Wonder Woman’ managed to set more than one record in its film debut. According to CNBC, the movie earned about $100.5 million in its opening. That is a record for a film directed by a woman. What is perhaps even more important is the message the film sends regarding women as superheroes. Films, books, plays, in which females become everyday superheroes is what my work is really all about.
Research has noted that little girls are stars, both inside and outside of school. At school they achieve even better than the boys, while outside of school girls between 8 and 11 often feel powerful, strong, sure of themselves and exhibit a multitude of talents.
However, by age 12 the angst and hormonal storm of adolescence often takes over and girls put less effort into their academic studies, while at the same time get caught up in the over sexualized aspects of our culture. Too soon many tweens and teens are less enthusiastic about their talents and academics. That combined with self-esteem problems, often intensified by an atmosphere that encourages bullying, can lead to all sorts of problems from eating disorders to experimentation with drugs, to suicide.
Our girls are in desperate need of a role model. Perhaps Wonder Woman is that role model. A series of articles in the New York Times, including one by Jessica Bennett, ‘Wonder Woman’s Real Power’ make clear how important it is for girls to have role models that give them the message that: I am a leader, and you also have the traits that get you to this level. Bennett’s article concludes, “…we don’t want girls to strive only to be super heroes. But we do want them to believe they have the strength to be one….”
How do we overcome girls being exposed to too few role models that excite, enhance and confirm a girl’s hopes and dreams as to what she can become, combined with a society that is less than kind in all sorts of ways, including peer pressure as exemplified by bullying?
One of the newest and most intriguing ways to overcome these societal flaws is the use of the Selfie. Selfies are not just an instrument for vanity, pranks or to record a meal out with friends. The Selfie, particularly the video functions that Selfies allow, are amazingly suited to offset a lack of role models and such actions as bullying. For example, KIRO7 reported ‘Bellevue girl bullied at school asks for help, Facebook post goes viral.’ What could be more moving than seeing this young girl, Alison Grande, tell her story via a Selfie video gone viral? And she didn’t even talk, just used cards that she held up to tell her story? At my last check she had reached more than 670,000 people.
Selfies are the nirvana of hope for all of us who want to turn your kid or all kids into superheroes of life as they grow up.
Here are several ways they can be used: Like Alison, kids can use Selfies as a means of sharing concerns via social networks or just between family, when it may be easier for a child to share in a video what is bothering her. Kids really talk when they make a Selfie, not just the one word answers parents so often hear.
As a positive psychologist, author and a filmmaker, I have developed a new way to use Selfies in film, for artistic, educational and mental health purposes. I have developed what I call ‘Selfies As Film’ which is a merging of the Selfie video with a film crew. The advantages are many. For example, the stars of my films thus far have been teens. When they film themselves, privately, and then see that video film become part of a film that has drama, meaning and purpose, they are given incredible positive feedback. They see themselves already as powerful role models and realize their work will assist other young people feel better about themselves and have more courage about their future. Selfies as Film is a powerful learning tool for all: the actors, the audiences, educators, mental health professionals and parents.
I hope that you and your daughter will have some fun and meaningful relating using Selfies with each other: send messages, share humor, share talents, develop skits together, cheer each other up on dark days, share the beauties of nature, keep a joint diary, etc. The potential is endless. My website www.selfiefilmmakers.com can help you get started and is a place for you to share some of your selfies with the world! Now that smart phones have been around for a few years, let’s really get down to using them in part for our own mental health and that of our children.
