Fashion Bullies Attack -- In Middle School. Terrific article in the Wall Street Journal.
It's hard to believe that this kind of behavior exists but it absolutely does. Middle School can be such a difficult time for girls and it's getting harder and harder. The internal and external pressures build and there are new pressures all the time. Fashion is fast becoming one of the real toughies.
When working with teen and tween clients and their parents we work on one of the very necessary life skills that a girl has to learn at this age which is assertiveness in addition to a sense of self. If a girl has a sense of who she is but isn't able to withstand the pressures of her peers or the media she will quickly lose that sense of selfhood.
The article also mentions the book "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes which was written in 1944. I taught that book as part of a reading curriculum to immigrant children in a very urban area. They loved it! I think it's a great book with lots of great life lessons for children of all ages.
Tip To Try:
*If you're going shopping this weekend begin a dialogue with your daughter about fashion and fashion pressures.
*Don't expect too much information. Don't even ask for any just get the lines of communication open on this topic so that somewhere in the near future you can have a real conversation about it. If you jump right in chances are she'll jump right out.
Enjoy the weekend,
RK
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2 comments:
wow. this post hit me like a ton of bricks. I used to work in the fashion industry and transitioned to teaching. What was once important is now a joke. I find it horrifying that girls would bullie others over their clothing, but school gets harder for these kids all the time. i have to thank you for this blog, as an educator i still feel like i'm learning new things from all of your posts.
Valarie
I am by no stretch of the imagination a 'fashonista' and I worry about my little one (she's only 4) but already came home and told me her jeans weren't cool. What do I tell a 4 year old to let her know that it doesn't matter if her pants are stylish, but they are what we can afford?
Thank you
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