This week in group we continued our discussion on body image and the media. Over the past 2 weeks girls were to try and pay more attention to advertising and how females are portrayed. They were also supposed to point out a particularly poor ad to someone in their family. In 7th grade group the girls held a great discussion regarding the ads that they had seen. There were no shortage of commercials and print ads that they noticed and shared with the group. Some of the ads mentioned were Sundrop soda and Ax Body Spray. The girls did a wonderful job noticing the objectifying of women and girls in these ads. Their next assignment is to write a generic letter to an advertising executive stating the negative effects that unrealistic models have on young girls' body image.
8th grade group also did a great job noticing negative ads. They were particularly distressed by the Victoria's Secret catalog and television commercials. During group we filled out subscription cards (the annoying cards that often fallout of magazines and newspapers and can be filled out to receive a subscription) from popular magazines asking them to use realistic models in their ads. These cards are often no postage necessary. We also wrote letters to younger girls about how not to judge themselves based on images that they see in the media. The girls had plenty of positive things to say to the next generation of young women. These letters, along with the 7th grade letters will be used in a display that we will be making during our next group.
After our display is made, the next subject we will be tackling will be relational aggression among young women (aka drama!) I really think it will be another eye opening experience and chance for growth with the girls. We all have experienced the rumor mill, exclusion, or attacks on our reputations at the hands of other girls. Hopefully the girls will learn to recognize it for what it is, and move passed it. Maybe even more importantly, they will learn how not to be guilty of it themselves.
As always if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas for group please feel free to contact me at the Middle School at 712-792-8020.
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