Positive Body Image in the Digital Age
Gasps were heard throughout the room as an elderly woman's face slowly changed. Wrinkles disappeared, eyelids lifted, skin smoothed and age-spots vanished as graphic designer, Rebecca Sloane of Kinart carefully moved her mouse.
Students rap about positive body image at the Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Forum. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.
This act of digital magic was part of the Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Forum, held at QVWC on Thursday, 26 April for a group of 34 year-11 girls, representing 17 diverse schools from across Victoria. The Forum aimed to inform girls about what goes on behind-the-scenes of the media they consume, to help them recognise that the beauty ideals presented in much of today's media are not only unrealistic, they're impossible.
Through presentations about positive body image from the Butterfly Foundation, seeing examples of digital manipulation from Kinart and sorting through body image issues with the FRANK Team, the students were able to see that, in today's media, 'not even the model looks like the model'.
Claire, a student from Essendon-Keilor College, said, 'Before this project, I never knew that media images were so altered. I think it's important to know because you're surrounded by it, 24/7'.
The girls will take their newfound knowledge of digital imaging and strategies for positive body image back to their schools, where they will create a presentation for their peers, with the help of in-school mentors.
The girls' mentors had the opportunity to also learn about digital media and improving their students' positive body image through a day-long Mentors' Workshop. Sessions included presentations from the Butterfly Foundation and the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria. Mentors also learned about peer education and ways to encourage students' media literacy.
The Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Project is made possible with the support of the Victorian Government through their $2.1 million commitment to the Teenagers - Go For Your Life! Positive Body Image Strategy.
In June of this year, women everywhere will be able to find out more about body image when QVWC posts the newest section of our online InfoHub, focusing on Positive Body Image. Stay tuned!