Girls' identity dilemmas: spaces defined by definitions of worth

Many of the models and metaphors that underlie research on eating disorders reflect a modernist version of the self and, quite often, one that was developed in the early 1900s. Psychoanalytic theories persist despite new "postmodern" theories of the self that challenge these older theories by paying close attention to the processes of self-creation in relation to culture or discourse. I suggest using newer theories of the self in research and practice so that health care professionals may increase their understanding of how identities are formed in postmodern societies. In particular, I discuss how health professionals can work with adolescent girls to address the phenomenon of eating disorders and related health concerns. Whether one-to-one, in groups, in schools, or other settings, the strategies suggested can be used by nurses, educators, counselors, child and youth care workers, and psychologists.