Love Your Body Day

       
           The Women's Outreach Center hosted “Love Your Body Day” Wednesday evening at the University of Oklahoma in Gould Hall.

Love Your Body Day began with a brief documentary explaining why young girls want to look like Disney princesses and Barbie dolls. After the documentary ended, there was a panel discussion with three experts on this topic.

The documentary explains how kid shows are effecting how young girls think they should look, and they are also given the message that image is a source of empowerment.

“Specifically I worry about children’s toys and specifically the toys that are marketed towards little girls and the messages that are bring sent,” panelist expert Lisa Funnel said during panel discussion. “We’re just going to buy a toy and we don’t think about the messages that are being relayed or the actives that are bring socialized into our children in that way.”

Barbie and Bratz dolls portray an image of an unrealistic female figure. Young girls want to look like something that’s impossible to reach, according to experts in the documentary. It’s not a healthy for children.

“Children watch180 minutes of television per day,” panelist expert Yarisa Mann said.

 Children and adolescents view 40,000 ads per year on TV alone, according to the pediatrics website.

“When you look at the big picture it’s alarming,” panelist expert Alavi said.

            
            The documentary also shows how these ideas on body image also effects the way young boys view women.

“It’s a two way message it kind of tells this is what women should look like and if you don’t have that then you’re inadequate, and then you tell men this is what a real woman is and if you don’t have that then obviously you didn’t hit the jackpot,” Roksana Alavi said.

The audience was very engaged in the documentary. Laughter and sounds of shock could be heard from the audience as they reacted to what they saw on the screen.

They were also very active in discussion, asking questions to the panelist about the documentary, and what the panelist’s thoughts were on the message pop culture has given the new generation.

Inspirational sticky notes were placed in front of each audience member to read.

 One of the notes read, “Your confidence makes you beautiful.”

The Women’s Outreach Center hosts “Love Your Body” once a year, according to Women’s Outreach intern Bliss Brown.

The goal of Love Your Body Day is to help women love themselves for who they are, and to help them learn how to feel comfortable in their own skin.

“I really enjoyed the entire thing,” audience member Tracie Lee said. “I never realized how bad Disney and dolls were for kids.”