February’s Focus: ♫ Love Train-ing ♫
February is supposed to be filled with love, but love can be hard to define, discuss, and deal with. Join us as we explore the lessons we learn and teach about love, beliefs about beauty, and our relationship role models.
♪ Love the one you’re with ♪
Thursday February 5th
12-1:30 pm – A light lunch will be provided.
Weston Library Community Room
Self-respect, self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-love. It all sounds good, but many children (and adults!) struggle with even liking themselves – especially how they look. Adolescents in particular experience high levels of anxiety about their appearance and often look to the media for models of beauty and perfection. Learn how to build your child’s self comfort and confidence, and boost your own as well.
Share the love! Open mic night
Friday February 13th
5:30 pm – Free pizza!
Weston High School Cafeteria
An opportunity for Weston students to speak, sing, and dance, and be treated to pizza and prizes! Co-sponsored by Teen Peacworks and the Domestic Violence Task Force of Weston.
♪ What’s love got to do with it? ♪
Wednesday February 25th
12 – 1:30 pm – A light lunch will be provided.
Weston Library Community Room
Young love is complicated, especially given ‘tween and teen raging hormones and romanticized notions of relationships. Online outlets and social media can also blur the lines between what’s cute, crass, and controlling. Join us for a discussion about selfies, sexting, hooking up & hanging out, and how to discuss dating do’s and don’ts with your child.
Workshops are open to all parents and caregivers and there is no fee to attend. To RSVP please click here
RESOURCES
VIDEOS AND SHORT FILMS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O600kDpBNj4
A one minute video that shows the transformation of a woman into a billboard model, that demonstrates the manipulation of images.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17j5QzF3kqE
This time-lapse video created for GlobalDemocracy.com, shows a girl turned into a bombshell glamor model with the help of a hair and make-up artist and of course, Photoshop.
Cameron Russell’s TED talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM4Xe6Dlp0Y
Cameron Russell admits she won "a genetic lottery": she's tall, pretty and an underwear model. In this 8 minute TED talk she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16-years-old.
Buzz Feed has a great short video on how what is considered an ideal body type for women has changed throughout history.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/eugeneyang/womens-ideal-body-types-throughout-history#.hrze5P5qY
ARTICLES & TIP SHEETS
The Economist has a great article called “Pots of Promise” on why and how the business of beauty thrives.
http://www.economist.com/node/1795852
Hardy girls, Healthy Women has a great tip sheet on building girls self-awareness and confidence. http://hghw.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Packaging-Girlhood.pdf
ORGANIZATIONS AND WEBSITES
Media Smarts
http://mediasmarts.ca/body-image/body-image-girls
MediaSmarts is a Canadian not-for-profit charitable organization that aims to help children and youth develop the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. Their website is filled with resources including tip sheets for talking to kids about media images and gender stereotypes.
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media provides reviews of movies, apps, and games, as well as guidelines for parents and educators more to help people make informed decisions about children’s media exposure and technology use. They have many resources on media and gender and body image.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/sex-gender-and-body-image
CSM has a whole section on enhancing children’s body image and exploring gender stereotypes.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/boys-and-body-image#
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/girls-and-body-image
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/children-teens-media-and-body-image
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/media-and-body-image/what-are-some-movies-or-tv-shows-that-promote-a-positive-body-image
The Representation Project
http://therepresentationproject.org/take-action/not-buying-it/
Using film as a catalyst for cultural transformation, The Representation Project inspires individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting gender stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation or circumstance can fulfill their potential
