A Story on Body Image: “Skinny”
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2018 10:45 AM
End Date
19-4-2018 12:00 PM
Keywords
nonfiction, memoir, body image
Biography
Victoria Endres is a passionate student of Literary Studies and Creative Writing. A West Virginia native, Victoria grew up in St. Albans, WV. Victoria is a Yeager Scholar and the undergraduate representative on the English Department's Executive Board and the Student Advisory Board. Victoria’s work has been published by The Manhattanville Review, Underscore Review, and Thoreau’s Rooster.
Major
Literary Studies and Creative Writing
Advisor for this project
Kristen Lillvis
Abstract
What is it that first makes a young girl begin to question herself? What thoughts drive her to stare at her body searching for new flaws? “Skinny” examines feelings of intense self-doubt. “Skinny” is a creative nonfiction short story that focuses on the psychological ripples caused by thoughtless words and actions of others and how these manifest in physical ways. In this piece, we see a young girl losing touch with her interests as she becomes fixated on gaining weight. It explores the ways in which the outside world can push someone to a loss of self-love. The importance of developing and maintaining good mental health becomes clear in each piece as we see the ways in which anxiety affects different aspects of a person’s life. “Skinny” shows the beginning and triumphant ending over an eating disorder, one that was sparked with a book – Skinny.
I plan to read the entirety of the story as part of my presentation. The reading will be prefaced by a short discussion of its relevance. I will touch on the significance of body positivity in our contemporary culture to highlight how this piece connects to a larger cultural discussion. “Skinny” was originally published in The Manhattanville Review in 2017.
Full text of nonfiction piece
A Story on Body Image: “Skinny”
What is it that first makes a young girl begin to question herself? What thoughts drive her to stare at her body searching for new flaws? “Skinny” examines feelings of intense self-doubt. “Skinny” is a creative nonfiction short story that focuses on the psychological ripples caused by thoughtless words and actions of others and how these manifest in physical ways. In this piece, we see a young girl losing touch with her interests as she becomes fixated on gaining weight. It explores the ways in which the outside world can push someone to a loss of self-love. The importance of developing and maintaining good mental health becomes clear in each piece as we see the ways in which anxiety affects different aspects of a person’s life. “Skinny” shows the beginning and triumphant ending over an eating disorder, one that was sparked with a book – Skinny.
I plan to read the entirety of the story as part of my presentation. The reading will be prefaced by a short discussion of its relevance. I will touch on the significance of body positivity in our contemporary culture to highlight how this piece connects to a larger cultural discussion. “Skinny” was originally published in The Manhattanville Review in 2017.
