ANA as A Religion and Faith

ANA as a religion and faith gets a little murky. This  is something that has been a changing and growing aspect of the culture itself. Some academic articles claim that is is almost cult like. The very unique thing about ANA religion and faith is that it is not a requirement to subscribe to it.

Many people who identify as Pro ANA claim that it is kooky and crazy and that they don't wish to follow it as an actual religion. This is seen below in a chat room I joined.

With that being said, it must hold some merit. Almost every Pro ANA site I visited has a link dedicated to the creeds, prayers, and commandments of the ANA religion. This would not continually be added to Pro ANA site's content unless someone was choosing to subscribe to it. Below I will post a few photos of creeds and commandments.

This, as much of the culture we have seen thus far, can be controversial. Absolutely, the members who choose to follow this religion do follow cult like patterns. The creeds and commandments have a dangerous and unhealthy rhetoric that encourages starvation with a whole new level.

However, this only proves dangerous and cult-like for its subscribers.

Below is a link of a compelling academic article about the religious aspect tied to Pro ANA.

Journal for Language Teaching

Below are the links of the websites I visited that include links to information on  religion.

Fading Obsession

MiAna Land

House of Thin

Ana is Love

Becoming A Member of A Secret Society

Gaining access into the Pro ANA community is not as tricky as it may seem. In fact, you are not even required to medically be diagnosed with an eating disorder. That being said, of course you do have to have an eating disorder in some capacity. The only requirement is to accept your eating disorder as a lifestyle.

Which is to say that you choose to continue your eating disorder without actively trying to recover. Although, recovery never holds a negative connotation. In fact most websites have at least one link that offer information on recovery. In chat rooms and forums, should you mention that you are recovered, you get support for the path that you choose. In this way, gaining access into these communities is incredibly simple.

I was able to gain access for this project.  It was not neaarly as difficult as I feared.  Although I do not actually identify as Pro ANA, it was assumed that I  did.  It is not expected that anyone be involved in the chat rooms otherwise.  In fact, in the several weeks I spent there no one entered the chats unless to conviene with other members to talk about Pro ANA.

Below is a clip from a chat room I enrolled myself into. A few faithful members, who know each other by their own nicknames, were speaking of a fast they are going to start. You'll see another member ask about her recovery, and hope that she does well in recovery. This a a mannerism that would not be expected in these online communities, because at face value they appear only self-destructive.  However, this overwhelming support is an example of how easy it is to join this community.  This member is recovered, and they support her and accept her as Pro ANA regardless.  This could be thought of as "Once Pro ANA, always Pro ANA".

Now the question remains, is this a good thing or a bad thing? That is ultimately left for you as an audience to decide throughout this blog. In one aspect, these websites offer a safe haven of support for young people who suffer from eating disorders. In another aspect, they often breed self-destruction with the content offered on the websites, such as thinspiration. Also, the chat rooms and forums are filled with people encouraging Pro ANA members to continue their dangerous disordered lifestyle, and membership is almost too easy to gain.

Interview: Pro ANA, an Easy Concept?

While immersing myself into this culture in order to bring forth this ethnography of sorts, I was able to connect with many current Pro ANA members on a personal level. One person reached out to me for support, and out of respect I chose to explain to her what I was doing as far as this project. She asked if she could help, and I requested a somewhat formal interview.

 

Andria: Hello, my name is Andria, I understand that you want to stay anonymous. I wanted to ask you a few questions pertaining to your involvement with the Pro ANA movement, will that be alright? What does Pro ANA stand for?

Pro ANA Member: Sure, Pro ANA means Pro Anorexic. That basically means that I accept my eating disorder as a lifestyle and not a disease.

Andria: Does that mean that you oppose the idea of recovery?

PA Member: Personally, no not entirely. I can not speak for every Pro ANA.

Andria: This community is founded and is thriving online, is that where you find yourself taking part of this culture?

PA Member: Yes, absolutely. The only time I even communicate about ANA is online within the safe haven of people who identify with me. Even those who don't identify with me are accepting within these communities.

Andria: Does that mean that you have no friends outside of this online community that you open up to about ANA?

PA Member: Well, I have a texting buddy that I met on a Chatzy forum. We text and vent and encourage each other throughout the day.

Andria: Encourage what exactly?

PA Member: We remind each other to exercise, and even get competitive. Sometimes we tell each other we are stronger than our hunger, and chastise each other for eating. It is nice to have someone that understands and tells me what I want to hear.

Andria: What is it that you want to hear then?

PA Member: I mean I want someone to tell me I am fat and to work harder. I am sick of hearing people tell me how skinny I am or how I should eat. I don't want to eat.

Andria: So you want to be told you are fat and need to work harder?

PA Member: Yes, absolutely. That is how I keep myself motivated, and this is a lifestyle that I want to continue.

Andria: How did you find out you wanted to be apart of this community?

PA Member: It is hard to remember. I had never heard of Pro ANA, but I always had a hateful relationship with food. I began to google ways to get out of eating dinner at family holidays. I found the term Pro ANA and started looking up more information. The more I learned that more I wanted to be apart of the movement. That has to be 6 years ago now.

Andria: How did you make the first move to becoming an actual member?

PA Member: I mean it isn't a single group with a signup list. You have to learn first, learn how to accept your eating disorder as your life and not fight it. Once you feel that way, you insert yourself into their chat rooms and forums. You claim it. That is how you become apart. There are parts you can chose not to subscribe to, such as the religious aspects. Ultimately, you just need to recognize your eating disorder, and enjoy having it.

Andria: Is there anything else you can tell us?

PA Member: Not that I can think of, it really isn't that difficult of a concept. Can we be finished now?

Andria: Yes. Thank you so much for doing this brief anonymous interview.

PA Member: Not a problem. Thank you too.