Jan 14, 2009

Our Theme is: Countering Media Culture & Mind/ Body Awareness.

We gathered in our opening circle and reconnected by sharing our news.
Allison had a copy of the article that was printed in the North Adams
Transcript last month about the Mona Lisa Project. Karen introduced the new
Kidspace staff: Corin and Fiona who sat in on the session with us today.
They are young women interested in professions in the arts and provide great
role models for the girls.
Karen lead a brief discussion to introduce the themes of the film: "The
Strength to Resist: "The Media's Impact on Women and Girls". We learned what
" media literacy" means through watching the film together in the b-10
Theater at Mass MoCA. Afterwards we had an in depth discussion during which
Laura Thompson the Director of Kidspace, joined us for our sharing. Everyone
had a lot to say about the subject of the power that advertising holds over
the viewers. We talked about how ads objectify women and girls, about the "
beauty ideal" and how computer retouching creates an impossible version of
ideal beauty and about damaging gender stereotypes.It was a powerful and
energized session. We ended today, by coming into our YogaED "Time In"
practice, for a centering and visualization to affirm our strengths and our
bodies.