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A
R T I C L E S* &*
S P E E C H E S
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STRONG,
SMART & BOLD
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Whether you are 6 or 60
there are several things you can do to help
girls become strong, smart and bold.
This list of tips will enable
you to prepare girls to achieve their best
potential and to overcome traditional stereotypes
that encourage girls to be nothing more
than "sugar and spice and everything nice."
There are also some tips on what you can
do to challenge these limitations and expand
options for all girls.
Ways to help girls become strong, smart
& bold:
- Praise girls for their skills and successes,
not only for their appearances. Say, "you
did a terrific job," instead of "you look
pretty today."
- Avoid rescuing girls. Encourage them
to get dirty, disheveled and sweaty climbing
trees or playing in the grass. Allow them
to take risks.
- Debunk the myth of Prince Charming.
Teach girls that most women will work
for pay for most of their lives. Every
girl needs to be prepared to support herself.
- Teach girls to watch TV and movies
with a critical eye. Discuss what you've
seen together: Look for strong, smart
women who are not limited to "traditional"
roles.
- Use TV to start a discussion about
body image. Consider how girls are portrayed
on TV: Are heavier girls shown as unpopular?
Do they go out on dates? Are they used
as comic relief? Are girls with voluptuous
figures only shown as sex symbols? Do
they seem to be smart?
- Give girls more opportunities to be
leaders. Let them choose the activity,
make the rules, settle the dispute. A
girl who has learned to lead is better
prepared to take charge of her own education
and career.
- Give girls many opportunities to experience
science, math and technology. Girls are
ready, willing and eager to explore, but
often haven't had enough exposure or encouragement.
For example, girls can put objects in
water to see if they float, attempt simple
household experiments such as making vegetable
dyes or they can learn to repair their
own bicycles.
- Help girls get beyond "yuk." Insist
calmly that girls hold a snake, dissect
a worm, get their hands dirty discovering
the world around them.
- Introduce girls to dynamic women who
combine paid work, volunteer work and
family life.
- Be an example. By respecting yourself
and other women, you set a standard which
girls can follow.
Ways to change the world for girls:
- Write complaint letters to toy and publishing
companies that produce sexist toys, books
and materials. Buy only non-sexist products.
- Urge the fashion industry to expand
its definition of beauty by featuring
more diverse models and to celebrate women
in ways that go beyond physical appearance.
- Write to your senators and representatives
to insist on legislation which makes career
and family a survivable combination ó
focus on parental leave, health insurance
and child care. Circulate a petition to
get additional signatures.
- Ask questions and take action if you
see something unfair or biased on television.
Write a letter to your local station or
the producers of the show sharing your
concern.
- Support the work of women campaigning
for girls' and women's rights and equality.
By volunteering your time or money, or
by supporting women-owned businesses,
you can make a difference in the world
and in girls' lives.
© 1995 Girls Incorporated.
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Girls Incorporated is the nation's
leading voice for girls. Through innovative
programs offered by a national network
of 134 affiliates and backed by cutting
edge research, Girls Incorporated
is leading the effort to make every girl
strong, smart and bold.
For additional information contact
your local Girls Incorporated
affiliate.
Or contact:
Girls Incorporated
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016-5394
Tel: (212) 689-3700
Fax: (212) 683-1253
E-mail: email@girlsinc.org
www.girlsinc.org
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