We want to share Leah DuMouchel’s interview on AnnArbor.com with UM Professor Susan Douglas about her new book, “Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism’s Work Is Done”. The article has us heading out to get Dr. Douglas’ book.
Thanks for noticing!
We really appreciate the wonderful write-up from the Association of Junior Leagues International about the work SMSG is doing. SMSG wouldn’t be the program it is without the support of the Junior League of Ann Arbor. Check out the article here.
We are more than hair and makeup.
I just came across a wonderful media critique by a young woman who decided to promote life outside the tiny box of how girls and women are supposed to look and act by stepping into it. Jamie Keiles is an 18 year old who spent 30 days at the end of her senior year of high school living according to Seventeen Magazine and blogged about the experience. She did discover a new hairstyle but told NPR, “… I’d love to see them just use this opportunity to sort of reinvent themselves as a go-to for, like, innovative articles on arts and culture and crafts and current events. And, I mean, let’s set the bar a little higher for teen girls. Like, we’re not all about hair and makeup. We’re a unique group. I’d love to see Seventeen give girls something a little more to strive for.”
Read more in Jamie’s own voice about how young women are more than hair and makeup at her blog, The Seventeen Magazine Project and listen to her interview with NPR.
Book Recommendations
Looking for some good storybooks to read with younger children about relational aggression? An April 15, 2010 article in the Chicago Tribune has several recommendations: “The Hundred Dresses”, “Chrysanthemum”, and “Purplicious”. Reading books together is a great way to start a conversation with your daughter about being an ally to others. As you pick the conversation back up at other teachable moments, you can refer to the book and its characters as a helpful frame of reference. Happy reading!
Strong Mentors Seminar a success!
On March 19, 2010 over 60 participants gathered on the University of Michigan’s campus for a day-long seminar to learn how to support girls in dealing with relational aggression. Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D., and Anne Belden, MSW from Hardy Girls Healthy Women presented on “Packaging Girlhood”: ways that adults can help girls counteract the negative media messages about what it means to be a girl. They also spoke about cultivating “hardiness zones” and becoming “muses” as they taught participants strategies on how to empower girls, encourage authenticity, support girls in their efforts to be allies for others, and teach them how to resolve conflict constructively. Participants came from Washtenaw County and beyond. They brought a ton of energy and enthusiasm with them. We all had a great day learning, discussing, and forming new alliances of our own!
Packaging Girlhood
Join Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown for a talk on Thursday, March 18, 2010, from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at the Neutral Zone about what parents and girls can do to counteract the constant barrage of media messages that encourage accessorizing over academics; sex appeal over sports and fashion over friends. Please visit our Events page for more details.
Strong Mentors Seminar
It is not too late to register for Strong Mentors Strong Girls: Cultivating Hardiness Zones on March 19th! Please go to the Events page for more information and to download the registration form. Space is limited, so sign up today.
Welcome to the SMSG website!
We’re very excited about our new look. The site contains more information and resources, as well as some new features to highlight upcoming events and explore hot topics. We hope you will take some time to check out our updates. Our goal is to support and inform your efforts to prevent relational aggression and promote healthy female relationship, so please check back often. We will have more to share with you soon!
Thank you for visiting our new site and for being an ally to girls and women,
the SMSG team
