UM women to celebrate diverse beauty

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ORONO – Workshops, discussions, music, a cake-eating contest and a keynote address by the award-winning author and documentary filmmaker Jean Kilbourne will be among the highlights of the Beautiful Project, a daylong celebration of diverse interpretations of women’s beauty Saturday, April 20, at the University of Maine.

The sixth annual event is set for 9 a.m.-midnight in the atrium and various classrooms in the Donald P. Corbett Business Building. The Student Women’s Association, a student-run feminist organization on campus, is sponsoring the event.

All activities are free, open to the public and accessible to the handicapped. Child care will be provided from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“The Beautiful Project is about redefining beauty and letting women and men say what’s beautiful, instead of society, advertisements and commercials telling us what’s beautiful,” said Bree Blalock, a sophomore women’s studies major from Boca Raton, Fla., and a co-chairwoman of the Beautiful Project.

“It moves beyond the Barbie doll image and explores other forms of beauty.”

Kilbourne will deliver the keynote address at 10 a.m.

She is best known for her documentaries “Killing Us Softly,” which critiques advertising’s image of women, and “Slim Hopes” and “Pack of Lies,” which critique alcohol and tobacco advertising.

She is author of the book “Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising,” published in paperback as “Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel.”

She has twice been named lecturer of the year by the National Association of Campus Activities.

Kilbourne is currently a visiting scholar at Wellesley College. She also has served on the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and has been an adviser to two surgeons general.

“It’s difficult in our culture to overcome what we see in ads and to learn to see ourselves as beautiful just the way we are,” said Misty Wood, a senior political science major from Woolwich and a co-chairwoman of the Beautiful Project.

“It’s empowering to redefine the definition of beauty to something healthy and realistic.”

Other activities will include workshops and discussions on topics such as self-defense, aging, the objectification of women, midwifery, herbal health and women in film. UMaine students or faculty will lead most workshops.

On-going activities will include feminist T-shirt making, a power doll display, feminist button making, an undergarment museum, a Beautiful Wall display of the different interpretations of women’s beauty and reiki with Carrie Johnson.

At 6 p.m., the band Schwervon will perform, followed by Pollynoses at 8:30 p.m. From 10 p.m. to midnight, DJ Anna Sysko will provide music.

“Education is one of the most important methods to help women struggling with their body image. At the Beautiful Project, women and girls will see others there who feel the same way, and who are struggling with the same issues. It helps to form a bond,” said Wood.

The first Beautiful Project was organized by the Student Women’s Association’s Willow Weatherall. A committee of 10 women organized this year’s events.

The schedule of activities is:

9-10 a.m. “Objectification of Women,” Jeanne Dorland.

“Women and Sexual Assault,” The Safe Campus Project.

“Women in Film,” Misty Wood, Bree Blalock and Liz Schwarz.

10-11:30 a.m. Keynote address: Jean Kilbourne.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch.

12:30-1 p.m. Cake-eating contest, both vegan and regular cake available.

1-2 p.m. “Women and Aging,” Dr. Peg Cruikshank.

Midwifery workshop, Linda Robinson.

“Personal Safety and Self Defense,” Shelly Oullette.

2-3 p.m. “Raising Feminists,” Kristin Powell.

“Personal Safety and Self-Defense,” Shelly Oullette.

Goddess workshop, Sandra Stanton.

3-4 p.m. Partner massage, Amy Ashworth.

“Writing to Release,” Emily Burnham and Kim Miller.

Belly-dancing workshop.

Arm and thumb wrestling competition.

4-5 p.m. “Ecofeminism!” Dr. Sandra Haggard.

“Women and Herbal Health,” Rani Lynn of the Silo 7 Bookstore.

Partner massage, Amy Ashworth.