a culture and sell them quick fix pills at an outrageous price. In a recent project I did on depression is found out that Prozac became the most popular drug in the world in about ten years. Again, I am not saying that there is not a legitimate need for anti-depressants. But it is impossible to not realize that some cases of depression are the products of societal influence then legitimate chemical imbalances in the brains of those on the medications. Waters coins the term “Cultural diversity of human suffering” (pg. 196) to explain that there is not a universal band-aid that can be placed on depression. The diversity to which he refers is the manifestation of problems with society. When reality is critically analyzed those problems do not seem as pressing as they once did. People all across the world are constantly weighed down by their problems. Instead of going to a doctor it might be more helpful to see which of those problems is apart of immediate reality and which are one projected by society.

            The issue of anorexia is complicated as a male. The most interesting quote I came across in the reading was when Waters explains, “It didn't take much reading between the lines, however, to perceive a high degree of confusion and ambivalence surrounding the issues of female body image, sexuality, youth, beauty, and aging.” (pg. 11) As I read these words I began to think about the recent media that I have consumed and what those pieces of media said about female body image. As I thought back I was interrupted by the realization that I could not remember a single thing about male body image messages. I realized that the most influential aspect of male privilege is the multiplicity of male body images projected through media and society. White males are seen many prestigious positions, and all those men are different shapes and sizes. When I see a male model I do not think to my self, “that’s what my body should look like.” The same is the case when seeing a professional athlete, or any other male who can be judged based on his body.

            The truly interesting aspect of the male, female body image paradox is that it is actually getting easier for males. As media progresses there are more and more limitations on what the media considers to be a beautiful female body image, and identity. Conversely, male representations in media are expanding. There are movies about the underachieving, out of shape, loser guy who ends up with a beautiful woman and lives happily ever after. It seems as though the more issues women face the less men have too. This ridiculous cycle needs to be broken through education. At the end of the article Waters explains, “Indeed he notes that he has lost four patients to the disease, two by starvation and two by suicide.” (pg. 60) The consequences of these body image issues are irrefutable horrible. The projection of media that has caused this pattern to develop cannot be blamed on one particular aspect of media because it is a culmination of repetitive tendencies. This very real pressure felt by these girls has to be combated with a thorough distinction between what is real and what is not. Even though female celebrities may look a certain way that body type is not real because no one but a celebrity can spend that much time on their body. I am not attempting to simplify the larger issue; I am stating that a healthy understanding of body image issues is the job of society. The problem is due to an onslaught of identical media, and the solution has to be just as pervasive as the source of the problem.