Becoming Señoritas: Teen Self-Care and Self-Love, Workshop
The teen years are often the most challenging. You are not a kid anymore, but you are not quite an adult either. As your body changes, sometimes you compare your self to other teen girls. If you are developing faster, you feel too conscious of your body. If you are not developing as fast as others, you feel left out. You are not alone; actually, most teen girls think this way. In this workshop, we will help you understand the physical changes your body is going through, and give you the tools to care for your body and nurture a healthy self-image.
Audience: Teen girls (11-13 years old) and their female caregivers
Body Shaming: Understanding why teen girls engage in it, Workshop
Body shaming is the act of criticizing another person’s physical appearance. Did you know that according to a national study, 94% of teen girls have been body shamed? It is hurtful, and it makes a teen girl feel sad, depressed, and ashamed of her body. In this workshop, you will learn why some teen girls body shame others, and what roles social media and popular culture have to do in spreading these negative attitudes. We will give you the tools to understand what is going on and how not to let negative opinions keep your light from shining bright.
Audience: Teen girls (12-15 years old) and their female caregivers
Silence in the name of god: Translating cultural expectations into opportunities, seminar
Catholicism has many life-giving aspects. However, some beliefs that are passed from generation to generation, limit a woman's potential to live a healthy life. At a very young age, Catholic Latinas are taught that a good girl does not ask questions about sex or sexuality. Consequently, when these girls grow and become mothers all too often, they feel uncomfortable to talk to their teen daughters about the menstrual cycle and sexuality. In this seminar, you will learn about the cultural and religious roots of why women feel ashamed to talk about their bodies and sexuality. You will also learn why it is central to our spiritual, emotional, and physical health to have a positive and open attitude toward our sexuality.
Audience: Women 18 and older
El Aguante: Latinas and Mental Health, seminar
Most Latinas are familiar with the popular phrase, calladita te vez mas bonita (you look prettier when silent). We are taught to endure painful situations for the sake of el que diran (what would people say?). Those that obey are sanctified as buenas mujeres (good women) and those that challenge such expectations are labeled as malas (bad women). In this seminar, you will learn the cultural and religious roots of el aguante (endurance at all cost) that is so death-bearing for Latinas. Looking at the future, you will learn to foresee the consequences of el aguante, so that you can reflect on your present reality and make healthy life choices.
Audience: Women 18 and older