Students discuss image of women in media, encourage self expression
Members of the Organization of Women Leaders and Woman Leadership want women to know that it's OK to express themselves.
Students gathered in the Sweeny Hall lounge Tuesday night to talk about the media’s portrayal of women for Plus-Size Fabulous.
The event is part of Women’s Empowerment Week at Central Michigan University. It was sponsored by the Organization of Woman Leaders and Woman in Leadership.
“The program content includes a presentation of the Dove campaign for beauty YouTube videos followed by discussion about the media and the images that we combat as a culture, the importance of positive body image, and empowerment for women,” said Emily Nuss, a Lansing senior and the organizer of Plus-Size Fabulous, Thin Happiness.
The Dove videos showed the impact that images have on young girls as well as the extensive process models go through, including digital photo editing, before being featured in advertisements.
“It’s ridiculous the standards the media puts out for how the ideal woman should look,” said Blake Ibbotson, a Suttons Bay sophomore.
The discussion after the videos focused on how the images in the media are unattainable and unrealistic. Both girls and guys expressed their concern for how these unrealistic images can affect the self-confidence of youth and how they have experienced such pressure themselves.
“It’s about finding our personal healthy and finding that image. That image may not be the one on the wall, but that’s where our focus should be,” said Watersmeet senior Elizabeth Zelinski.
Ibbotson said it is important for people communicate their thoughts and to express themselves, because it can help resolve issues.
Everyone in attendance wrote something encouraging on five notecards and then stuffed envelopes with them. The envelopes were distributed at random so everyone in attendance left with an envelope of encouragement.
“The media attacks everyone all the time in how we look and dress and we are doing something to counter act that," Nuss said.
Grosse Pointe junior Ashley Helgeson said she is happy to be part of OWL, and that she works as a historian for the organization.
“I think woman are degraded in the media and it needs to be addressed," she said.
