Social Pressures Aside from the media that glorifies "thinness"; and places such a high value on having the perfect body, female athletes face compounded pressures to be thin from their coaches, parents, peers and judges. Coaches place extreme pressure on their female athletes. According to Smith (1996), female competitors are expected be assertive and even aggressive, yet have the appearance of sweet little girls. They are expected to be tough competitors&, soft-spoken, and elegant ladies. …showed first 75 words of 381 total…

…showed last 75 words of 381 total…with no identity outside of sports, thus driving the athlete to win at any cost. And often an athletes weight may be of the few things that she can control. Because of these societal influences and external pressures such as coaches and judges who equate thinness with success, it is no wonder that so many female athletes fall victim to eating disorders in a desperate attempt to be thin and please their coaches and judges.