Weekly Activism Blog 3

Activism:
This week was the execution of our Body Appreciation workshop. The day had finally come to put our hard work to the test. We arrived on Sunday around noon to set up. We got things into place and sat down to begin discussing the day and all the specifics. However, we were interrupted when some of the Littles showed up thirty minutes early. So without any more prep, we were thrown into the project. We decided that we should start off with our paper chain activity (which wasn’t originally supposed to be the first activity) so the girls who arrived early would have something to begin doing. So already the day began with us being flexible. Slowly the rest of the girls began to arrive. We completed the paper chains with them and it took a bit longer than we thought it would. Then we went outside for our hula hoop icebreaker. After that we did our relay races, which were incredibly fun and the Littles seemed to have a great time participating in. We headed back upstairs for a snack and to complete our body part drawing activity. The Littles did a great job and with the help of our community partner Emily V. in the discussion aspect it went incredibly smoothly. Next we had a dance break and then went outside for some yoga led by Maddie. These were my two favorite activities by far. We ended off with some charades and then sent the Littles on their way. I personally had a blast!

Reflection:
This week was very eye opening for me. Not that these concepts are simple, or changing people’s views on matters of the body is simple either, but it did come as a surprise to me to see how easy it was to facilitate a conversation about the body with seventh grade girls and help them to understand the basics of these concepts we are trying to portray about health being more than just the physical. I don’t know how much it will stick with them, but it was especially cool to hear their thoughts.
Though the activity went well, listening to the Littles talk with each other, I won’t lie… was quite terrifying. Their conversations reminded me of Nancy from “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” when she says she wants to grow up and look like the girls in playboy (Blume 6). The Littles were talking about wanting to get older and get tattoos, go to parties, and so many other things. We were constantly shocked by the things they would say. I think that we underestimate girls a lot. While they are young and impressionable they are also brilliant. It’s quite a scary combination.

Reciprocity:
I’ve learned a lot this week about young girls. Despite previously being a part of YWLP it still fascinates me working with young girls. On the other hand though, it reminds me that working with young girls is probably not something I would want to do for my career. On my seemingly never ending path of trying to figure out what I want to do this project may have helped me cross one thing off the list. And I mean that in a good way. I have a very high respect for people like Emily V. who have chosen to do this for their careers or even just for a while. Even though, as females, we all have gone through this time of girlhood, and made it out alive, it is still hard to bring yourself back to that time and remember what it was like. I think this issue is incredibly important and I am happy we have people dedicated to it.

Works Cited
Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. New York, NY: Random House, Inc, 1970. Print.