Living up to the pressure to have the perfect body affects everyone in society, but trans and non-binary people may feel it harder
Societal beauty ideals are gendered and place pressure on everyone to strive for unattainable physiques.
The gendered nature of societal beauty norms can place additional pressure on transgender and nonbinary individuals.Treatment of disordered eating in trans and nonbinary communities must consider both societal pressures as well as gender dysphoria.We are all familiar with the prototypical ‘ideal’ bodies portrayed in the media, as well as the critiques of such ideals.
Beauty norms are also quite gendered. We expect the masculine ideal to have large muscles, chiselled abs, defined jawlines, broad shoulders, and the ability to sport an attractive beard. Femininity, on the other hand, is marked by luscious lips, fulsome curves, slender necklines, and the near absence of body hair.
Restrictive eating behaviours have long been a known approach to coping with gender incongruence or dysphoria. Prior to having access to any form of gender-affirmative care, transgender and nonbinary individuals may attempt to move closer to their ideal gendered body by altering their eating to influence their physical features. Restricted eating can suppress the