International Women’s Day at YSJU: Freeing Body Image

The School of Humanities, Religion and Philosophy will be hosting a day of activities to mark International Women’s Day on March 6 2019!

Free your body image! 

Our idea of our body, of beautiful bodies and our ability to talk about our bodies is shaped by media and social pressure. Men find it difficult to talk about their bodies, while women are bombarded with advertisements for products and services, using photoshopped images, encouraging them to think that their bodies need to be redesigned by expensive beauty treatments and surgeries. From a very young age, girls are introduced to and internalise unrealistic ideas about ‘perfect’ bodies, and they grow up in a consumer culture where digital media promotes frequent posting of filtered images.

Join psychologists Paula Singleton and Beth Bell for an exploration of body image in men, women and teenage girls; reshape and redress a reclaimed Barbie! The first session will consist of a talk about masculinity by Paula, followed by her superheroic Barbie workshop (all materials provided); the second session will consist of a talk by Beth about teenage girls and body image in a digital age, followed by questions and answers; the third session will be a screening of Embrace: ‘a social impact documentary that explores the issue of body image’. 

Schedule and Event Locations 

1.30pm-3.30pm in DG/124, York St John University: ‘Critical Masculinities and SuperHeroic Dolls’ with Paula Singleton

3.30pm – 4pm in De Grey Foyer, York St John University: refreshments.

4pm – 5pm in DG/124, York St John University: ‘Teenage Girls and Body Image in a Digital Age’ with Beth Bell

5pm – 5.30pm in De Grey Foyer, York St John University: wine reception.

5.30pm – 7.30pm in Fountains Lecture Theatre, York St John University: screening of Embrace 

Book your tickets here!