Girls’ Theory: Me-Search Research

Beyondmedia's Girl World Media Workshop was a year-long after-school program with Alternatives that began in 2001. Alternatives provides innovative leadership and advocacy opportunities to lower-income girls and young women on the north side of Chicago. Beyondmedia collaborated with 19 girls, aged 14-17, in the Girl World Teen Group to produce a video, "Girls' Theory, Me-search Research". In their own voices, the girls cover topics such as violence, stereotypes of women, sex, relationships, reputation, and the future. The young women critically examined representations of teenagers and women of color in mainstream media and took to the streets to interview the public about the subject. As a result, their smart, hip video merges personal discussions about the daily struggle to be a righteous sister with the mixed blessings of the world at large. See https://beyondmedia.org for more information.

00:02Copy video clip URL Montage opening with music and title card “Girls’ Theory: Me-search Research”. Montage footage shows groups of girls being creative, having workshops, performing, filming, etc. while onscreen text presents the names of certain girls: Katie, Candida, Kandis, Felicia, and Rebecca. 

00:55Copy video clip URL Onscreen text reads “Being a teenager. . .” followed by various girls, including Lilly and Nicole, discussing the nuances of being a teenage girl. 

01:57Copy video clip URL Musical photo montage with onscreen text: “The Media” followed by clips of girls discussing beauty standards in the media. There are interjected clips of street interviews about pop culture’s influence on consumers. Various people talk about the lack of diversity and representation in media.

03:43Copy video clip URL Onscreen text reads “What we discuss” followed by clips of a discussion on older men dating younger girls. The girls’ group and their peers have a workshop on sexual education.

07:08Copy video clip URL Adwoa reads a poem aloud by the lakefront, followed by a discussion about the positive benefits of having a community of peers to share ideas with. 

07:59Copy video clip URL Musical photo montage with onscreen text: “Stereotypes” followed by interviews on stereotypes forced on women and girls. The topic of damaging girls’ reputations in school is considered as well as double standards between boys and girls. 

13:21Copy video clip URL Helena reads a poem aloud by the lakefront followed by a workshop where the girls role-play different romantic relationship dynamics. There is a discussion on the traits of an ideal romantic partner.

16:12Copy video clip URL Hannah and Jessica read poems aloud by the lakefront; a continuation of ideal romantic partner traits ensues. 

18:03Copy video clip URL Various clips of the girls’ talking about their fears. An additional poem is recited and there’s a discussion on segregation in schools. Girls share their personal goal for the future. 

21:49Copy video clip URL Credits