privacy policy |
legal statement
Educational Programs
> Programs for Youth
Body Image and Self Esteem
HiTOPS Educator
Designed for: Females grades 5 and up
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
According to many American women of all ages, the winner would be the thinnest of them all. By fourth grade, 4 out of 5 girls are on diets, 13% of teenagers practice some form of binge-purge behavior and 19 out of 20 women think they are fatter than they really are, even when they are at a normal weight. Our culture’s obsession with thinness has put women and girls into a crisis that is detrimental to their physical and emotional health. It is never too soon to address this issue.
In this workshop, girls work in small groups to define the characteristics of beauty, health, masculinity and femininity. They discuss the impact that media, culture, family and friends have on what we consider to be physical beauty. Signs & symptoms of common eating disorders are discussed. Specific visualization and affirmation exercises are presented along with a discussion about the roles of nutrition, stress control, rest and support in increasing self-esteem.
Our goals are to help young women:
• Create a personal definition of beauty
• Identify messages received about beauty from the media, family and friends
• Understand the basics about eating disorders and learn how to help a friend
• Name healthy practices that contribute to a positive self-image and a healthy body
Average length of program: 45 minutes; 90 minutes
Recommended number of participants: 10 - 30
