Women that suffer from body insecurities have the opportunity to attend monthly Women’s Center support groups on Tennessee Tech’s campus.
The group meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month in Pennebaker 203 at 11 a.m. A peer led support group will be held, with the Women’s Center workers assisting.
“Last year we did not meet as often,” said Gretta Stanger, associate professor of sociology and political science. “This year though, since there was a bigger interest from the parents at the S.O.A.R. orientations, we will be holding them more efficiently.”
B.I.D.E., which stands for Body Image and Disordered Eating, is the name for this all-inclusive peer support group.
The meetings are confidential to allow the women to share and reflect their present or past situations. Students that are unimpressed with the body they see in the mirror may then cause self-harm to correct their image. With all the celebrities and the media giving women ideas, this group helps students to interact and reflect.
“We do not run the meetings, we allow the students to share about their particular circumstances,” said Stanger. “They know that we are around for further guidance.”
If someone suffers from a body dissatisfaction and needs help, this group will work to provide comfort for the insecurities of each particular woman.
(Editor's Note: The original version of this article, posted on 9/11/2014, misspelled Gretta Stanger's name as "Stranger" and referred to the Women's Center workers as "counselors". The Oracle regrets these errors.)