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Yesterday, we discussed Self-Objectification and Low Self-Esteem.
I
loath problems without solutions and complaints that make us feel
powerless. So, here's a list of 10 Antidotes to Self-Objectification
and Sexualization of Girls.
* Media Literacy - talk to girls about the images they see. Point it out when there is obvious digital retouching like in Keira Knightly Stands Up for Her Girls and Yours.
Watch Dove's Onslaught campaign with her and discuss it. If it's age-appropriate take her to the Natural Breast Gallery
and talk about how different the images of women in media are than the
bodies of real women. Tell her about Photoshop and discuss the motives
of the media to sell products by misrepresenting women's bodies.
* Athletics -
A focus on the body that is nonsexual, athletics focuses on competency,
agency and action. As participation in sports increases, participation
in risky sexual-activity decreases. Taekwondo and soccer are
good choices. The report sites cheerleading and dance as less
empowering types of athletics due to the focus on appearance, sexiness,
and thinness.
* Extracurricular Activities -
Girl Scouts, band, after-school programs like Girls Inc., drama club,
band, computer or video gaming clubs give girls an alternative to
activities that focus on their appearance.
* Comprehensive Sexuality Education
- "A central way to help youth counteract distorted views presented by
the media and culture about girls, sex and the sexualization of girls is comprehensive sex education.
Programs must include accurate information about reproduction and
contraception, the importance of delaying intercourse initiation for
young people, and the building of communication skills, and promotes a
notion of sexual responsibility that includes respect for oneself and
an emphasis on consensual, non-exploitative sexual activity."
* Co-Viewing Media with Parents
- Parental comment on media children are exposed to is key to altering
the influence of the messages. Watch TV with girls and comment on the
messages. Contradict stereo-typical behavior when you see it, share
your insights on advertising and media. Co-viewing also reduces the
amount of inappropriate material children see.
* Religion, Spirituality and Meditation
- organized religious and other ethical instruction actively combat the
values conveyed by popular culture. When parents teach girls they are
"more than their bodies" girls benefit. Talk to your kids about your
idea of her whole self, and that "who they are" makes them valuable
outside of their sexuality or gender roles. Insisting that girls remain
girls and not be pushed into a precocious sexuality is something many
churches do. Encourage meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer to teach
girls to get in touch with their bodies and themselves as spiritual
beings.
* Activism by Parents and Families - encourage girls to become their own activists by being one yourself. Join Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood to fight sexualizing and objectifying messages in marketing. Get involved in The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Take your daughter to a Dove BodyTalk, Campaign for Real Beauty Self Esteem Workshop. Sign your daughter up for the Girl Scouts Uniquely Me program.
* Alternative Media - Cancel the Tiger Beat subscription and subscribe to Girl Zone. Get your daughter involved in writing or producing her own media - a website or blog is simple enough. Stone Soup is a literary magazine written by children. Write your daughter a book about her. Most digital photography websites like Mypublisher.com will
allow you to publish a storybook about your daughter, using images of
her, in a beautiful hardbound book for $30. Throw out the Disney
Princess books and videos and get some empowering alternatives like Princess Bubble.
* Confront Your Body Issues
- If you, the mother, have a history of self-objectification or poor
body image confront it and deal with it before you pass it down. Refuse
to self-deprecate or equate your own value to how thin you are or how you look.
* Be The Empowered Woman
- If you find yourself buying into gender-stereotypes in your own life,
being too passive, not saying "no", holding yourself to an impossible standard of perfection, running yourself ragged to be everything to everyone - Stop It. She will emulate you. A mother who radiates self-love and self-acceptance vaccinates her daughter against a low self-esteem, said Naomi Wolf.
Compiled from the APA Report on Sexualization of Girls and articles originally published on Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me.
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