"To lose confidence in one's body is to lose confidence in oneself."

"To lose confidence in one 's body is to lose confidence in oneself."

- Simone De Beauvoir

Self-image is inextricably linked to body image, especially for young females. In her book, Reviving Ophelia - Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, Pipher (1994) describes and explains the convoluted issues that girls battle during adolescence, including the ability to conform to a media-driven ideal of beauty. In response to Pipher (1994), Shandler (1999) collected writing from girls who deal with issues identified in her book, Ophelia Speaks - Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self. The submissions are not easy to read. The first section, The Body Under Assault, gives voice to girls ' extremely negative body images. Also described are the self-abusive ways girls often deal with these negative feelings, from anorexia to self-inflicted wounds to alcohol abuse. Shandler (1999) discusses some causes of negative body image, such as rape, sexual abuse, and media images. What is clear from both books is that girls are likely to internalize the various pressures of adolescence, which can lead to a decreased sense of self and a negative body image. The negative view of self is evident in the following submission by Jessica, 17, who lives in a small town in the Northeast:

CATALOGUES

Searching through catalogues

You wish you could order

The bodies not the clothes. (Shandler, 1999, p.5)

The aim of this independent inquiry is to investigate the following questions:

What is the connection between body image, self-esteem, and eating disorders, particularly with girls?

As a teacher, how can I promote healthy body image and self-esteem at the elementary level, and prevent eating disorders?

What techniques and activities can be used to promote healthy body image and self-esteem?

Abundant research supports the existence of strong links between body image, self-esteem and eating disorders. The Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Inc. organization (1999)

References: American Association of University Women (AAUW). "Hostile hallways". In Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia - Saving the selves of adolescent girls, pp.69-70. New York: Ballantine Books. American Association of University Women (AAUW). (1992). How schools shortchange girls. In Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia - Saving the selves of adolescent girls, p. 62. New York: Ballantine Books. Battle, J. (1981). Culture-free self-esteem inventories for children and adults. In Edwards, P. (1990). A Capella: Self- esteem and adolescent women. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Teachers ' Federation. Body Shop, The. (1997). Advertisement in Self Magazine. September. Available: http://www.about-face.org/light/progress/gallery/image1.html [2000, Sept. 11]. Burger, C., & Sandy, M. (1998). A guide to gender fair education in science and mathematics. Virginia: Eisenhower Regional Consortium for Mathematics and Science Education. Calgary Regional Health Authority. (2000a). What Physical Health Educators and Coaches Can Do to Promote Positive Body Image and Prevent Eating Disorders in Their Athletes. Calgary, AB. Calgary Regional Health Authority. (2000b). A Philosophy for the Prevention of Eating Disorders in Youth: A Handout for Professionals. Calgary, AB. Crook, Marion. (1992). Looking good - Teenagers and eating disorders. Toronto: NC Press Ltd. Davis, B. (1999). What 's real, what 's ideal: Overcoming a negative body image. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Difranco, Ani (Vocalist). (1993). Puddle Dive. [Cassette Recording]. Buffalo, N.Y.: Righteous Babe Records. Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention, Inc. (1999). Body Image handout. Seattle, WA. Emmerson, M.L. (1994). Names will always hurt you! FWTAO Newsletter, Nov/Dec., 34. Friedman, S.S. (1997). When girls feel fat: Helping girls through adolescence. Toronto, ON: HarperCollins Publishing. Glenn, H.S., & Nelson, J. (1989). Raising self-reliant children in a self-indulgent world. New York: St. Martin 's Press, as cited in O 'Brien, S.1989. How Can I Help my Preadolescent? Childhood Education. Fall. p35-36. Glennon,W. (1999). 200 ways to raise a girl 's self-esteem. Berkeley, CA: Conari Press. Health Canada. (1994). Positive self image and body image: A crucial link. CAHPERD Journal, Vol 60 (3), 29-33. Health Canada. (1996). Body-Image, Health and well-being - The social dynamics. CAHPERD Journal, Vol 62 (1), 26-27. Health Canada. (1997, Spring). Healthy eating and self-esteem: The body image connection. CAPHERD Journal, Vol 63 (1),27-29. Ikeda, J., & Naworski, P. (1992). Am I fat? Helping young children accept differences in body size. Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates. Merriam-Webster. (1981). Webster 's New Collegiate Dictionary. Toronto, ON: Thomas Allen & Son Limited. National Eating Disorders Information Centre. (2000, April). Health and Welfare Canada. Personal communication, via e-mail ([e-mail]). Nichols, P. (1996). Lessons on lookism. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 5 (2), 118-122. O 'Brien, S. (1989). How can I help my preadolescent? Childhood Education, Vol 66 (1), 35-36. Orenstein, P. (1994). Schoolgirls: Young women, self-esteem, and the confidence gap. New York: Doubleday. Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia - Saving the selves of adolescent girls. New York: Ballantine Books. Russell, V., & Rice, C. (1997). From body image to body equity. ORBIT, 28 (1), pp.21-23. Seeman, N. (2000, February 22). Education system failing boys: experts. The National Post. p. A1. Shandler, S. (1999). Ophelia speaks - Adolescent girls write about their search for self. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. Steinem, G. (1992). The Revolution Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. Toronto, ON: Little, Brown and Company. Source: Reproduced from Ikeda J. & Naworski, P. (1992). Am I Fat? Helping Young Children Accept Differences in Body Size. Santa Cruz, CA: ETR Associates.