Body Image Resources for Schools

Body Image Resources for Schools

This body image resource list was compiled by Thea O’Connor following the four 2015 Positive Schools Conferences held in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. In each state, workshop participants pooled their collective knowledge, contributing the names of any body image resources they knew of or had used. The aim is to create a ‘living list’ that we all help keep up to date, reducing the need to reinvent the wheel.

This list does not rate the resources according to quality. It is up to the teacher to judge if the material is appropriate for his or her students. However the first three resources listed below do offer guidelines on how to identify better quality programs.

It’s unlikely that we have captured everything that is available and suitable for Australian schools, but it’s a good start! Your ongoing contribution and comments are welcome. Send them to .

RESOURCE

/ COMMENT

GUIDELINES

Key standards for teaching about body image, UK.

/ Very good, comprehensive guide.
Eating Disorders in Schools: Prevention, Early Identification and Response Manual produced by The National Eating Disorders Collaboration
The resource encourages a whole- school approach to eating disorders, so includes some good advice re prevention programs.
/ see pages 16-17 for list of evidence based programs.
Eating Disorder Resource for Schools
Produced by Eating Disorder Foundation of Victoria.
Contains good information on prevention programs, including body image. / The audit in the appendix is a very useful tool for auditing your school

PROGRAMS

Happy Being Me
Developed by La Trove University, School of Psychology. An evidence-based three-session classroom prevention-intervention program for girls aged 11 to 14 years. The manual contains information to enable the facilitator to conduct each interactive session and resources required to deliver the session in the classroom. Contact Susan Paxton: / Recently adapted to be a co-educational 6-session program. Evaluation results here.
Body Think
Administered by Butterfly Foundation, supported by Dove Real Beauty Campaign.
BodyThink is a four session, eating disorder health promotion and prevention school-based workshop for children aged 11 to 14 years. Materials include a booklet with facilitator instructions, activity cards, and a DVD on media beauty ideals. / Program was evaluated by La Trobe University, results here.

The Body Project (US) Developed by Eric Stice, a world authority on eating-disorder prevention. Contains two, 4 session evidence-based intervention programs that can be used with low- or high-risk adolescent and university-aged females to prevent disordered eating. The book provides a session-by-session approach to implementing the programs. Cost of Book: $45

/ Likely to work best for high-risk people.

Taking action on body image. (UK) Developed by National Citizen Service, England. Aimed at 16-17 yr olds, covering what is body image, media messages, social media, body talk, strengths.

MEDIA LITERACY

Media Smart
Developed by Flinders University School of Psychology.
A practical, eight-lesson media literacy program suitable for girls and boys in late primary school or early high school. Information for teachers on the area of body image and eating disorders, detailed lesson plans and a workbook for students.
Cost: $495. / Evaluation found that those who received the program, had significantly lower scores on 6 of 9 eating disorder risk factors.
See Me Developed by Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.
Web based, media literacy activities that link with the curriculum.
Dove campaign for real beauty
Includes male version
Dove videos of media manipulation. Evolution
Short videos demonstrating extent of manipulation. Good conversation starters. / Sometimes criticized that these are created by Dove, which is part of the beauty industry
Upworthiest video: Body Evolution
Shows extent of media manipulation. / UpWorthiest has a great collection of video clips
Miss Representation
A 2011 American documentary that explores how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential positions by circulating limited and often disparaging portrayals of women. / Powerful critique, for upper high school students.
Tracey Spicer’s TED talk
TV presenter reveals the extent of her beauty routine, how much time and money it takes, and what she could be doing instead. / For upper high school girls
NORMAL PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT

Family Planning and Women’s Health Organizations in each state

Kaz Cooke

Completelygorgeous.com

It includes excerpts from the book, Real Gorgeous, an animated video, and games and learning activities that are relevant to areas of schooling including health and physical education, society and environment, arts, English, science, cultural studies, media studies, psychology, and personal development.

Book “Girls Stuff’

/ A website and classroom resource for students and teachers from upper primary school to secondary school

Secret Girls and Secret Boys Business (Books)

/ Focuses on girls and boys journey through puberty

Lets Chat Education Program (Brisbane)

Includes “changing bodies’ seminars for parents and families. / Relationship and sexuality education, inc some body image themes
Growing and Developing Healthy Relationships (WA govt)
Curriculum support for teachers related to relationships and sexual health.
Also includes some simple guidelines for teaching body image in schools. / Contains a few body image info & activities and a ‘growing bodies’ section
CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES
Like a Girl (video)
Bend it Like Beckham (movie)
FOCUSING ON NON-APPEARANCE ATTRIBUTES
Identify strengths in self and others: St Luke’s strength cards.
SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-TALK
Inner Cosmetics – transforming negative self talk into self appreciation.
Developed by Thea O’Connor and co-facilitated with Olivia Bernadini.
A 2hr x 4week program that trains teenage girls in an inner beauty routine that ‘cleanses’ the inner eye of negative self-evaluation, ‘tones’ the fine muscles of self-appreciation, and deeply nourishes our sense of self-worth. The program uses proven techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and includes guided meditations, experiential, body based activities drawn from Somatic Therapy, improvised theatre and movement awareness techniques. Contact: / Evaluation of program conducted in conjunction with La Trobe University.
Inspire Program for Girls
Created by Jane Higgins, CEO (SA).
Offers workshops and day long programs related to Respectful Relationships, Body image and Self esteem, Our Uniqueness, Drugs and Alcohol, Self Protection
Enlighten education
Founded by former teacher, Danielle Miller
Offers programs for girls related to self-esteem, relationships, empowerment and body image.
Esteem DesignZ
For girls grade 5 to 10 . Explores self-identity and self-esteem through creativity.
Dove Beauty Sketches (video)
Highlights women’s tendency to see themselves as less attractive than they might really be.
Body Beautiful App
American App; that includes sharing positive messages about friends and making positive body image pledges
Model Tyra Banks on comparing yourself (video clip) / Very American!
Louise Hay Mirror work and Affirmations
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
This Girl Can (UK)
Media campaign launched in early 2015 to encourage girls and women to take up sports. / Great, funky video clips
JJJ interview with Rugby player David Pocock about his body image and eating disorder.
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/triplej/thedoctor/david_pocock_2014_10_8.mp3
SOCIAL ADVOCACY
Globaldemocracy.com
A site where you can vote for ideas about a better word, such as using disclaimers for airbrushed models
RESOURCES FOR MALES
The Men We Need, Produced by ChoiceZ Media:
A 7 part program exploring key issues for young men through lens of how masculine strength is used.
www.choicez.com.au ACT.
Odyssey Program for Boys
CEO Jen Higgins.
Offers day programs and workshops for teenage boys related to Masculinity and identity, Mateship and friendship, Girls and relationships, Drugs and alcohol, Anger Management and Positive Psychology/Mental Health.
AWARENESS RAISING / EDUCATION FOR PARENTS
How do you talk to yourself? The Mannequin project (4min video clip)
Illustrates mother’s negative self-talk about her body. / Gets great audience reaction, funny.
How to help your daughter lover her body and herself
Body image boosters for families
How can parents promote healthy weight and health body image in children?
Presented by Thea O’Connor
Seminar for parents exploring practical strategies to enhance body confidence, from childhood to the teenage years. Can be adapted to include boys.
Body Confident Children & Teens Parent Workshop
Offered by Butterfly Foundation.
RESILIENCY SKILLS – just a few examples
BounceBack! Wellbeing and Resilience program
Developed by Helen McGrath and Professor Toni Noble (ACU)
Offers practical strategies to help children and young people function well at school and in life.
G.I.R.L.S. Girls in Real Life Situations Book
A ‘group counseling’ work workbook and CD for girls grade 6 to 12. Includes section Body Image Choices.
SenseAbility
Developed by beyondblue
SenseAbility is a strengths-based resilience program designed for those working with young Australians aged 12-18 years. It consists of a suite of modules developed to enhance and maintain emotional and psychological resilience.
The Rite Journey
Uses a Rites of passage framework to guide the transition from child to adult
Includes yearlong training for teachers and gender specific programs for students.
OTHER A weight off my mind Body Image journal
A downloadable body image journal for young women.

TOYS / GIFTS

Lamilly Doll Realistic size dolls

Towards the stars For gender neutral gifts and products

Ruby Who? (DVD and book) An innocent story of a little girl's adventure in re-discovering her identity.

BOOKS FOR KIDS

Your Body is Brilliant. Colouring in book for 4 year olds

Jessica Kingsley Publishers Authors: Sigrun Danielsdottir Price: RRP £10.99

BOOKS FOR ADULTS

Everybody's Different: A Positive Approach to Teaching about Health, Puberty, Body Image, Nutrition, Self-Esteem and Obesity Prevention 92007).

Author: Jennifer O’Dea. Available from ACER Cost: $60

This book outlines a whole-school curriculum for children and adolescents, Everybody's Different, which promotes healthy nutrition, self-esteem enhancement, media literacy, acceptance of pubertal processes, and positive body image with the aim of preventing Eating Disorders and obesity. The program is a whole-school curriculum involving strategies for school policy, school climate, and classroom-based teaching and learning activities.

Healthy Bodies, Teaching kids what they need to know. Kathy Kater.

Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls Melinda Tankard Reist

Big Porn Inc Melinda Tankard Reist

Too Sexy, Too Soon. Melinda Tankard Reist

How to be a woman Caitlin Moran

The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement (2009), Professor Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell

Positive Psychology and The Body (2013) by psychologist Dr Kate Hefferon.

Covers the link between the physical body’s and our wellbeing, including topics such as Embodiment and body awareness, Nutrition, Sex and sexuality, Body adornment, scarring, and modification, Sport and physical activity, Interpersonal touch

University level text – could use for upper high school or teachers own knowledge

What’s happening to our Girls? Maggie Hamilton

What’s happening to our Boys? Maggie Hamilton

Faking it Magazine Front cover looks like a girl’s magazine but contains analytical articles about impact of media on women.

AWARENESS-RAISING DAYS

International No Diet Day May 6

Makeup Free Me – A day held by Butterfly Foundation to encourage women to take on the challenge of going without makeup for 24 hours, seeking to show that beauty is more than just skin deep.

Fat-Talk Free Week - Raising awareness of ‘self-talk’ and ‘fat talk’ and how this can be damaging to individuals and peers.

Thea O’Connor www.thea.com.au Body Image Resources, Aug 2015