Young girls are bombarded with negative messages in the media, from the
TV, to magazines to the internet.
Volunteer Committee Chair, Julie Schwartz with the Girl Scouts of Utah shares
details about the Healthy Media Initiative.
o Girl Scouts’ Healthy Media Initiative is a nationwide campaign focused on
educating and increasing awareness about the impact of media on today’s
girls.
o Our purpose is to first educate and then engage girls, families,
community leaders, and businesses in promoting healthier, more positive
media options for girls and women.
o Girls are bombarded with media images each day, which can impact their
physical, emotional, and social health.
o Unfortunately, many media images promote the unattainable and
reinforce negative messages that damage girls’ self-esteem.
o Girls need real and positive role models to emulate.
o Nationally and here at home in Utah, Girl Scouts work in partnership with
Dove’s Movement for Self-Esteem© through our Uniquely Me! Program.
o The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in the Media – 20 years of research
o As a leading voice for girls, Girl Scouts also calls on policymakers,
educators, and community leaders to join with us in promoting positive
media images for girls.
o 9 out of 10 girls say the fashion industry and/or media place a lot of
pressure on teenage girls to be thin.
o 65% of American women and girls have an eating disorder.
o 2/3 of girls today want to be leaders, but only 1 in 5 believes she has
the skills to take action and lead.
o Girls need real and positive role models to emulate and Girl Scouts is
leading the way.
o Earlier this fall, we co-hosted a public screening of the 2011 Sundance
Film Miss Representation. This was the first in a series of events we have
planned.
o In Spring 2012, Girl Scouts of Utah is holding a healthy media
conference for teenage girls. We are working with local universities and
gender/media experts to host workshops and we’ll have our very own Miss
Media Girl Scouts leading a peer to peer discussion on how girls feel
impacted by all forms of media.
o As a follow up to the teen conference, we’ll be holding what we are
calling a Healthy Media Community Conversation, calling on policymakers,
community leaders, and educators to join with us in promoting positive
media images for girls.
Visit our web site www.gsutah.org
or give us a call at 801-265-8472
Today’s Girl Scouts are Tomorrow’s Successful Women. Join us in shaping our
future leaders!
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