Ep 5: Girls as Confident, Courageous Self-Advocates

--:--
“ The most helpful piece of advice that any adult has ever given me to help me with my body image is that I should really just be confident in myself. Because if you are confident in yourself then you radiate happiness.” (Claire, Montreal, Canada)

Beginning in their pre-teen years, many girls contend with body image issues, continuing to struggle throughout their teenage years and well into adulthood, often to the detriment of their emotional well-being, physical health and confidence. This should not surprise us as girls are bombarded from every direction—from boys, media, advertising campaigns, parents, coaches, and even friends--about how every part of their bodies should look and feel. In this episode, we hear from two educators who tackle the topic head on, convinced that the right messaging at the front end of the process of becoming a woman can have a long-term positive effect on a girl’s sense of herself in her own body and her ability to accept herself for who she is.

Erika Rath, who serves as the Director of Student Services at Sacred Heart School of Montreal in Canada, and Warren Perry, who is the Aquatics Director at Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City, join host Trudy Hall, former NCGS Board Chair and advocate for girls’ schools, for a conversation about how they address body image issues in their conversations with girls in the earliest stages of becoming young women.

Parents and adults who are raising girls of all ages should listen in, as getting girls to feel comfortable in their own bodies is critical to their healthy development and this is work that we need to do together, relentlessly, consistently, speaking with one voice.

The resources you need to know about:

NCGS: www.ncgs.org
Sacred Heart Network: https://www.sacredheartusc.education/
Erika Rath’s Blog: https://www.sacredheart.qc.ca/blog/
Warren Perry’s Body Image article: https://www.cshnyc.org/athletics/aquatics/body-image-for-middle-school-female-swimmers
19 Jan 2022 English United States Education · Kids & Family

Other recent episodes

Short 5: Why curious girls will save the world 🌍

‘Curiosity killed the cat’ and ‘don’t speak unless spoken to’ are the kinds of phrases many of us grew up hearing. Yet research shows that cultivating curiosity leads to better learning, creativity, and well-being. Helping girls develop their curiosity has immense benefits. They’re likely to take a keener interest in…
17 Apr 12 min

Short 4: Seven Lessons Girls Can Learn from Sport – Even if They’re Not "Sporty"

Ninety-six percent of female CEOs credit their sports participation in high school as a time when they honed valuable leadership skills. Girls who participate in sports not only cultivate physical fitness, but they also develop essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and time management. Movement-based education and sports contribute…
20 Mar 11 min

Speaking Your Truth, with Latricia Barksdale

“I feel like your voice is your courage…it’s your bravery.” (Culver Girls Academy student) Can there be any connection more vital in a girl’s life than her connection to her voice, her authentic voice? The word “voice” has multiple meanings in the world of girls. Voice is often a term…
27 Feb 31 min

Navigating Life Online, with Laura Tierney

“Social media is a tool. If people aren’t equipped to navigate it positively, you are going to see negative consequences like anxiety and depression…I liken social media to giving students the key to a car….” (Laura Tierney) For better or for worse, the girls in our lives “do” social media;…
20 Feb 31 min

Handling Heartbreak, with Angela Terpstra

“With grief, for me personally, the main thing is letting myself feel it and not trying to pretend it hasn’t happened…Rather than hiding it, I give myself permission to deal with it. (Wycombe student) What we know for sure is that at some point the girls in our life will…
13 Feb 33 min