Staying True to Yourself
These videos were created by Isha Pema for young women to remain informed about the importance of online safety. She discusses the importance of staying true to your values online, developing digital resilience, employing critical thinking, and how to protect yourself from toxic online behavior.
Check out our other cyber safety resources here:
Thoughts on Staying Safe as a Young Woman
Competitive Dance and Hypersexualization
Written by Isha Pema
I started dancing when I was 4 years old. Unfortunately, I was forced to learn early on about the negative impacts of hypersexualized children’s dance.
I come from a South Asian background, where revealing clothing is especially frowned down upon. For this reason, I was never able to invite family members to my dance performances. While the choreography that I learned was typically not sexualized, I attended dance competitions where hundreds of other young children were dancing in inappropriate ways. I knew that inviting relatives to these competitions would give them a negative impression of all American dance styles. Although it saddened me that family members could not see me perform with my dance team, I found alternatives such as dancing by myself at family gatherings.
For other young dancers who are struggling with the hypersexualization of children’s dance, don’t be afraid to explore new studios. While many dance studios put girls on stage with sexualized choreography and revealing clothes, not every studio is the same. It is never too late to find a new team that allows you to explore your body through dance in a healthy manner.
Credits
Produced by GIRL Project in partnership with Banteay Srei. Created in Shelter in Place 2020.
GIRL Project is supported by individual donors, the California Arts Council, and our very special Fairy Godmother.
Special thanks to the creators:
Claudine Naganuma
Hamida Yusufzai
Isabelle Osorio
Isha Pema
Joyous
Ellie Kerwin
This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov. Any findings, opinions, or conclusions contained herein are not necessarily those of the California Arts Council.