Blog 4

Unfortunately, assault is a rising problem, and a problem that could be prevented if women knew some simple ways to reduce their risk. One way that a woman can reduce their risk for assault is to know how to defend themselves and take measures to ensure that they will be able to defend themselves such as taking a self-defense class or carrying pepper spray on their keys. I took martial arts for 3 years, and every few months, the place that I went to put on a self-defense class specifically for women. Besides just teaching them how to get away from an attacker, and get out of various constricting positions, they received a 5 or 6-inch baton that they could attach to their key chains. This could be used if they were ever assaulted, and is used for hitting pressure points, or other weaker areas on the body to help them get away. I think that this program was very beneficial, and should be made more widely available in communities. I go to concerts and events, so carrying pepper spray is a good way to prevent a bad situation. I know that most of the girls in my sorority, if not all of them, carry pepper spray on their keys even when they are walking around campus just to be safe. In most cases, the attacker is male, and so they are stronger. That is why it is important to have a method of protecting yourself other than relying on strength or wit, since most people will forget things in the moment.

Some additional ways that a woman can reduce her risk for being assaulted is by knowing some tips that can keep them from being targeted by an assailant. Some important things to remember include being aware of your surroundings, have your phone in an easily assessable place, don’t carry a lot (it weighs you down, and in some cases makes you seem more vulnerable), walk with confidence, don’t walk with earphones in, and don’t panic. Some tips to remember: your elbow is the strongest point on your body, so use it if you can; if you get grabbed, pinch the skin on the back of their knee or inside their elbow, there are nerves there; don’t be sympathetic if your instincts are telling you otherwise, this is a tactic that some men use; don’t be afraid to yell or try and fight the person off. A tip that some people give is to make it know if you have pepper spray on you as a method of deterring the person trying to attack you.

All of this information, I have gotten from various self-defense things over time, but this post on tumblr (a popular blogging site that I use) really opened my eyes, and can give further information/insight into how to protect yourself: http://itssofluffy-im-gonna-die.tumblr.com/post/12389331146/through-a-rapists-eyes-pls-take-time-to-read

Blog 3

Unfortunately, in today's society, the media plays a big part in how we feel about our bodies, and how our opinions about what our bodies should look like develop.  From a young age, we see pictures, movies, tv shows, magazines, etc. that all display thin, very attractive looking people. From runway models to cartoon characters, everyone seems to be extremely thin. There may be an overweight person, or a few normal weighted individuals, but in a lot of cases, these people appear to be more insecure, and sometimes seem to be shown in a light that makes them seem less attractive than the stick thin individuals. On the surface, the media might appear to be embracing more diversity in body shape, size, and color, but in actuality, I think that it is much the same as it was "years ago". The topics of television shows have changed, but a lot of the standards for actors and actresses has stayed the same. Models are the same, if not more underweight now, and the trend is spreading to younger girls as model agencies start to look for a younger, fresher face. Last year at the Dallas International Film Festival, I saw a film titled "Girl Model", which was about young girls in Europe who are picked up by modeling agencies and sent to Asia to be models. They lie about their age because the agencies want super young looking girls, and girls who are 14-16 are already looking too old. The movie showed how they are exploited, and how they are promised a career, and money, so the girls leave their poor families, but come back even more poor. One of the girls they were following had a photoshoot, but they covered her face when they printed the picture, so they didn't have to pay her. She couldn't even afford to purchase the magazine at that point. This movie just further shows that media has a very negative impact on our body image. The girls in the film were very distraught because they kept being told that they didn't have the right look, so clients didn't want them. This demonstrates how even within the media, they are very particular with how they want someone to look. Whether a person is trying to make a career in some form of media, or just simply observing it, they develop the idea that there is a very particular look that you have to have in order to be seen as beautiful. Unfortunately, this image happens to be very thin, and very made up, so behind it all, even the models aren't up to the standard. I've seen a lot of photos of actors/actresses/models when they aren't made up for some event, and they look nothing like they do when the media presents them. There have been several controversies over the media altering a person's image to make them look thinner, or making their face not look like them. I can only imagine how terrible it would make the person feel to see themselves on tv, in a magazine, or on some advertisement, and barely recognize themselves because of what the media has changed them into. It hurts their body image, and it hurts the viewers' because they try to live up to what they see, and look like their role models. 

As a health educator, I think it can be very difficult to prepare effective messages to counter the negative images of the media because they affect each person on a different level. Each individual's mind works differently, and they interpret what they see in the media in different ways, so it can be hard to convey a message that can affect a lot of people in the desired way. Currently, since there are trends of younger and younger girls who are having body image issues, it presents another issue; addressing this younger audience, and finding a way to stop this negative imagery and communication that is causing the problems. Girls in elementary school should not be thinking they need to go on a diet, and be obsessed with their weight. They should be enjoying their childhood, and while they're parents should be encouraging healthy habits, it should never be in a negative or demeaning way. I graduated in 2011, so I'm 19 years old. Thinking back to when I was in elementary school, there wasn't a focus on how our bodies looked. A lot of kids at that time were very active, and I hung out with my friends outside most of the time. Even if it was just walking around the neighborhood, we were always doing something. No one used fat talk, and everyone was included in activities and accepted for how they looked no matter what. I can't imagine my elementary school self being concerned with how I looked. I didn't even start wearing makeup regularly until I was probably a freshman in highschool, and even then, I wore very light make up until my junior and senior year when it became more "fashionable" to wear more make up. Now I see girls of all ages wearing make up, and dressing like they are teenagers no matter what age they are. I know that I struggle some buying clothes because I can't fit into women's sizes, but the clothes they make that do fit me often reveal so much skin. It'd be nice to find shorts that were mid thigh length instead of knee length or barely covering my butt. Media has slowly shaped this style, and they continue to shape how people view themselves, even if it means having to find a new, younger audience. The media is expanding this negative image, and I worry about the direction of things with the images being shown to younger and younger audiences. I think the only way that health educators can start countering these images is to show girls how their role models look off-scene, when they are in their everyday lives, and better educate the population as a whole as to what a healthy body looks like. Instead of showing the "ideal" and trying to translate it to every person, they need to show what healthy looks like on a spectrum. This would be the most effective way to demonstrate what health actually looks like, and also educate people on the risks of being underweight or overweight. We need to let them know that you don't have to kill yourself trying to be beautiful and healthy. 

Blog 2

Having “the talk”

The one conversation that all parents seem to dread is one concerning sex, usually coined “the talk”. Parents don’t like to discuss this topic because often it can be awkward, and they don’t know what to expect from their child. This conversation is one that should be held in a place that makes both the parent and the child comfortable. A good place is the home either in the living room or sitting around the table (not during a meal though). Too often, this discussion occurs in a child’s bedroom, which can make them even more uncomfortable, and make them feel like their parents are invading their space. If the child is not comfortable, they won’t be able to pay attention to what you are saying, and they are less likely to remember the specifics of the conversation. A suggestion is to have the mother sit down with a female child, and the father sit down with a male child because the opposite sex parent may not be able to answer all the questions that the child may have. Additionally, the opposite sex parent may cause the child to be more uncomfortable and on edge during this conversation. Another important concern is when to have “the talk”. A good time is when the child reaches puberty. Before then, it is kind of pointless because they don’t necessarily have the urges, and the hormones. Discussing sex at that age might be more of a funny subject, and they won’t remember what you said when they are older, and starting to want to explore their sexuality.

As a parent, you should be sure to include as many details as you can, to make sure that your child has a thorough understanding of not only sex and the potential consequences, but also of the methods that will keep them from an unplanned pregnancy or an STI. While it can be awkward, a good starting point for “the talk” is asking your child what they already know about sex. It is very easy to use their knowledge as a starting point and continue the conversation by adding on to what they know. For this example conversation, let’s say that the child’s response is “sex is when two people get together and make a baby”. Your response could be “do you know what happens when they get together?” or “that is correct, but a baby is not always the product of sex. Sex is between a man and a woman who love each other, and it is when a man puts his penis into a woman’s vagina.” While the second approach may seem too graphic, it is good to define what sex is for your child, and to use proper terminology when discussing this topic. Your kid will probably use general terms because they get embarrassed discussing sex, especially with their parents. By giving a brief description of how sex occurs, it curbs a child’s potential curiosity as well as getting past initial awkwardness to further discuss matters.

I personally think that it is important for a child to be versed in the methods of birth control, or at least a few that the parents have enough knowledge on to relay to their children. At the bare minimum, I believe that the pill and condoms be mentioned and explained to a preteen. While no parent likes the idea of their child having sex, it is better to educate your child in birth control methods than deal with an unwanted pregnancy later on due to ignorance. This topic is especially important for parents to discuss since it is not discussed in schools. Parents can reinforce teachings of abstinence, but as a child gets older, it isn’t smart to keep with the abstinence only education. A parent should encourage their children to not be afraid to approach them if they decide to have sex and need to get some form of birth control. The pill doesn’t need to be discussed with a male child, but with a female, it is more important to educate them about the pill as well as the experience and consequences of pregnancy. Condoms can be discussed with both genders. A male child should be educated on the proper way to put on a condom. The parent can use some sort of model, such as a banana to demonstrate. A female child does not necessarily have to be instructed on how to put one on, but it is important that they understand that it is okay to ask their partner to wear one, and that it can prevent the transmission of some STIs. Both genders should be educated on not only the proper use of a condom, but also what to do if one breaks. Children should be encouraged to approach their parents if something happens and they are unsure. Parents need to be able to reassure their children that they are there to support and take care of their children, and if they come for help, particularly in an emergency, the child won’t be punished. I personally think that a lot of children would be scared to approach their parents if something happened due to fear of what their parents are going to say and how they are going to act. A child should not be isolated or be punished for a mistake. Parents tend to forget that they were young once and made mistakes also. This could be due to some parents feeling overprotective of their children.

Possible Questions:

What is sex like?

This question is not one that many parents would feel comfortable answering, but it is important to be honest with your child. I think that too many times, parents want to prevent their children from having sex, so they give a lot of negative terminology to describe it. This doesn’t benefit the child, and may make them more curious later on if the parents aren’t honest.

How do you know if you’re pregnant?

This question may be asked by a female child because she is curious. DO NOT assume that a child is asking out of concern. Many young children are simply curious, and want to understand things better. You can discuss the missing of a period as well as possible other symptoms present in the first trimester such as morning sickness.

Where do you get condoms?

If you discuss their use with your child, they may be curious as to their availability. Again, this DOES NOT mean that your child is going to run out and buy them and have sex, they are simply curious. When it comes to methods of birth control, you are their only source of information, and so they are going to be curious. The best thing to do is answer their questions to the best of your ability, and have an open discussion about sex. If you can engage your child in the discussion, it will be more effective. 

Adolescents and Healthy Living

There seems to be an ever growing trend of unhealthy behaviors among adolescents in today's society. The transition to adulthood is the time when lifelong behaviors concerning health are developed. Unfortunately, the healthy behaviors, such as good nutrition, physical activity, and avoidance of tobacco products, are not always encouraged and reinforced at home. Habits of motor vehicle accidents, drug use, alcohol use, violence, and risky sexual behaviors are being developed in place of healthy behaviors ("Adolescent Health", 2011). The media encourages these behaviors, and in some cases seems to promote them through advertisements, endorsements, and portrayal of characters with these habits. As far as advertisements, I personally have seen an increase in the number of alcohol and tobacco ads in magazines over the last couple years.

I think that the most important way to stop the development of risk behaviors is encouraging healthy behaviors from a young age. I have friends who were able to eat what they want, and didn't have any rules at home as to what they could do. Now that they are in college, they are somewhat picky eaters, don't care for a lot of healthy foods, and are pretty sedentary. Whereas, when I was a kid, I was encouraged to go outside a lot to play, and I was forced to eat a balanced diet. Now that I am older, I still enjoy being outside. I also try and eat a balanced diet, even on a college budget. I find myself eating out a lot less than some of my friends, and I think a major factor of that is just how things were when I was a kid. It is a lot harder to develop habits when you are older, than it is to upkeep old habits. My recommendation for parents is to invest the time in making sure that their children are healthy, and that they are encouraging healthy habits from a young age. As far as health educators are concerned, it is important for them to target children and their parents in some programs, so that they have the exposure to motivate them to be active and eat healthy. Health providers should not be afraid to talk to parents about their children's diet and exercise. By discussing this with parents, and possibly the children themselves, good habits can be encouraged. For those who are already in their adolescent years, it is important to explain the effects of poor health in the long-term as well as short-term. Parents don't have as much control when their kids reach this age, so it is important to address the kids without belittling them, or else what you're saying will have no effect. If they are addressed as adults, they will respond, and hopefully take control of their health.

 The media depicts a lot of characters these days who have problems, and do illicit things. Add that to the advertisements for alcohol and tobacco products that can be found almost anywhere, and children and adolescents aren't getting positive imagery from the media about their health. There is more drama to the "bad" characters, so they draw the attention and focus of the show. If some of this negative imagery was removed, it would be easier to convince adolescents that they need to take their health more seriously, and not develop bad habits.

 I think that society needs to pay more attention to the young people, especially adolescents, because they are important for the future, and if they have problems, they are only going to get worse when it gets to the next generation. There is beginning to be more focus on young and health prevention, but I see it as still developing as people start to realize how serious of an issue it is. With more focus and resources, there is a lot of potential to change to habits of adolescents, and get them to take their health more seriously. No one is immortal or invincible, but unfortunately, many young people seem to hold the belief that nothing can hurt them.



references:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2011).Adolescent health. Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/adolescenthealth/index.htm

A Bit About Me

My name is Rachel Jackson. I am a junior Health Studies major with emphasis on physical therapy. I am 19 years old and from Allen, Texas. As far as my personal interest in health goes, I am very concerned with prevention of certain diseases through a healthy lifestyle. I am active, and have always eaten a well balanced diet. I have always had a strong focus on my personal health, which is carrying over into my desired profession. I want to go into physical therapy to help people as well as to gain trust among the community that I am working in to work with its members on general health behaviors. I plan to be very active in my community and an advocate of good health. Areas of health that I am most concerned with are body image and cardiovascular health. Both sides of my family have a history of heart problems, and I experienced some problems with my heart throughout last semester. I am expecting to gain more knowledge about the health field through this class that I can translate to my future goals, as well as my occupation.

Some of my hobbies include crocheting, drawing, reading, and writing. I have recently discovered the art of crocheting small animals, and have become fascinated with making them as small as possible. As far as drawing goes, I mostly draw people. My love of art started when I was younger. I was always drawing cartoon characters, and I had convinced my parents to buy me several cartooning books. Another passion that began when I was younger was my love of books and learning. I have always thoroughly enjoyed reading, and would read anything that could get my hands on. I love reading true crime novels as well as anything dealing with the supernatural. After looking at my hobbies, one would never guess that I'm a black belt in tae kwondo, but I got my black belt when I was 15. I took martial arts for 3 years, and competed in multiple tournaments where I medaled in sparring.