Service Sparks: Beauty Campaign
SERVICE SPARKS
Ignite meaningful action that lights up the world through "Service Sparks" youth projects!
From advertising and media, we have internalized ideas about who and what is beautiful, whether we know it or not. This has impacted self-image and mental health of many people. By examining the beautiful things we truly admire in ourselves, in others, and in our communities, we can be more loving and inclusive of diverse ways to be beautiful. This "service sparks" project invites conversation about what we value as beauty. Together, participants collect statements and share them in a call to action. With awareness, we can change the culture of beauty.
Watch this video with girls talking about body image. Listen for the messages that tell people they are not okay, as well as the words the girls say to show they are confident in their beauty.
Alternative videos:
- This video illustrates people realizing they don't see themselves as beautiful.
- The video "Run Like a Girl" challenges us to think about the destructive power of words that make "being a girl" sound like an insult.
Discuss the meaning of beauty.
- What do you think helps people see beauty in themselves? (For example, they may hear kind words from others, they like their own uniqueness, they realize that society's ideals are not realistic or important.)
- Do you think there is beauty in every single person if you get to know them or look for it?
- What is beauty and what are examples? Who decides what is beautiful? When is beauty not just about appearance?
- Brainstorm beauty descriptors related to appearance (skin color, shape), body function (muscles, energy), talents (dancer, reader), or character (generous, listener, hard worker).
- This quote from Regina Spektor illustrates the beauty of our complex body systems that heal and take care of us.
I got a perfect body
But sometimes I forget
I got a perfect body
Cause my eyelashes catch my sweat
Activity:
- Write five things that are beautiful about yourself, which can be related to appearance, body function, talents, or character.
- Ask 10 different people to complete this sentence: "I am beautiful because ..."
- Read all of their responses and discuss how these statements could influence how people think and talk about beauty. Could reading these cause people to value themselves and improve mental health? Could it cause people to speak more respectfully about others?
- Make a plan to compile the responses as text accompanied by images, video, and/music.
- Share the statements with a call to action that speaks about how we can do better if we use respectful words and have healthy expectations about beauty.
Literacy Connections:
Read and discuss the book Eyes that Kiss in the Corner by Joanna Ho with this literature guide. Through poetic words and beautiful illustrations, a young Asian girl celebrates what makes her unique. This book is a gentle story about self-love and the power of family in shaping our identity. Reading this story together provides an opportunity to listen generously and celebrate each person's unique beauty and gifts.
Read and discuss the book Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love with this literature guide. This book brings awareness to the power of love and the beauty of people expressing themselves as they are. This book supports loving discussions related to LGBTQ identity.
More Resources
- Other books to explore beauty: Skin Like Mine by Latashia Perry, Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, Latina Looks Like Me by Rukia K and Different: A Great Thing to Be by Heather Avis.
- This Service Sparks project facilitates effective Advocacy Posters to make powerful statements to change attitudes.
Explore more Service Sparks projects:
Learning to Give ...
- educates youth about philanthropy, the civil society sector, and the importance of giving their time, talent and treasure for the common good (knowledge),
- equips youth by encouraging philanthropic behavior and experience (skills), and,
- empowers youth to take voluntary citizen action for the common good in their classrooms, lives and communities (behavior).