Girls Are Amazing. I know. I was one (still am at heart) and I am now helping to raise three of them in an age that to me seems to be taking a step backwards in it’s attitude to girls/women and their role in society.
It’s important to me that my girls grow up knowing, believing and understanding just how incredible they are and that the world is theirs for the taking. That they are worth more than the pink plastic, high heels, fake boobs and pouty lips constantly display in the media.
Recent research commissioned by ‘Girl Talk’ (a preteen magazine) found that the top 10 female role models were all actors or singers and very few cited businesswomen; journalists; politicians; artist or authors etc as their role models. Although this is hardly surprising given our current celebrity heavy media reporting.
To celebrate their 500th edition ‘Girl Talk’ magazine is launching a #GirlsAreAmazing campaign and will be featuring career profiles and stories of inspirational women alongside stories from ‘Girl Talk’ readers who are achieving great things themselves.
Whilst I think this is an admirable campaign I do question some of the motives behind it. Although there are some positive role model articles in the magazine, there is still a leaning towards celebrity culture. The magazines layout is wrapped in sugary pink and I was saddened by the free gift of nail varnish and nail art stickers. A strange combination (and slightly inappropriate) for an edition that is launching a campaign encouraging girls to aim high with their ambitions and look further afield at female achievements outside of the celebrity arena.
Having said that it is a step in the right direction and I’m not going to knock that. We do need to talk our girls up and make them strong and get them aiming high. It’s a tough old world out there. I know.
I was the only female on my geology degree, I was one of a handful of women working on the Oil Rigs in The North Sea and I was one of the few women working in IT when this new thing called an Intranet/Internet appeared on the scene. Job areas may have opened up for women since I first started working but the core underlying issue of gender stereotyping is still the same.
So lets get our girls talking and supporting each other. If you know any, or are yourself a pre-teen girl write to ‘Girl Talk’ Magazine (hello@girltalkmagazine.com). They want to hear about the problems and anxieties that pre-teen girl face daily. What’s it like being a girl right now? What are your thoughts, dreams and goals. What amazing achievements have you gained. What would you like to change about the world?
It’s true #GirlsAreAmazing so lets make sure they never forget it!
We were given a years subscription to ‘Girl Talk’ magazine, a t-shirt and some very smelly soap to help promote this campaign.
My daughter bought a copy of this mag last year enticed by the pink sunglasses on the front! I can’t recall the content but am sure it was all very Girly, fashion and celebrity heavy! I was quite surprised when I first saw this campaign and the mag involved. And yes, the gifts do somewhat undermine the point!
I don’t personally have a girl but have nieces and totally agree with you totally the free gifts are of very bad choice in the issue announcing this campaign
I remember when I used to get Girl Talk when I was little and there was none of that. It was all “How to braid your hair” “How to make your own bead bracelets” and pet of the week and stuff like that. Celebrity Culture is really corrupting our youth 🙁 It really saddens me that I know now that a 10 year old would choose a mobile phone over a lovely new doll or creative kit. xx
That’s why last weekend I tossed a carrier bag of old girl talk magazines/ go girl mags and other trash onto my fire
such a great post I want one of them T shirts! x
As the mother of a young daughter I do worry about the way our culture is leaning, so many children only aspire to being pop stars, footballer and actors, girls seem especially vulnerable to it. I want both of my children to want to use all of their talents!