Across the country this week women and men are taking time out of their schedules to learn more about eating disorders and healthy bodies. Women's Centers, health centers, women's studies department, mentoring groups, and even book groups are taking time to bring this very important issue to the public. Eating disorders are not an individual issue, it is a family and community issue. Eating disorders are not only a medical issues for the female community, in fact, eating disorders in men are increasing at an alarming rate.
The Beautiful Women Project has a simple, yet powerful message: it is the sum of a woman's life experiences that make her beautiful. The Beautiful Women Project cannot change the fact that some determine a woman's beauty solely on her physical body. Our goal is to shift the focus from the body being the only determining factor of an individual's beauty to just a small part of what makes a person beautiful. This shift can occur. This shift needs to occur.
If there is an event going on in your area or college campus this week, check it out. Support the men and women who are doing their part to raise awareness of eating disorders across the country.
Showing posts with label eating disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eating disorders. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Beautiful Women Project is Going Back to School
September has always been my favorite time of year, I truly believe that it is the beginning of my year. Perhaps it is because I always liked going back to school - seeing my old friends, meeting new friends, the routine of everyday life. Maybe that is why I eventually became a teacher - I loved my years teaching high school and middle school, I always looked forward to going back into the classroom and meeting my new students while watching my previous students move onward and upward through the years.
Since October of 2007 The Beautiful Women Project has been traveling to colleges and universities, creating exciting programming incorporating our project, current courses of studies, and related popular culture topics and calendar weeks and months related to women. We have met so many amazing women and men on our travels - all wanting to engage in the discussion of women and beauty. This is a wonderful arena for multi-layered discussions that touch the lives of a wide range of academic and social interests. The Beautiful Women Project is excited about all of the college and university communiities that we will be visiting this academic year.
Beginning this fall, The Beautiful Women Project officially launches our educational partnership with middle and highs school level students. Working with administrators, counseling personnel, educators, and volunteers our project will be bringing exciting and vital character education programming to young women across the country. Our Arts in Education workshops provide opportunities for students to participate in their social development, taking into consideration different learning styles, current curricular discussion and goals, and the interests and lifestyles of the student population Students will walk away from their experience with a new understanding of art in public space, a redefinition of beauty and role models, and tools and resources that they can use when they meet their life experiences and challenges.
We are committed to continue our mission of working with communities across the country bringing a simple yet powerful message : it is the sum of a woman's life experiences that makes her beautiful.
We are always looking for opportunities to bring The Beautiful Women Project to new communities. Please contact us to discuss how we can work with your university, school, conference, or organization.
Since October of 2007 The Beautiful Women Project has been traveling to colleges and universities, creating exciting programming incorporating our project, current courses of studies, and related popular culture topics and calendar weeks and months related to women. We have met so many amazing women and men on our travels - all wanting to engage in the discussion of women and beauty. This is a wonderful arena for multi-layered discussions that touch the lives of a wide range of academic and social interests. The Beautiful Women Project is excited about all of the college and university communiities that we will be visiting this academic year.
Beginning this fall, The Beautiful Women Project officially launches our educational partnership with middle and highs school level students. Working with administrators, counseling personnel, educators, and volunteers our project will be bringing exciting and vital character education programming to young women across the country. Our Arts in Education workshops provide opportunities for students to participate in their social development, taking into consideration different learning styles, current curricular discussion and goals, and the interests and lifestyles of the student population Students will walk away from their experience with a new understanding of art in public space, a redefinition of beauty and role models, and tools and resources that they can use when they meet their life experiences and challenges.
We are committed to continue our mission of working with communities across the country bringing a simple yet powerful message : it is the sum of a woman's life experiences that makes her beautiful.
We are always looking for opportunities to bring The Beautiful Women Project to new communities. Please contact us to discuss how we can work with your university, school, conference, or organization.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Beauty From a Teen's Perspective
Recently, The Beautiful Women Project opened The Girls Summit for a branch of Girls Inc. Close to one hundred girls came together to spend the day celebrating themselves and what makes girls reach for the sky. The definition of a summit is a conference of the highest diplomatic level. These girls were all diplomats - representing their schools, friends, and peers all over the country. Their ears were their to listen to new ideas and their voices were speaking the truths of their generation.
I opened the program by asking the girls to share their definitions of beauty. Their answers were honest and to the point:
"Beauty is being pretty."
"Beauty is being pretty and popular."
"Beauty is skinny and perfect skin."
"...skinny, tan, great teeth, gorgeous hair."
"Beauty is what you look like on the outside."
Was I surprised by these definitions. Unfortunately, I was not. Today's teen girls are bombarded with so many messages of what defines a woman's beauty that it is difficult to filter fact from fiction. We know where the messages are coming from, but how do we help girls realize that there is so much more to beauty than their exterior appearance?
Presenting them with alternative images and role models of beauty is a start. Teen girls need to be reminded that role models are not just women that they see in magazines, television shows, or the big screen. If they are going to emulate those women, which we know that they are, let's take a moment out of our days to sit with our daughters and point out, or learn about together, these women's accomplishments outside of their appearance on the glossy pages or the silver screen. I bet that both of you will be surprised by what you learn.
Providing teenage girls with experiences that allow them to feel beautiful that have nothing to do with their physicality. Helping them pass a test or a course in school that may seem at the time, insurmountable. Learning how to drive a car with mom as the driving instructor. Beginning a new hobby together - painting, photography, tennis, surfing, something that both parent and teen are doing for the first time. These experiences provide a sense of accomplishment and self worth that go beyond a person's appearance.
Helping them achieve a positive body image - loving who they are and those around them because of who they are, not because of what they look like or their material possessions. Sharing with your teen things about them that you like and respect. Respect is something that we don't often associate with beauty, but their is nothing more beautiful than the feeling of respecting another for how they carry themselves in their lifetime.
I am happy to share with you some of the definitions that I received that recognized that their is more to beauty than a young woman's physical appearance:
"Beauty is being a good person inside and being yourself."
"Beauty is ... just being who you are."
"Beauty is having confidence in yourself."
"Beauty is the way that you feel about yourself."
I know that together, we will continue to help women recognize that their beauty is the sum of their life experiences. The Beautiful Women Project is dedicated to continuing our work with women, we are making a difference.
I opened the program by asking the girls to share their definitions of beauty. Their answers were honest and to the point:
"Beauty is being pretty."
"Beauty is being pretty and popular."
"Beauty is skinny and perfect skin."
"...skinny, tan, great teeth, gorgeous hair."
"Beauty is what you look like on the outside."
Was I surprised by these definitions. Unfortunately, I was not. Today's teen girls are bombarded with so many messages of what defines a woman's beauty that it is difficult to filter fact from fiction. We know where the messages are coming from, but how do we help girls realize that there is so much more to beauty than their exterior appearance?
Presenting them with alternative images and role models of beauty is a start. Teen girls need to be reminded that role models are not just women that they see in magazines, television shows, or the big screen. If they are going to emulate those women, which we know that they are, let's take a moment out of our days to sit with our daughters and point out, or learn about together, these women's accomplishments outside of their appearance on the glossy pages or the silver screen. I bet that both of you will be surprised by what you learn.
Providing teenage girls with experiences that allow them to feel beautiful that have nothing to do with their physicality. Helping them pass a test or a course in school that may seem at the time, insurmountable. Learning how to drive a car with mom as the driving instructor. Beginning a new hobby together - painting, photography, tennis, surfing, something that both parent and teen are doing for the first time. These experiences provide a sense of accomplishment and self worth that go beyond a person's appearance.
Helping them achieve a positive body image - loving who they are and those around them because of who they are, not because of what they look like or their material possessions. Sharing with your teen things about them that you like and respect. Respect is something that we don't often associate with beauty, but their is nothing more beautiful than the feeling of respecting another for how they carry themselves in their lifetime.
I am happy to share with you some of the definitions that I received that recognized that their is more to beauty than a young woman's physical appearance:
"Beauty is being a good person inside and being yourself."
"Beauty is ... just being who you are."
"Beauty is having confidence in yourself."
"Beauty is the way that you feel about yourself."
I know that together, we will continue to help women recognize that their beauty is the sum of their life experiences. The Beautiful Women Project is dedicated to continuing our work with women, we are making a difference.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Experience Your Beauty
As the creator of The Beautiful Women Project and author of Beautiful Women Celebrating Beauty in Stories and Stills, I have had the privilege of working with, speaking in front of, and listening to women at all stages of life over the past three years. I have found that when it comes to body image and self esteem, it doesn't matter if a woman is fourteen or forty - a woman can be told she is beautiful a million times by others, but unless she experiences her own beauty all of the talking is just ... talk.
How does a woman exprience her own beauty? By recognizing that beauty is the sum of who you are and your life experiences. I speak from experience - despite my own accomplishments I was not proud of myself because I was not proud of my body. It has taken years, but I finally feel my own beauty. It is a process, getting to know who you are, what you like about yourself, discovering your strengths and weaknesses, embracing change, and recognizing that physicality is only a small part of who you are as a woman.
It is not easy. It gets confusing. It takes time. Unfortunately, we are bombarded with images and ideas everyday that work against us. Shampoos, moisturizers, acne washes, clothes, purses, shoes, diets...the images and the companies tell us that they will make us beautiful. These "things" are out there, but no one needs to buy anything to make them beautiful, at the very least they should only be looked upon as a way to enhance what you already own - BEAUTY.
By embracing what is most wonderful about being a woman we can navigate our way through the maze of product placements, "real" models, and reality television. Discussion and sharing are vital - we find out that we are not alone in our struggle to feel good about ourselves, and begin accepting ourselves for who we are as women. I recently did a program with seventh grade girls and not only did they share their definitions of beauty, but also their fears and questions they had about their feelings and friendships. I know that because of our frank and open discussion the ideas that they held about beauty and their relationship with their own beauty, changed for the better.
Take a moment to embrace the best parts of yourself. Share your thoughts, fears, and questions with a friend or daughter. Experience your beauty.
How does a woman exprience her own beauty? By recognizing that beauty is the sum of who you are and your life experiences. I speak from experience - despite my own accomplishments I was not proud of myself because I was not proud of my body. It has taken years, but I finally feel my own beauty. It is a process, getting to know who you are, what you like about yourself, discovering your strengths and weaknesses, embracing change, and recognizing that physicality is only a small part of who you are as a woman.
It is not easy. It gets confusing. It takes time. Unfortunately, we are bombarded with images and ideas everyday that work against us. Shampoos, moisturizers, acne washes, clothes, purses, shoes, diets...the images and the companies tell us that they will make us beautiful. These "things" are out there, but no one needs to buy anything to make them beautiful, at the very least they should only be looked upon as a way to enhance what you already own - BEAUTY.
By embracing what is most wonderful about being a woman we can navigate our way through the maze of product placements, "real" models, and reality television. Discussion and sharing are vital - we find out that we are not alone in our struggle to feel good about ourselves, and begin accepting ourselves for who we are as women. I recently did a program with seventh grade girls and not only did they share their definitions of beauty, but also their fears and questions they had about their feelings and friendships. I know that because of our frank and open discussion the ideas that they held about beauty and their relationship with their own beauty, changed for the better.
Take a moment to embrace the best parts of yourself. Share your thoughts, fears, and questions with a friend or daughter. Experience your beauty.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Back from A Beauty Break
The Beautiful Women Project has not had a new posting for two weeks, to be honest every once in a while I think that we can all use a "beauty break". Everyday I read speak to people about beauty and body image issues, read hundreds of articles in newspapers in magazines from around the world, scan internet blogs and listen to radio programs all having something to do with beauty, body image and women's issues. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but there comes a point where we all need to take a step back and give ourselves space and time. With so much sharing going on, it is important to take time to process what we take in - and decide what is right for each of us as individuals. The most wonderful thing about beauty is that it is unique, personal, the sum of our life experiences - and what is right for one is not right for everyone.
Beauty is exhausting. Finding ourselves is a process. Transformation takes patience. At The Beautiful Women Project we are really talking about transforming how as individuals define our own beauty not only ourselves, but also how society defines beauty. The folktale about the tortoise and the hare is tried and true - slow and steady wins the race. There is no quick fix for finding our inner beauty or for redefining how we see ourselves and others. Yet, with time and an open mind it is our belief that it will happen in the most wonderful and positive of ways.
Beauty is exhausting. Finding ourselves is a process. Transformation takes patience. At The Beautiful Women Project we are really talking about transforming how as individuals define our own beauty not only ourselves, but also how society defines beauty. The folktale about the tortoise and the hare is tried and true - slow and steady wins the race. There is no quick fix for finding our inner beauty or for redefining how we see ourselves and others. Yet, with time and an open mind it is our belief that it will happen in the most wonderful and positive of ways.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Power of Beauty
I have learned so many things from the thirty five women in Beautiful Women, but I have also learned from every person who has attended an exhibit of The Beautiful Women Project and read Beautiful Women. In every woman I see my past, present and future self. I could make a list a mile long and still not cover everything that I have learned, but I would like to share three with you this week.
Beauty is transformational, not just for the woman who feels beautiful, but the people that her beauty touches. The message of Beautiful Women is simple, but powerful: it is the sum of a woman’s life experiences that makes her beautiful.
Being beautiful is about how a woman carries her life’s experiences and allows them to shine through her for the world to see. Beauty is not boastful, it is a gift to all of those who embrace it and have the honor of being in its presence.
Accepting and believing that you are a beautiful woman is not something that happens over night, regardless of how many times someone tells you that you are beautiful. A woman has to really feel it in the core of her being. I think being proud of yourself and your accomplishments is the first step in believing that you are beautiful.
Beauty is transformational, not just for the woman who feels beautiful, but the people that her beauty touches. The message of Beautiful Women is simple, but powerful: it is the sum of a woman’s life experiences that makes her beautiful.
Being beautiful is about how a woman carries her life’s experiences and allows them to shine through her for the world to see. Beauty is not boastful, it is a gift to all of those who embrace it and have the honor of being in its presence.
Accepting and believing that you are a beautiful woman is not something that happens over night, regardless of how many times someone tells you that you are beautiful. A woman has to really feel it in the core of her being. I think being proud of yourself and your accomplishments is the first step in believing that you are beautiful.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Beautiful Women Project Supports National Eating Disorders Week
The National Eating Disorders Association has announced that National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24-March 1, 2008. This week the epidemic of eating disorders takes the national spotlight. The intention is not to glorify eating disorders, but to help those suffering as well as to educate those who may have a loved one suffering from an eating disorder.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Thank you for your continued support - of our project and of one another.
The Beautiful Women Project believes that there is so much more to an individual than their outward appearance. It is the sum of their life's experiences that make them beautiful. This is our mantra and will keep repeating it over and over for the world to hear. It is that important. The thirty five women in Beautiful Women share thier life stories and their beauty shines through them for the world to see. Please read what others are saying about the book:
http://bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=9120
http://www.roundtablereviews.com/brunonancy012108.htm
http://www.amazon.com/review/R32P4HPNKW5ZKW/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
For every book purchased from our web site during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we will be donating $5.00 to the Northeastern Comprehensive Care Center for Eating Disorders. Please pass this offer onto as many people that you know - this is not a gimmick to sell books, this is what The Beautiful Women Project does: help those in our communities who need help.
By clicking Beautiful Women Book on this blog or going directly to our web site and clicking "Purchase Book" follow the instructions and upon payment please enter NEDW.
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Thank you for your continued support - of our project and of one another.
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