Chrysalis Partners to Screen Miss Representation

On April 17, 2012, Chrysalis, in partnership with Drake University's Student Activists for Gender Equality and Department of Culture and Society hosted the public for a special screening of the documentary film Miss Representation. As part of Chrysalis' community education efforts, we would like to share the information we provided at the screening with all of you.

MISS REPRESENTATION

Presented by Chrysalis in partnership with Drake University Department of Culture and Society and SAGE (Student Activists for Gender Equality)

April 17, 2012

An average teen spends more than 10 hours daily consuming media – more than sleeping or attending school.  Messages they receive from media teach them how to view themselves and others, particularly what it means to be a woman or a man.

Mainstream media (instruments used to communicate information, including television, magazines, books, movies, music, and the Internet) bombards children and adults with constant messages that women should be beautiful and sexy; men should be powerful and often violent.  These messages can have damaging effects on self-esteem, health, and relationships, limiting children’s ideas about what is possible for them in the world.

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that young women and men receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality – not her intelligence or capacity as a leader.

In its continuing role to educate the public, Chrysalis presents MISS REPRESENTATION, the acclaimed documentary released in 2011 by writer, director, and producer Jennifer Siebel Newsom.  It uncovers a glaring reality facing each of us, every day – how mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential positions in America.

HERE’S WHAT WE RECOMMEND YOU DO --

1.        Boycott magazines, movies, or television shows that objectify and degrade women.

2.       Participate in a female candidate’s political campaign.

3.       Watch media with children and discuss how girls or women are portrayed and the impact this has.

4.      Avoid complimenting a woman or girl on looks (pretty, thin, sexy, “hot”) and compliment how smart, skilled, or clever she is, or what a great leader she is.

Here are a few other ideas adapted from about-face.org.  About-Face equips women and girls with tools to understand and resist harmful media messages that affect self-esteem and body image.

TEN THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO

1. Stop talking about your weight (especially in front of young girls).

Young girls listen to the way women talk about themselves, and about each other, to learn the language of womanhood.  Young women can only learn to love or even accept their bodies if they see women who love and accept their own.  Every criticism we use – about ourselves or about other women - leaves an impression on the people around us, encouraging the quest for perfection.  Differentiate between weight and health, and start talking about health.

2. Make a list of women you admire.

Think about the most important attributes a woman you admire has – is appearance one of them?  What would you like a young woman to most admire in you?  In herself?

3. Question the motives of the fashion industry.

Remember - the main objective of the fashion, cosmetic, diet, fitness, and plastic surgery industries is to make money, not to make you the best person you can possibly be. 

4. Stop weighing yourself.

The emphasis to be thin is ever-present in our society, but this focus is completely arbitrary.  Spend a day, week, or month without getting on the scale – and when you do, don’t let the number be a measure of your self-esteem.

5. Concentrate on things you do well.

It is true that if you are feeling good about your life, you are much less critical of how you look.  You aren’t changing, but your perception is!  If you’ve had a bad day and don’t want to be distressed, stay away from the mirror.

6. Get physical for fun.

Your body needs fuel and function – that’s real food and exercise!  Take walks, dance in your living room, garden, golf… try to get moving for your heart, not to decrease the size of your waist.  You may lose weight and you may not, but your body will be stronger, and your stress will be lower.

7. Value your dollars.

How much do you spend on fashion, hair, and cosmetics?  How much on specific eating regimens?  The money you spend should reflect the person you are, not the person society wants you to be.

8. Voice your opinion.

Every size and type of business is interested in your input.  Letters, e-mails, and phone calls really make a difference.  If you disagree with the way a company treats women, or if you believe a company shows a lack of respect for girls and women in any way, write a letter explaining why, and stop purchasing the product.

9. Be a role model.

Every culture and generation has its own rules and expectations for women, and there are always women who have taken risks to grow, learn, and succeed.  Wouldn’t you like to break a mold or two?  And remember – girls and women are watching you.

10. Break the barriers.

Author Sara Tisdale wrote, “We must all choose between battles: One battle is against the cultural ideal, and the other is against ourselves.”  Stop defining yourself by what popular culture dictates.  Develop your own style and uniqueness – by accepting yourself and demonstrating it, you help break the barriers.

Chrysalis Conversations Speaker Margaret Wheatley Profiled in Des Moines Register

Wheatley's Goal: Empower Women to Change the World

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120410/LIFE/304100011/Wheatley-s-goal-Empower-women-change-world

Physical Appearance and the Workplace

Women benefit more than their male counterparts from being considered good-looking by their employers.

This is one of the challenges women face in the work world, according to a new study by Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle, Beauty and the Labor Market.

Attractive employees are asked fewer questions at job interviews, are more likely to be promoted, and earn typically 10% more than “average” or unattractive peers, the study further notes.  More than 7 in 10 hiring managers say beauty is an asset to women in the workforce, compared to 63% of managers who believe attractiveness enhances men’s careers.

In the 1970s, women focused on their achievements, not their looks.  The challenge now is that beauty is not even discussed in the workplace, says Dr. Vivian Diller, therapist and author of Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change.  “We need to accept that it’s a fact and talk about it openly.  Those who are clever or quick-witted are also more likely to get jobs.  Do we devalue them because they are funny?”

Much of the challenge exists today because Millennial women have always mingled beauty and the workplace, the report continues.  Not only has this generation grown up in a world that exploits women’s looks, but these practices are encouraged by “prominent” business women.  In a career guidance article in Cosmopolitan magazine, Ivanka Trump urges women to “emit sex appeal on the job,” and “evoke sensuality by talking about ‘passion’ for a project.”

The downside to this practice is that beauty fades with age, and if a woman believes her looks define her, this can become a challenge to her success  in the workplace.  In fact, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that among all age groups, women ages 18 to 24 are the most likely to consider plastic surgery for themselves.  Women under age 34 account for 20% of all Botox procedures and chemical peels, neither of which is covered by insurance.

And unfortunately, appearance is not federally protected, so a plaintiff seeking legal assistance must sue under a protected characteristic such as race, sex, or religion.  Even if the case gets to court, plaintiffs are likely to lose, notes University of Texas sociologist Samantha Kwan, citing her analysis of more than 200 federal cases.  Why?  Because employers can make a case for “occupational qualification,” meaning that consumer demand (for attractive sales persons, etc.) necessitates the choice of more attractive workers in an endeavor for a more profitable business.

What’s the recommendation?  More often than not, it’s the wisdom we gain with age, and the knowledge that there are other qualities we have that require attention.  Even as women we need higher self-esteem.

To learn more about how the quest for beauty has created challenges for girls and women of all ages, plan to join us as we host a screening of MISS REPRESENTATION, a 90-minute documentary exploring how the media has failed to present images of women in power and leadership positions.  The film explores how the media message is that a woman’s value is in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, not her leadership capacity.

Chrysalis is co-hosting the film presentation on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 pm at the Bulldog Theater on the Drake University campus.

(We will be showing the film to Chrysalis After-School participants at 4 pm in the same location.)  We’ve invited Drake University Sociology Professor Laurie Linhart to facilitate a brief discussion following the film, to explore how we can gain a new perspective,

and take action, to mitigate the overpowering messages of our media.

There is no charge, so please invite your friends and family.  We’ll be happy to see you.

To learn more about MISS REPRESENTATION and to watch a preview:  http://vimeo.com/18985647

Human Trafficking the Focus at First Chrysalis Roundtable Event

3/30/12: This morning, Chrysalis held its first Community Roundtable from 7:30-9 am, on the topic of human trafficking.  We were happy to have 34 attendees who heard an informal presentation from Lieutenant Joe Gonzalez of the Des Moines Police Department, and Vivian Van Vleet of the US District Attorney’s Office.

In addition to sharing information on the situation in Iowa and state resources, they provided us comprehensive information on the definition, identification, and investigation of trafficking.  We learned about the various types of trafficking, and how complex and deep the networks can be.

Under United States law, once a person has been held in servitude, a person’s status as a trafficking victim supersedes all other smuggling or immigration questions and affords them legal protections and social services.

Here are characteristics of trafficking:

1.        Is not voluntary; one cannot consent to being trafficked or enslaved

2.       Entails forced exploitation of a person for labor or services

3.       Need not entail the physical movement of a person

4.      Can occur domestically, where citizens are held captive in their own country

5.       Is a crime against the right of each person to be free from involuntary servitude

There is a difference between trafficking and smuggling – smuggling is always international in nature, ends after the border crossing, and typically involves a fee.  Smuggling is a crime against a nation’s sovereignty.

I’ve attached the handout Chrysalis prepared for today’s event, which includes information on various types of trafficking.  Although I thought I understood the motives and types of trafficking, I learned about another type today that is occurring in rural Iowa.  Widowers – traveling to Mexico to meet and bring a young woman back to Iowa “to marry.”  Once they are here, the man does not marry (so the woman does not gain legal status through marriage) and uses the woman for sex and domestic services.  Many women are isolated by their captor, who keeps them without access to phone or internet.

A psychologist from one of our grantee partners, Youth Emergency Shelter and Services (YESS), reported that the shelter regularly sees young women who have run away from a trafficking situation (often as young as 11 or 12 years old) and have been prostituted.  The psychologist noted that although the girl may want to leave the captive situation, she is often bonded to her captor either by love, pregnancy, or threats of violence.

A major piece of our work at Chrysalis is to keep our community informed about what is happening with girls and women here in Central Iowa, and to educate others on how to recognize, respond, and report on traumas such as trafficking.  It’s about engaging our community in the being an important part of the solution.

GUEST OPINION: In complex times, persevere

From the Des Moines Business Record:

 

3/16/2012 7:00:00 AM
GUEST OPINION: In complex times, persevere

Jann Freed

By Jann Freed



“If a company is only as good as its people, companies today have much to worry about,” says Margaret “Meg” Wheatley, an internationally acclaimed writer, teacher and speaker.

As an author of several leadership books, Wheatley was one of the pioneers of “systems thinking,” viewing organizations as organic and living systems, as explained in her book “Leadership and the New Science.” In her work with organizations, communities and nations, she has encountered caring, intelligent and well-intentioned people who are finding it challenging to do what they know is best.

“We are being asked to work faster, more competitively, more selfishly, and to focus only on the short term,” Wheatley said. “These values cannot lead to anything healthy and sustainable, and they are alarmingly destructive. I believe we must learn quickly now how to work and live together in ways that bring us back to life.”

If what I have shared interests you, take advantage of the opportunity to attend Wheatley’s presentation at the State Historical Building on April 18, sponsored by the Chrysalis Foundation.

Wheatley’s conclusion that “companies have much to worry about” is based on her extensive work in large-systems change – helping organizations become more committed and productive, and with the full engagement of people at all levels.

She has witnessed how pressures on leaders have increased dramatically. Leaders no longer have time or flexibility. They feel caged and exhausted. The demand for quick results and pressure from boards of directors have left them no time for development or learning. Leaders have told her: “Forget about values, learning or participation. We just need to execute.”

Based on Wheatley’s consulting work, she concludes that leaders need to be fearless in order to tackle the complexities in today’s world. This emphasis on becoming fearless led her to write about the significance of perseverance for people at all levels so that we can each contribute to making things better for the people, places and issues about which we care the most.

Perseverance is the capacity to keep going long after the passion for our work has dissipated. It is a continuous choice not to give up, no matter how difficult the circumstances. It is a choice we make to be aware, to be awake, to take in all of the information needed to do our best work. Wheatley calls perseverance a “life-saving skill for this time.”

Drawing on wisdom, Wheatley will explain how to confront the dominant energies of our time – aggression, anxiety and fear – in a way that allows us to do good work, serve others and care for ourselves, even when exhausted and overwhelmed. Wheatley said she has repeatedly observed that in the midst of the greatest tragedies, when people are working together and feel their connectedness is when they discover true joy.

Her work complements the efforts being made in our community to practice civility at a time when so many issues are being polarized, often preventing people from working together effectively.

Jann Freed is a leadership development and change management consultant at The Genysys Group.



Read more: http://www.businessrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=276&ArticleID=16856&TM=35590.66#ixzz1pfmNOISt

Empowerment: to combat Violence Against Women

In celebrating women this month (Women’s History Month) and International Women’s Day, you might find the work of photographer Gillian Laub inspirational.  Her exhibition benefiting the Man Up Campaign opened yesterday in Manhattan to commemorate women.

Man Up is an initiative to motivate young people to prevent violence against women.  Founded by journalist Jimmie Briggs, the campaign flowed from his “burnout” in writing about such issues, and his desire to do more.  The campaign was launched in 2009 at the Clinton Global Initiative, and challenges everyone to “man up” and declare that violence against girls and women must end.  It intends to give youth a role in developing activities and events that truly dig into this issue.

The photography exhibit intentionally includes only photos that depict the photographers’ visions of empowerment.  There is no violence, war, blood, or weapons.  It celebrates the notion of empowerment in every image.

See what you think as you view the photographs:  http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/empowerment-through-a-lens/?ref=women

I believe the photos demonstrate the Chrysalis vision of empowerment, which is one of our key priorities for girls and women.  We work to put girls and women in control of their own future, which is the most empowering gift of all.

March is Women's History Month

As you may know, March is Women’s History Month, and March 8 is International Women's Day!  Here’s a bit of history on how this day came to be…

1908:  15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909:  In conjunction with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28.

1910:  At the 2^nd International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, a woman named a Clara Zetkin proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day – to raise awareness and create change.

The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, unanimously approved the establishment of International Women's Day.

1911:  International Women's Day was recognized for the first time across the European continent, and more than one million women and men attended rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office, and to end discrimination.

Less than a week after this rally, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants, drawing significant attention to working conditions and labor legislation in the United States.

1913:  On the eve of World War I and campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913.  Also that year, International Women's Day was moved to March 8.

1975:  This year was designated as “International Women's Year” by the United Nations.

2010:  IWD is now an official holiday across the world, with a tradition of recognizing and honoring women.  In some countries, the day has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

Take a moment to celebrate the work of Chrysalis on International Women’s Day, and enjoy watching this wonderful history of how innovation by women have affected women in the workplace.  The video was created by Kronos, the company that created time clocks for the workplace:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eaf_X9qSeVY