New Press on Girls and Image

I try to keep track of news on youth in the media, and maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed recently a bit more press on girls and image-related issues than usual.  Over the past couple of years we’ve written some articles on girls that sparked a lot of conversation here, here, and here.  Below are some recent links to online articles on girls (and guys) having more cosmetic surgery, hiring image consultants, and of course struggling to be supergirls.

The Washington Post, “The Minor Makeover: Girls just want to have fun? Hardly. Image consulting for teens is serious business.”

USA Today, “Cosmetic Surgeries: What children will do to look ‘normal’”

New York Times, “Seeking Self-Esteem Through Surgery”

Contra Costa Times, “Supergirl Epidemic: Teenage girls sinking under pressure to be perfect”

By the way, Kara Powell and I had the opportunity to co-write a chapter based on our girls’ research for Mark Oestreicher & Scott Rubin’s upcoming book Middle School Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Early Adolescents.  The book is scheduled for an August release, and is packed with helpful insights for anyone working with middle school girls and guys.

©2009 Fuller Youth Institute