Gender stereotypes have a negative affect on girls' & boys' health, self esteem & identity. This program will provide youth with opportunities to create healthier images & messages through new media.
75% of teenage girls reported feeling depressed, guilty and shameful after leafing through a fashion magazine for just 3 minutes; 1/4 said they would consider plastic surgery. Media images that perpetuate unrealistic standards of beauty & position women as passive objects weaken girls’ self-esteem. This program will fuel a youth-led movement, educating girls & boys about gender stereotypes & providing opportunities for them to create healthier images and messages through new media.
Starting in January 2009, 20-30 participants from 6-10 youth organization will take part in media literacy, media advocacy, community organizing, media creation, digital storytelling, web 2.0 strategies & creative writing workshops.
The Youth Media and Social Change Initiative will raise awareness of the proliferation of gender stereotypes & gender-based violence in the media. It will curb unhealthy ideas and behaviors around gender, gender roles and relationships.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
