A project that introduces the concept of body positivity for ALL types of women, and encourages the girls to embrace their own unique appearance!
Learning Outcome: Introduce the empowering ideas behind body positivity as well as the obstacles women of all different backgrounds face surrounding their appearance and personal acceptance. On top of this, teaching the girls that our flaws are not something to be ashamed of, but rather part of ourselves that make us individuals!
Materials:
Body Positivity Worksheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T2XIpeZRF-CwGRw2XGxQpi6GHEKY4sZ39J9MI9k2nq0/edit?usp=sharing
Empowering Playlist Activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O9O2bLr10PYO2jxcL54K0myaPc8xnYQqIVWQiJtj7FU/edit?usp=sharing
Body Positivity Closet Activity: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wVjXE8DQdytdp-LvMmBP_jP7-XhaaDEfEiR6QzHKLBM/edit?usp=sharing
Computer/method to show videos
Discussion Questions for student leaders reference (written below in the steps, but can also be accessed through the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jXgY1DAqCaZU-6rVhko6uUDc0-zQIR76xsbcJrGlOkg/edit?usp=sharing )
Project Run-Time: 1 Meeting
Step #1:
To begin, have the girls do the front page of the body positivity worksheet (linked above). On this initial page, they will be asked to answer the following questions:
5 things I love about the way I look
5 things i’m self-conscious about the way I look
Celebrities whose fashion and appearance I admire
This can be personal! The girls can keep their responses private. This initial activity is simply to get the girls thinking before we dive into what body positivity is, and how certain societal standards can dictate our perception of ourselves.
Step #2:
Next, watch this quick 4 minute video on body positivity from Bustle on Youtube. The video explores and defines the concept of misunderstood terms like body positivity, plus vs straight size, fat, and skinny:
Step #3:
After watching the video, let's have a discussion:
Is “plus size” a bad word? Is skinny a good word? What sort of ways do you see these different terms in your own life?
In the video, women were asked to describe actresses they saw as beautiful and all gave similar examples. Would you have chosen similar celebrities?
In the video, it was also mentioned that body positivity is about accepting all bodies beyond simply weight; including race, gender, and sexuality. What does this mean to you?
It’s important to bring to light that this video has 2k likes as compared to a staggering 6k dislikes… 3x as much negativity. Why do you think so? What is being said in this video that might be making people dislike it?
Have you ever had doubts about your body?
Step #4:
Let’s watch another video -- A body positivity talk by The Overexplainer on Youtube. This video likewise defines and explores body positivity, but also goes deeper into how different types of women are effected and defined by their bodies:
Step #5:
After watching the video, let's discuss.
Why is it important to love our bodies?
Is it okay to be working on our bodies, whether that be wanting to build muscle, lose/gain weight, maybe even dying our hair, getting our ears pierced? Is it okay to love our bodies while they may not be in the place we want them to be?
Think about the point she made about all kinds of unique people looking different all over the world. What’s beautiful about being different? What does being different say about our individual histories and cultures?
Step #6:
Now that you’ve watched some videos on body positivity and discussed it as a group, have the girls complete the second half of the body positivity worksheet. Here, they will be prompted to re-write their insecurities in a less self-deprecating manner. Encourage the girls to rethink how they view the things they don’t like about themselves.
For example if they originally said:
I don’t like how some types of clothing look much better on my friends then they do on me.
Try saying instead…
Even though not all clothing looks the same when I’m wearing it vs. my friends, I have a unique body and fashion taste that makes me who I am. If I looked the same as my friends, I wouldn’t be me.
Step #7:
Now, the girls have the opportunity to dive into a little bit more of a creativity based project using what they learned about themselves and about body positivity. The girls have the option to either create a girl-power playlist, or design their own body-inclusive clothing. (Both linked above)
Encourage the girls to use what they learned about body positivity and incorporate this into their clothing and music design. Are all different types women being represented? How do their creations make them feel?
Step #8:
As always, encourage the girls to share their creations with the group!
Extra Materials to Consider/Explore:
The Unplug Collective: https://theunplugcollective.com
I Weigh (Jameela Jamil): http://iweighcommunity.com
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