We are in the midst of rebuilding our site after being hacked and our information destroyed. We will have all of our information re-posted and updated soon. ABOUT THE POSITIVE IMAGE NETWORK The Positive Image Network is a 501 (c)(3) (Tax ID # 11-3821132) non-profit organization with the mission to provide resources and information that will support parents, caregivers, teachers, mentors, etc., in nurturing the personal development of girls and young women in helping them to Though we emphasize girls and young women, the goal is for much of the information to benefit women of all ages. Most of us women at some time or another need a self-esteem boost and need to know we are lovable and capable. We need to continually cultivate our own self-image in a positive way, and we are ever evolving in discovering and developing talents we may not have known were in us. Continual growth is vital to leading purposeful, fulfilling lives. In addition to this site providing ways to help nurture girls, we are building a regional– and then national–directory of workshops, activities, community and private programs, events, groups, products, services, etc, that parents and caregivers can check into and utilize for their own and their girl’s personal growth and benefit. Please advise of programs you are familiar with and would recommend. Why do we focus on on the female gender? Being female in today’s Western society comes with challenges to the personal self as girls in our media-saturated culture are bombarded with negative images and stereotypes through television, advertising, magazines and music. Studies have shown that the onslaught of these messages– which glorify such things as body obsession, sex, and violence against women– undermine personal self-worth and esteem to the point where most girls suffer diminished self- esteem somewhere in that transition from childhood to teen-age, while boys do not. Studies further show that this undermining of the personal self-image is a major contributing factor in the current rise of eating disorders, self-destructive behaviors, and risky sexual activity in adolescent girls. Yes, the culture we speak of has a strong pull, but we can help girls resist. Though work needs to be done to make changes to the way things are, we can all do our part to “light a candle instead of cursing the darkness.” What will you find here …and more to come!
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