About
The Body Positive Guide For Girls
AU$ 27,878
906
Learning to Love Your Body is an empowering guide for girls to support the development of positive body image. In this book, girls are encouraged to view their body as an incredible instrument that allows them to do, see and feel. The concept of self-love is introduced and practical self-care tips are included to build resilience and emotional intelligence.
This book was written for every girl, regardless of whether or not they are exhibiting signs of negative body image. We are living in an incredibly visual world and unfortunately it’s becoming increasingly hard for girls to escape internalising the pressure of perfection. Prevention is key: Every girl deserves to be taught about self-love and self-acceptance.
Learning to Love Your Body encourages girls to do more and see more through empowering illustrations that show girls exploring, creating and embracing who they are.
The powerful illustrations by Carol Rossetti show truly diverse characters celebrating their different bodies. So-called ‘imperfections’ (such as stretch marks, pimples and cellulite) are shown in order to normalise characteristics which, though completely natural, are not usually portrayed in children’s books or popular media.
“Negative body image, in my opinion, is one of the greatest barriers preventing women and girls from fully engaging in life and reaching their full potential. Since discovering body positivity, I have regularly thought about what a difference it would have made if I had been exposed to these important concepts of self-love, self-care and self-acceptance as a young girl. I see Learning to Love Your Body as an exciting opportunity to deliver a valuable resource to empower girls.”
Jessica Sanders - Author & Founder
Body image is the perception that a person has of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings that result from that perception. Body image can have serious implications for people’s emotional and physical well-being, and is a crucial part of adolescent development. Research links body dissatisfaction with critical mental health problems, including eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
Children, Teens, Media, and Body Image Report. Common Sense Media 2015
Body positivity is accepting, respecting and loving your body as it is.
In a recent study, 50% of five-year-old girls showed signs of aspiring to the ‘thin ideal’. It’s most common for girls to develop eating disorders between the ages of eight and 13, when their bodies are growing and changing during adolescence. Learning to Love Your Body was designed to prepare girls for these external changes before they happen and to reassure them during the process.
Learning to Love Your Body has been written so that children younger than eight should be able to navigate the book if assisted by a parent or teacher. Each of the characters in the book are shown before and after puberty. In this way a girl can see the physical changes on a range of diverse bodies and appreciate that these changes look different on everyone.
Parents should be aware of the subliminal messages reaching their children through movies, television shows and other forms media. A study of top children's movies reported that "72% associated thinness with positive character traits such as kindness, and three out of four videos equated obesity with undesirable qualities”*. Children are being sent the damaging message that thinness equals a good person and fatness a bad person. Exposure to more explicit representations of unattainable beauty will dramatically increase when a girl becomes active on social media. Girls spend on average six hours per day on social media. Girls who spend the most time on social media are five times more likely to say they feel sad or depressed almost everyday.
*Children, Teens, Media, and Body Image Report. Common Sense Media 2015
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses; they are not a lifestyle choice or a diet gone ‘too far’. Eating disorders are estimated to affect approximately 9% of the Australian population and the rate is increasing. In the United States it is estimated that almost 1.3 million adolescent girls have anorexia, a disorder that has one of the highest suicide rates of any psychiatric condition.
Research has shown that when a girl views her body as an instrument that performs important functions she is more likely to accept and appreciate her body. In a recent study, a direct correlation was found between women who appreciated the functionality of their bodies and positive experiences such as intuitive eating, self-compassion and believing in a broad conceptualisation of beauty, resulting in a higher overall life satisfaction.
In pursuing this project I have sought to be as resourceful as possible. I have loaned equipment and studios from my university, employed students to assist with the filming and editing, and designed the Kickstarter, website, and social media presence myself. In areas that I am not skilled however – such as book design and Illustration – I have had to employ professionals, for the quality of the design and illustrations is critical to the book’s message. The vast majority of the money raised in the Kickstarter campaign will go towards paying for this resource.”
'Re-shape’ is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering girls to love their body and themselves. When a girl feels more confident in her body she will be more assertive, perform better physically and academically, and she will say ‘yes’ to more opportunities. We intend to approach our goal through the use of a holistic approach. Our very first project, Learning to Love Your Body utilises the power of preventative education. The profits from this project will fund ‘re-shape’s’ future endeavours.
Australia
Support for eating disorders and body image concerns.
1800 33 4673 8am-12am AEST, 7 days a week (except national public holidays)
www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au
United States
The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA)
Helpline (800) 931-2237 Monday-Thursday from 9AM to 9PM ET, and Friday from 9AM to 5PM ET.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline
United Kingdom
Beat Eating Disorder
Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677 Studentline: 0808 801 0811 Youthline: 0808 801 0711 Every day of the year 3pm-10pm.
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/support-services/helplines/one-to-one
Canada
NEDIC
Helpline: Toll FREE 1-866-633-4220 Toronto 416-340-4156 opens Mon 9am EST
Risks and challenges
Risk is low as my parents run a publishing company called Educate2Empower, and so consequently I have access to the resources and expertise to get this book Published.
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Support
Funding period
- (28 days)