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Power of Campaigns: Current Campaigns
YWCA of Adelaide’s Priority Election Issues
In the lead up to the state election, the YWCA of Adelaide is meeting with representatives from government, opposition and other parties to discuss young women’s priority election issues which were highlighted in a statewide consultation with over 1000 women and girls. These issues are:
- Domestic Violence Death Review Process
- Sexualisation of Children and Magazine Classifications
- Women in Leadership
On Wednesday 10th March, the YWCA of Adelaide will be hosting an election forum with Tammy Jennings (the Greens), the Hon. Michelle Lensink (Lib), the Hon. Robert Brokenshire (Family First), the Hon. David Winderlich (Ind), Jeannie Walker (Democrats) and Minister Gail Gago (ALP).
This is your opportunity to ask questions of those vying to be our political representatives - what are their policies when it comes to equal pay and domestic violence legislation? Where do they stand on mentoring programs and reproductive rights? Will they lobby for greater representation of women in executive positions and on Boards? Whatever you want to ask, this is your opportunity!
Join the YWCA of Adelaide on Wednesday March 10 to get your politics on and make your voice heard!
Drinks and nibbles provided.
Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls
“Corporate Pedophilia” was a landmark publication by the Australia Institute in 2006 which put a public spotlight on the sexualisation of children.
“Each month twenty per cent of six-year-old girls and almost half of ten and eleven year-old girls read at least one of the most popular girls’ magazines – Barbie Magazine, Total Girl and Disney Girl. These magazines teach their young readers to dance in sexually provocative ways, to idolise highly sexualised young women such as Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson and Lindsay Lohan, and to have crushes on adult male celebrities – all while they are still in primary school.” (Corporate Pedophilia, 2006)
Many of us have a sense that the strongest sources of sexualisation are girls magazines and advertising. TV programs, especially music video clips, teen soap operas and reality TV shows, also play a role.The American Psychological Association's "Task force on the sexualisation of girls" reported that "ample evidence indicates that sexualisation has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, sexuality and beliefs”.
In 2009, the YWCA of Adelaide is shining the spotlight again. There are 3 ways you can work with us to challenge the sexualisation of girls:
1. View our policy on the sexualisation of children
2. Join our e-campaign list by emailing anne.bainbridge@ywca.com.au
Our public forum “Too much, too young: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls” was held on 22 October, 2009. Keynote speaker was Melinda Tankard Reist, who is a Canberra based author, commentator and advocate. Melinda spoke about girls growing up in a toxic, sexualised environment that harms girls’ health and threatens their wellbeing. The forum included a panel discussion featuring Melinda, Rita Princi - Child, Adolescent and Family Psychologist, and Anne Bunning - International Gender Specialist and Chief Executive YWCA of Adelaide.
National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week
September 2-9, 2009
The YWCA of Adelaide is continuing our campaign to promote positive self image. During National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we launched “Free to Be Me” – a positive self image booklet. We also focused on fad diets with a positive action - shredding fad diet books on the steps of Parliament House. Copies of Free to Be Me are available for download on our website here. If you would like to place a bulk order, please contact us on 8203 9400 or email anne.bainbridge@ywca.com.au
Key diet statistics:
- Calls to the eating disorders counseling service ACEDA have risen 400 per cent between 2002 and 2009, with 90 per cent of callers aged 17 and over, and 80 per cent of calls coming from girls and women.
- A YWCA of Adelaide self image survey reveals a majority of respondents start dieting between the ages of 11 and 16 and that there has been a more than ten per cent increase in the use of fad diet techniques including the use of laxatives, diet pills and shakes between 2002 and 2009.
- Dieting is one of four key risk factors in the development of eating disorders along with poor body image, low self esteem and perfectionism.
- Over three quarters (81%) of respondents to the YWCA of Adelaide self image survey said they know someone with an eating disorder.
- The YWCA of Adelaide self image survey also showed women in Adelaide who have dieted: 2002 - 54% 2009 - 81%
- Women in Adelaide who have clothes that are too small in their wardrobe that they plan to ‘diet into’ 2002 - 45% 2009 - 67%
- Women in Adelaide who are unhappy with their body size 2002 -75%
2009 - 74%
What must be done to stop fad dieting?
- Both the YWCA of Adelaide and ACEDA welcome the Federal Government’s Preventative Health Taskforce recommendation to regulate the diet industry. We support the Dietitians Association of Australia call for all commercial diet programs to be assessed by a body of experts similar to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which assesses drugs for safety and efficacy.
- We are also eager to see Minister Kate Ellis’ proposed National Media and Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image and are particularly concerned to ensure the issue of glamorisation of severely underweight models or celebrities is adequately addressed.
- Get a copy of “Free to be me”: Designed for 12-18 year olds, the 24 page booklet features tools, tips and activities that encourage young people to identify and celebrate positive self image.
Which diets are you calling fad diets?
- We support the Dietitians Association of Australia call for all commercial diet programs to be assessed by a body of experts similar to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which assesses drugs for safety and efficacy. For this action, we have allowed individuals to self select their own version of what constitutes a fad diet.
What should the state government do 6 months out from an election?
- Commit to universal media literacy and positive self image programs in schools
What can you do?
- Enjoy a wide variety of foods
- Ensure you have balance in your life – food, exercise, health and happiness
- Look for magazines that make you feel good about yourself.
- Question whether images you see are real.
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder and want help, contact ACEDA on 8297 4011.
If you would like to get involved with YWCA of Adelaide programs, services or campaigns call 8203 9400.
Celebrate You
YWCA of Adelaide celebrated International No Diet Day on 6 May 2009 with our Celebrate You! Campaign. Each year, the YWCA of Adelaide runs a campaign to support a healthy self image for women and girls. In 2009, we ran a multimedia campaign.
This campaign aims to:
- Capture a more honest reflection of the people we see every day;
- Raise awareness about healthy body image;
- Have an immediate and lasting impact on self esteem and
- Help generate an awareness of the way girls and women are often portrayed in the mainstream media.
Body Image Survey
A YWCA of Adelaide survey released for International No Diet Day, 6 May, shows that 75% young women are still unhappy with their body image and are taking drastic measures to become more confident in their own skin. For detailed information
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Kate Ceberano voted one of the most popular role models for women in South Australia by survey respondents
Below is Kate's response to this honour.
"First of all I’m so delighted that the outcome of the poll has put me up next to my idol Kate Winslet and secondly that the women of South Australia have put me there. WOW!
I'm so honored and I feel that the struggles that I have had, my mother and her mother have had to face over the many years have not been in vain.
When I was a teenager I was in an environment (during the 80's) where at times the size of my body determined if I was to stay on contract with a record company or be dumped.
I thought I was signed for my voice and my grief was abject.
It was such a personal private struggle that I felt I monitored so many activities and choices for myself at that time. I didn’t feel free!
I felt betrayed by my body and started the long journey of trying different methods to "handle" my body. Why wasn’t I built a certain way, why didn't he love me for who I am, why do they "see" me instead of "hear" my efforts? It was a confusing time.Now of course I see how much that time was wasted. And if it's only now that I see that it's my responsibility, by example, to focus on how to preserve one's self-respect and integrity, no matter what shape, size color you are and discipline our future generations towards self love.
Because, it's only you that can look after yourself in this way.
It's a personal and private endeavour.I admire those who have the courage to stand up in the face of popular fashion (which will always be there and which is not the cause or cure for this dilemma), and be yourself. You are the author of your own footprint!
Happy stomping!
Lots of love
Kate"
To check out more on Kate
please visit Kate
Ceberano.
