Cheryl Rainfield's Blog, page 109

Powerful video of effect of advertising on women: Killing Us Softly 4

I have long been grateful to the strong women who speak out about the effects of advertising on women. Jean Kilbourne is one of those women–intelligent, articulate, aware, helping people see the horrible effects of some advertising.

There is a lot of sexist, desensitizing advertising that negatively affects women, and how people see women, leading to sexism, eating disorders and poor body image in girls and women, and adding to violence against women (including rape, porn, and more). Women are often shown as objects, parts of bodies, thin and emaciated, and ideal in a way that no woman can ever be.

I love how Jean Kilbourne analyzes the ads, and helps people see what's really going on. It can be eye-opening, and make you think. I find it fascinating. I hope you'll check it out.

If you found that interesting, you might also want to check out another Killing Us Softly video:

Voting Opens Today For Children's Choice Book Awards

Kids and teens can go and vote for their favorite books, author, and illustrator starting today, at bookstores, school libraries, and online. Voting runs until April 29, 2011.

You might find a new book that appeals to you in the finalists. I know I'm going to look through them.

The Children's Choice Book Award categories and finalists are:

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year:

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year:

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year:

Teen Choice Book of the Year:

Author of the Year:

Cassandra Clare for:

Suzanne Collins for:

Jeff Kinney for:

Stephenie Meyer for:

Rick Riordan for:

Illustrator of the Year:

Robin Preiss Glasser for:

Loren Long for:

Nancy Tillman for:

David Wiesner for:

Mo Willems for:

Victim Blaming Is Never Okay. Please ask the NY Times to Apologize!

Victim blaming is never okay–yet it seems that many people do it, especially of rape victims. This has always infuriated me. As if what a child or woman wears makes her responsible for rape. That is a twisted, oppressor way of thinking. It is something that abusers and rapists often say themselves. My abusers did.

A recent NY Times reporter blamed a child, in his article, for the gang rape she experienced, asking what she wore, if she had seedy friends, etc. Please consider signing the petition to ask the NY Times to apologize for blaming a child for her own gang rape! I think it helps, every time we speak out, every time we challenge a wrong. So please do sign and let your voice be heard.

Happy International Women's Day! & Check out this powerful video

Happy International Women's Day! There are so many strong, courageous, powerful women doing so much good in this world.

And check out this *wonderful,* powerful video showing women are still oppressed. It stars James Bond – first as a man, then as a woman. Some people think that women aren't oppressed any more. Well, some of the facts may change their minds–and may surprise or shock you. I hope you'll check it out!

And check out this blog post for more ways to learn about strong women.

Free Bookmarks for Scars with tips on dealing with self-harm…and a way to use the bookmarks

I offer free bookmarks for Scars with tips on how to deal with self-harm; if you want some, just email me your snail mail address. You can also access the tips at my site. (You can also request a free signed bookplate.)

Jennifer Wharton, a youth services librarian at Matheson Memorial Library, had a fantastic idea on how to use the bookmarks. She told me that she's going to put one bookmark into every copy of Scars that's returned to the library. That means, when the copies get checked out again, that the library patron will have a bookmark with tips on how to deal with self-harm, right there in front of them. I love it!

You might also consider giving a bookmark (or all three) to someone you know who's dealing with self-harm, or who works with people who deal with self-harm.

There are three individual bookmarks–Helpful Responses to Someone Who's Self-Harmed; Alternatives to Self-Harm; and How To Stop Self-Harming.

Know another way to use the bookmarks? Let me know.

New blog on self-harm and Scars

If you've used self-harm, know someone who has, feel alone, or just read Scars and enjoyed it, I hope you'll check out my new tumblr blog on self-harm and my novel Scars. I hope you'll leave a comment or question! I'll be answering all questions, and I hope a community might develop.

Scars Is Staying In Boone County Public Library!

I just found out–Scars is staying in the Boone County Public Library! Thank you so much, everyone, for your support! (hugging you all) I am so glad and relieved. And I think it helps make a difference, to have support for a book; it helps the library have support. Yayyyyyyy!!! Thank you so much, Boone County librarians, for working to keep good books in the library system–even when people challenge them and put pressure on you.

Wow. I am SO relieved! I was getting pretty down about it. I'm so glad teens will still be able to find Scars in KY at Boone County library!! It is SUCH a feel-good thing to have a happy ending–and to know that there are so many book advocates who truly care about books, about finding the right ones for teens, about healing through books. So many people who care for what is right–the librarians at Boone County Public Library–and each one of you who commented, who shared what was happening, who raised your voice.

**Thank you!!**

Beautiful post on the power of books on readers & students

Check out this moving post from teacher and book advocate Paul W. Hankins about the power of books on readers and students. The power to reach others, to encourage healing, to help others feel less alone. It made me cry, to read it! And Scars is part of the post, in reaching a particular student. I think it's beautiful–and it's the kind of thing I want to point to when Scars is challenged!

Notebooks and Compassion In a School

Fellow writer Lian Goodall shared this video link of notebooks and compassion in a Japanese school. I watched it, tears pouring down my face. I think writing helps get out the things we need to get out, to give voice to–and actually being encouraged to share it and receive compassion in a school setting is incredible. It seems so healing and healthy to me, this teaching of compassion, of expression, of talking about what we need to, and responding to others.

I've often wished that we taught such things in our own schools here. The lessons I took often meant little to me, as a kid and teen being so horribly abused. But lessons like the ones in that video would have opened my wounds and helped healing happen sooner. Bravo for the school, for the wonderful things they're doing.

…What do you think?

Laura Davis to offer writing prompts and inspiration

Author Laura Davis (co-author of The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse

) is offering free weekly writing prompts & inspiration, coming to your inbox every Tuesday.

Laura Davis is one of my heroes. And Ellen Bass, her co-writer, is another. When I was a teen being abused and remembering sexual abuse, I carried around The Courage To Heal with my everywhere. I read it so much, it got a bit tattered, and so many pages were marked with post-it notes! Both women continue to write, and I think Laura Davis will have a lot of good to offer.