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Tell Retailers to STOP Selling Messages that Devalue Girls!
Sign our Petition! 

Tell Retailers: We're Not Buying It!

On behalf of girls everywhere, enough is enough. This week, a young woman in New York named Lauren Todd started a petition on Change.org urging JC Penney to stop selling a girl’s shirt with the statement: "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me." This is just one shirt in a series that display slogans that characterize a girl's worth by her looks and makes being smart somehow not "pretty". Seemingly harmless? Just a joke? Not funny. Girls get messages from all aspects of media that show a woman's value in relation to her looks – well, we say enough – time to tell retailers, "we're not buying it!"

The shirt, which was marketed to girls ages 7-16, imparts the message that boys are smart while girls are only meant to be pretty. Valuing looks over knowledge and hard work, and stereotyping female images is a dangerous message to send to young girls, one that females are already bombarded with in today’s media.

We at Girls For A Change believe that girl empowerment is essential in helping girls to realize their full potential and helps them speak up and out about issues they care about – that they are more than looks, lyrics, and objects. Girls need to know that they are valued for who they are, and not the style of their hair or the way they look. Clothing that blatantly diminishes the value of girls is harmful to a girl's perception of her worth. We know everyone wants girls to reach beyond their potential and let them know they're valued for who they are. Let's start by removing messages that put any girl (or boy!) down.

JC Penney rightfully discontinued the sale of the shirt in response to the massive support of Lauren’s petition, but the presence of sexist messages on children’s clothing is an ongoing problem that must be addressed. Tell major clothing retailers to stop designing clothes with sexist and damaging slogans that perpetuate gender stereotypes and devalue the role of young girls in society.  Let them know your money will not support their company unless they take a stand against sexist, destructive slogans and imagery. Tell them, "you're not buying it!"

So we created a petition to Major Clothing Retailers, which says:

"Today, we are bombarded with messages that tell girls and boys how they should be, act, and look. Enough is enough. Stand with the girls in your life and tell major clothing retailers to stop selling clothes with sexist and damaging slogans that perpetuate gender stereotypes and devalue the role of young girls and boys in society.  Let them know your money will not support their company unless they take a stand against sexist, destructive slogans and imagery. Tell them, "you're not buying it!""

Will you sign this petition? Click here to sign and share!



Thanks!

The Girls For A Change Team

Visit our website to see what's happening at GFC!

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5th Pirates Movie?

Johnny Depp is close to signing a deal to star in a fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, an individual close to the negotiations told TheWrap.  In May, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said he was working on a fifth “Pirates” script -- and that he wouldn’t make the movie without Depp.  “Hopefully, if this one does well, (Depp) will want to come back and play the character again,” Bruckheimer told the L.A. Times. “But it’s going to depend on the screenplay. It always does. He’s maniacal about not wanting to disappoint his audience.
Source:Thewrap.com

Twisted Tween- "Celebs that Make a Difference" by Hannah and Cailin Loesch

iCarly’s Reed Alexander -he’s no Nevel!

Hello everyone! We hope you all had a good week. We finished our first week of school and WHEW! Summer is definitely over.

With all the stress that school can bring, we found a great place for you to go if you need someone to talk to. Best selling author of many books geared to tweens/teens Annie Fox has started a twitter to give kids a place they can feel safe to ask questions on things that matter to them. She gives great advice. Follow her on twitter @HeyTerra .If you have not read any of her books, you should check them out. Her most recent books are “The Middle School Confidential Series”. Also “Too Stressed to Think”, and “The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating” She knows what she is talking about, and she shares her wisdom! Not on twitter? Go to Http://heyterra.com/teens/

This is National Child Cancer Awareness month so we would like you to check out the Seany Foundation Http://www.theseanyfoundation.org/

A non- profit foundation to carry on Sean Robins legacy of battling Ewings sarcoma, and to find a cure for cancer.

Do what you can!

So here is what you have all been waiting for! This weeks celeb that makes a difference is iCarly’s own Reed Alexander!

You know him as iCarly’s evil Nevel, but believe us when we tell you that Reed is nothing like his character!

Reed makes community service a priority. Helping people in need and making a difference is important to him. Finding a cause and working together to make a difference is something his whole family believes in! We have found with this series of blogs, that most kid’s who go out of their way to give back, have parents that have influenced them, by their actions.

If your family is not involved in a cause- then you be the one to start making a difference! It can be a great way to spend time together!

Reed has been working with the American Cancer Society’s Reaching Out to Cancer Kids (R.O.C.K) He specifically works with the Nicholas R Chiera Foundation, a non- profit organization to raise money for the R.O.C.K program as well as other programs. The R.O.C.K program provides the children a chance to experience summer camp, while it gives them the special medical care they need.

This year Reed co-hosted the Chiera Foundation Charity Ball and Golf Tournament. All the proceeds were given to the R.O.C.K program’s . This enabled family weekends, support programs, and a fantastic scholarship fund for children with cancer to pursue their dreams of attending college!

For more information about this foundation and how you can help contact;

http://www.chieragolfclassic.com/ and is run by Lou Chiera

Reed has helped to raise funds for hurricane victims who have lost their homes, and are trying to rebuild their lives. He enjoys helping to provide victims of these unfortunate circumstances relief, which includes basic necessities. Things that we all take for granted mean the world to someone who has nothing!

A few years ago one of Reeds friends was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to an immediate diagnosis and treatment, her condition has really improved. In support of his friend he supports an organization called Autism Speaks. It raises money for research to figure out exactly what causes autism, treatment, and trying to find a cure! Reed helps to raise funds to support these goals. To contact Autism Speaks and find out how you can make a difference go to: http://www.autismspeaks.org

When asked why do you feel it is important to help people in need? Reed responded: “We are all people- we all deserve help from each other.” “If there is anything we can do to help out in the world, it is to bring a positive change to people” “It does not have to be anything tremendous-just something easy and small,can make all the difference.”

Well, one thing is for sure- Reed does big things to make a difference, and we all can learn something from him!

Reed says everyone should find a cause that interests them, and then do whatever you can to support it! It is easy and fun to do!

Reed loves acting, writing, and reading. He is currently working on a new project that he hopes will inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle, and take good care of themselves. We can’t wait to see what that is all about!

We are sure that there will be a lot more in store for all of us, when it comes to Reed Alexander. His acting talent is incredible, and now we know his commitment to making the world a better place is just as amazing!

Hope you enjoyed this weeks “Celeb that Makes a Difference” We thank Reed for taking the time to answer our questions!

REED ALEXANDER ROCKS!

Have a good week and be inspired to find some way (whether it is big or small) to make a difference in someone’s life.

Keep it Real!

H and C