Tag Archives: sound-off
Miss Representation premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and aired on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network October 20. The documentary exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women’s and girls’ value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality. The film appropriately re-frames what we may even consider ‘normal’ in the media as atrocities that wash over us daily, via magazines, TV shows, films, the news, serious journalism and tabloid coverage. So: what do we do? Continue reading
From early written history, up through the 1990s, the teenage brain has been characterized as being clouded by dark forces, causing teens to behave in irrational, inexplicable, even dangerous ways. However, in the 1990s, detailed brains scans made possible by new imaging technology showed a massive re-organization and re-modeling taking place during the teen years and even into the early twenties. In the 2000s, scientists examined the teenage brain in light of evolutionary theory and found it to be highly adapted and perfectly wired for the most difficult and critical task humans undertake.
“The New Science of the Teenage Brain” landed in my mailbox last week – the cover story of National Geographic’s October issue and the top of my Sunday reading list. After being blown-away by its findings, I shared it with a friend – a therapist who works with teens. “You should read this fantastic article. Maybe teens aren’t inexplicable; maybe they’re amazing.” She replied, “I know – a lot of people have mixed feelings towards the teen years – confusion, frustration, anxiety, excitement, trepidation… but I find teens absolutely fascinating!” Exactly. Continue reading
I’m exploring the tools and resources that Dove (body products) offers through their Self-Esteem Fund for girls. A few years ago, Dove launched their Campaign for Real Beauty. Even if you aren’t familiar with the details, you may have noticed their commercials featuring woman of all ages and body types. Or, you may have seen their powerful one-minute films on beauty standards and the media. The campaign promotes real beauty at all ages, and their Self-Esteem Fund focuses on the challenges facing girls and young women. These challenges are considerable. In the tween and teen years, a girls’ confidence is rocked. Girls may question their self-worth on a daily – if not hourly – basis, and they may not recover their self-esteem until their twenties or thirties. What would you tell your 8yo self, your 13yo self, your 20yo self? You look back and see a bright, beautiful girl who … Continue reading
Samantha Razook Murphy is the founder of Curious Jane and Blue Tree. She was inspired to create these unique programs to give her girls, and all girls, a chance to be creative and inventive in a high-energy, collaborative and gender-affirming space. She loves designing, tinkering and figuring out. Samantha is the mother of two girls and lives in Brooklyn, NY. She holds her BA from Yale and Masters in Industrial Design from Pratt. In her spare time she coaches volleyball and rides her bike around Brooklyn.