Weekly Service Learning Log #2

1. This week was another meeting for just the big sisters in YWLP. The meeting was opened with a few more reminders of key rules for interacting with the little sisters and the usual stating of each sister’s “highs and lows” of the week. The main focus was a discussion of body image, which will be the theme of the little sister meeting after next. The big sisters were each given an ad from a magazine featuring a female model and then told to discuss what we did and did not like about the ad. Afterward, we all sat in a circle on the floor and took turns naming our favorite parts of our bodies. Like most YWLP activities that we go on to do with little sisters, it was both fun and informative, and I could easily tell how such a lesson would make a lasting impact on the younger girls.

2. Honestly, I had a difficult time connecting this week’s activism to our readings. I can see, though, how body image and self-confidence can have influence over a woman’s standing in the workplace. Women who do not hold themselves in high regards tend to allow themselves to fade into the background, both personally and professionally. Viewing their bodies as unattractive may keep them from wanting to draw attention to themselves, maybe even especially so if their workplace is male dominated.

The diversity among the group members reminded me of our class discussion about the Veronica Chambers article and the importance behind women of color focusing more on their own well-being than working themselves to death to essentially support their community. Obviously, I don’t know all of the details of these members’ personal lives, but over the weeks, and during this exercise in particular, it has been easy to see that this is a group of women who are dedicated to carving out their own path in life and doing it on their own terms.

3. This week felt really important from a feminist perspective. A big chunk of feminism, in my opinion, is having a supportive group of people with whom one feels safe to be his or her self around. The exercise we did this week was one that was obviously more difficult for some than others, but the outpouring of encouragement and positivity made it possible for everyone to complete it. I found it inspirational.

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