Does Barbie make me look fat?

I have been doing research within my graduate program, Human Developmental Counseling. I am looking into media’s impact on women’s body image and to tell you the truth the literature is disturbing! Article after article describing studies and results that show that after viewing media — magazines, TV, movies, advertisments, etc. — women’s self-esteem and body image actually decrease.

Why? Unrealistic thin ideals…everywhere in the media! Pick up a magazine. Do you see a woman with a pant size bigger than 2? No…unless its a “plus size” model, which actually means she is probably a size 10. What is plus about that!? Our culture is so heavily influenced by the media. “We” value appearance and thinness over character and integrity. “Happiness” is being thin and pretty. It is so harmful to girls, teens, and women on so many levels.

Let me share a little of my personal life with you. I am an attractive, normal weight, relatively fit and confident woman. However, I have battled over the years buying into what media tells me. I’ve struggled with self-esteem and body image issues, deep down inside, even though intellectually and logically I knew it wasn’t true. And I came from a good, whole, healthy home with a wonderful Dad! Media is powerful. I think it impacts all kinds of women you wouldn’t suspect. Body image has very little to do with body size and how attractive you are; it is very much a psychological thing.

Media is such a liar. Women are sooo much more than their appearance. Women are women– unique, beautiful, individuals. If all these articles tell us what is going on, what a negative impact media is having, why aren’t changes happening? Why not use a size 8 for a non-plus-size ad?

So…women out there that are reading… would you be willing to comment? How has our culture and media impacted you? Do you have a story to tell?

-posted by Anna Oparah

Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?

With postmodernism and relativism leaking its way into politics, school systems, and so on…Truth is becoming more and more important to search for. It used to be common to study for Truth–however, now it is almost laughed at. Everyone just needs to find “what is ‘right’ for them”. “There is no truth.” That is what they say. But, to be honest–that statement is structured in such a way to imply that it is true that there is no truth–it defeats its own argument.

When did people stop thinking critically? When did it become the norm to be so lazy in thought, that when someone who is more “qualified” than you speaks, then you just eat it up as if it’s fact- without learning where they got their information from. I wish more people looked deeper into things. It’s almost as if people are afraid to search for Truth, or references, to back up their beliefs- afraid they won’t find them?

I don’t have much of a point I want to make, just striking up conversation. Anyone relate to what I’m thinking about? Anyone dislike what I wrote? Give me some feedback, if you’d like to.

-Anna Oparah

Educating the gifted: what is fair?

Intense. Sensitive. Perfectionist. Asynchronous. Highly verbal. Keenly intuitive. Anxious.

Parents, teachers, counselors and psychologists often use these words to describe uniquely gifted children and the way they experience the world. This weekend, eight individuals from around middle-Tennessee had the opportunity to explore the concept of childhood giftedness in greater depth.

Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth hosted a two-day facilitator’s training workshop for individuals interested in leading guided discussion groups for parents of gifted children. Doreen Wooley and Arlene DeVries of Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG) led the training.

Our group included a social worker, a marriage and family therapist, educational researchers, school counselors, and educational consultants. I was one of the youngest participants, and one of only two who don’t actually have children. I was the only teacher present.

I gained a variety of insights from the weekend — about myself, my own educational experience, the needs of the children I will serve and the concerns of their parents. But more than all of that, our discussions put me in a conundrum about how we can equitably serve students in public schools across divisions of ability, socioeconomic status and regional resources. (I’ve also been listening to Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation during my commute, so that has complicated the question even further.) We looked at the bell curve displaying below-, above- and average IQ’s. If our student populations are a fair representation of the general public, our schools must meet the needs of both the lower 2.2 % and the upper 2.2 % of the spectrum. But how?

And how do other issues like socioeconomic status and opportunities for gifted children outside the classroom impact our role as educators? It’s a bit of a sticky wicket. Giftedness isn’t just a word we use to make certain children seem more important or smarter than others; the particular needs of gifted children are real, and gifted children are found across socioeconomic lines even when schools do not identify them. Gifted children can often jump swiftly through academic hoops or bear remarkable adversity with seeming ease. But anxiety, perfectionism, stress and adultification of children while they are still in youth or adolescence all pose challenges to these students’ emotional and mental well-being.

In spite of this, much of our instructional time must be directed toward improving the academic achievement of lower-performing students to meet state and federal demands. I wonder if giftedness has become a dirty word because teachers simply can’t address the needs of gifted children.

So how do we — educators, policymakers, social workers, therapists and counselors — find equitable paths, in practice and policy, for helping all children reach their potential, particularly as it relates to the issue of giftedness?

– Rachel B.

Remembering Martin Luther King

Yesterday afternoon the Peabody community celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This annual event never fails to move me with its evocation of the struggles of prior generations to achieve justice and equality. It also reminds me of how far we still have to go as a society.

Peabody’s commemoration has two components; the first is the presentation of our annual Changing Lives award. The award is given to a member of the local community “whose work uses an understanding of psychological and educational processes to promote positive human change.” This year’s recipient was Elaine Brown, the outreach and admissions director of the Tennessee School for the Blind. As it happens, Elaine has three degrees from Peabody–all earned in the early 70s. In accepting the award, Elaine spoke movingly about her childhood in Baton Rouge, La., of the segregation that prevailed at the time, and of the challenges she faced and overcame–ultimately studying here and then going on to a career of service to children who are blind, deaf, or struggling with other disabilities.

The keynote address was given by the Reverend James Lawson, Vanderbilt’s 2006-2007 Distinguished University Professor. Lawson’s civil rights journey shares much of the history associated with Dr. King. In fact, it was King who asked Lawson to come to the South to coordinate the nonviolent actions that led to the integration of Nashville’s lunch counters. While here, he enrolled at the Vanderbilt Divinity School, an event that precipitated a crisis in the university’s governance and that ultimately signalled the opening of Vanderbilt to students of all races.

Lawson recalled these events and many others in his storied career yesterday, to the fascination of a class of sixth graders from KIPP Academy Nashville who were in the audience. (The News Service has posted a podcast of his remarks here.) But he took care to point out the many injustices that continue to plague our society. He condemned the war in Iraq, the imprisonment of a large percentage of the black male population of our country, economic inequality, and the tide of violence that has continued to rise in the decades since the civil rights movement.

Most appealing was that for Lawson, justice, fairness and goodness are not a zero-sum game. His vision of America is not only inclusive, it is expansive. As he said, “If what you wish for yourself you are not willing for everyone of the 300 million people of this country also to have, then what you wish for yourself is a contradiction to what you think you want out of life.”

Yesterday, two powerful voices reminded us of how dangerously constricted our vision can sometimes be. King’s “beloved community” was not just his own ideal; it remains an ideal for all of us to aspire to and work toward together–as a nation and beyond.

–Kurt Brobeck

When Red Bull isn’t enough

Scientist Develops Caffeinated Doughnuts. Sounds like it would go really well with a Vandy girl latte* from Iris Café for late night thesis writing.
____________
*vandy girl latte – non-fat, sugar free vanilla latte. For graduate-vandy girl latte add an extra shot of espresso.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes….

For the first time in 36 years, Tennessee has a new Lt. Governor. As a former staffer in the state legislature, I was naturally glued to the Senate’s webcast the afternoon of the event. Not only does it mean a new hand on the gavel – that of 15-year legislative veteran Ron Ramsey – but it also ushers in a new party leadership that has not held control since Reconstruction.

Naturally, this change will produce resounding effects throughout state government: A Democrat parted ways with her fellow Ds on a pivotal vote. The state’s Governor is a Democrat and his Lt. Governor is a Republican. Republicans in the Senate control the important committees for the first time since any of them can remember. The House Speaker remains, yet each side of the aisle’s new leaders is uniquely different from his predecessor.

So how does a party that hasn’t had the opportunity — institutionally, at least — lead after not being in this position for nearly 150 years? Will that new leadership be able to override the significant number of remianing members of the legislative body? I am sure those of you taking organizational leadership courses could chime in with speculation…

In the meantime, stay tuned. (Literally.) The House begins on January 29^th and the Senate on February 5^th.

~Kristen Hayner

P-16 is not a Star Wars character

Inside Higher Ed is racking up the comments with today’s front page article, “Higher Ed and the High Schools.” Higher ed and K-12 leaders are asking, “Whose responsibility is it to prepare students for college or the workforce?” and “How do we create opportunities for dialogue between the K-12 and higher education sectors?”

Similar conversations are happening in Payne Hall with the Peabody College Educational Policy lecture series and Prof. Will Doyle’s “Admissions, Financial Aid and Access to Higher Education” course. Last semester Michael Kirst, professor emeritus of education and business administration at Stanford University, stopped in to answer the question, “What is P-16?” Check out his blog, The College Puzzle, and let us know when you find the missing piece.

What is it like being a newlywed in graduate school?

Well, I don’t know if I have a good answer to this question just yet. I’ve only been married since Dec. 23, 2006. I’ve only been back to school and work for 1 1/2 weeks. So far, so good. I can tell you one thing- it is A LOT harder to get motivated to go to class and to work! Luckily, my husband is very supportive and sometimes has to push me out the door so that I can finish this last semester of my graduate work.

Many peers and professors within the HDC program have been asking me- “so is it harder now? more stress trying to transition into being married?” the answer? NO. It has been a wonderful transition. My husband is my best friend. He is for me and behind me. I feel like I can tackle the world! I think my professional performance will increase due to my marriage.

What’s the best part of being married, you ask? I would have to say doing life together- he doesn’t have to leave my apartment to go home at night anymore, we spend much more time together now, we are completely committed to eachother for life now- so I know no matter what – good or bad- we are with eachother. No more hiding. I know his stuff, he knows my stuff- and we love eachother MORE because of it. True intimacy.

For those of you that are married… what has been your favorite part of your marriage?

-posted by Anna Oparah