What is Body Gossip on Tour ?
Body Gossip on Tour (BGoT) is taking the Body Gossip message into Universities across the UK. The scheme encourages students to hold their own BGoT event within their own university. Reflecting the central Body Gossip campaign, BGoT challenges common perceptions of body image, promoting the recognition and acceptance of natural beauty. The objective of BGoT is to encourage students to think and talk more openly about their bodies, so that they can worry less about their body image in future. Many young people consider their bodies to be inadequate. Body Gossip on Tour is challenging this head on!
Body Gossip at York University, November 2011
BGoT involves running a writing competition to gather a truthful picture of how students at the university view themselves and their bodies. A selection of this material is then used as the script for a theatre production on body image, a fantastic way to use the craft of theatre to reach out and touch society.
The subject of body image appeals to a great many people. It is rare to find a student who has nothing to say about their body. Body Gossip provides a platform for students to be able to consider and share their thoughts and feelings.
Rehearsals for Body Gossip at Bath Spa University, April 2011
Background
The first BGoT event was held at Bath Spa University in April 2011 and united both past and present students. The performance welcomed 49 audience members and raised £139 for charity. After the show audience members wrote down their own body gossip, and were also able to benefit from a range of related information that was available. The performances were later filmed and are available to view on the Body Gossip YouTube channel. Body Gossip Bath went on to win Campaign of the Year 2010/11 at Bath Spa University.
Students rehearsing Body Gossip at Bath Spa University, April 2011
Why is Body Gossip on Tour so important?
For many students the transition from home to university is a stressful one, bringing a variety of pressures and anxieties. These radical changes can have a significant impact on their self esteem and sense of identity.
Some students may use food to regulate their emotional difficulties, which in turn may lead to eating disorders. The desire to be accepted by a new peer group can cause students suffering with eating disorders to keep their problems secret so as not to be judged or rejected. The university setting provides a fantastic opportunity to reach a large number of students, to challenge existing stigmas, and to promote acceptance of one’s natural body image.
In March 2011 the Succeed Foundation Body Image Survey studied 320 female British university students. The results illustrate why campaigns such as BGoT are so important.
Of the women surveyed ….
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93% had had negative thoughts about their appearance in the past week.
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75% had spoken negatively about their own body shape in the past week.
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50% had traded tips for losing weight or changing their appearance in the past week.
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79% would like to lose weight.
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30% would trade at least one year of their life to achieve their ideal body weight.
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52% thought more could be done by universities to promote positive body image.
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61% thought awareness raising events should be held on university campuses to promote health body image.
What is involved in hosting a Body Gossip on Tour event?
If you would like to take the reigns of a Body Gossip on Tour event we will be with you every step of the way. We have developed resources to guide you step by step.
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Gather a campaign team
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Approach the Students Union for support
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Body Gossip representatives run a workshop at University
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Launch, publicise, and judge the writing competition
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Gather a group of actors, rehearse the performance
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Make arrangements for any materials required (t-shirts, banners)
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Make any technical preparations (room, staging, lighting, music)
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Publicise the event
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The Body Gossip on Tour performance!
L to R: Sarah Fullagar, Natasha Devon, Kate Elliott and Charlotte Gatherer
What will you gain from hosting a Body Gossip on Tour event?
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Rewarding to hear how students benefit from writing down their Body Gossip and how cathartic they find the process.
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Sense of achievement and personal fulfilment to see the performance develop from planning to reality.
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Fantastic way to meet new people and become united under a common aspiration.
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Gratifying to enable those with a history of eating disorders to be more open about their experiences without feelings of shame.
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Assist performers and audience members in gaining new insights into the issues and stigmas related to body image.
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Innovative experience to cite on your resume.
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Gain experiences that will be useful for career and life.
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Personal growth and compassion through deeper understanding of people’s personal fears and struggles.
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A break from academic studies whilst providing a valuable contribution to society.
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Raise money for charity.
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Develop or refine many skills including….
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Leadership
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Time management
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Organisation
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Initiative
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Creativity
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Teamwork
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Communication
Student Run Self Help
In the past few months the Student Run Self Help (SRSH) organisation and Body Gossip have been discussing a collaboration which aims to raise further awareness of eating disorders and encourage students to discuss issues relating to body image.
Founded in 2009 SRSH assists university students to manage their own self help group to support those suffering with eating disorders. SRSH groups are running in 14 UK universities, facilitators listen and help sufferers retain their motivation. Groups provide a pro recovery safe environment for individuals to discuss their thoughts and feelings and make the most of their university experience.
Body Gossip on Tour events can also be used to help promote SRSH groups.
To find out more visit http://studentrunselfhelp.weebly.com/
Testimonials from previous Body Gossip on Tour events
Body Gossip Bath
“As a writer having the chance to express myself so honestly was a wonderful experience.”
“It was great to see a group of people so passionate about something so overlooked, and being able to start promoting the awareness it needs. It was an honour to be involved, and I hope it will happen again in the future to reach more and more people.”
“If I had the opportunity again, I would definitely get involved with Body Gossip because it is a fabulous, life-affirming campaign!”
“I found it weirdly reassuring to know that I wasn’t the only one, even at my university, to not be 100% happy about how they looked.”
“I had so much fun rehearsing and putting on the show and I met so many lovely new people. It is an experience that I think everyone should have and I am so so glad I was involved with the project. I was very sad when it ended.”
“Several audience members came to me after the show in tears saying that they could really relate to the performances and that they finally felt they could express themselves. This to me was the most rewarding part of the whole experience, touching people’s hearts and letting them know that they aren’t alone.”
“Thank you Body Gossip Bath. It was a professional, emotional and inspiring evening. You did us all proud.”
Get involved
We are looking for passionate students who feel a connection with the topic of body image to champion their own Body Gossip on Tour event. You would be leading a group of students from your university with the support and guidance of our Body Gossip on Tour team.
If you are enthusiastic about changing the way people think and feel about their bodies, don’t miss out on this exciting and gratifying opportunity.
For more information on hosting your Body Gossip on Tour event, please contact us at:
Body Gossip on Tour event calendar
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Date |
Location |
Link |
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17 November 2011 |
York University |
Contact Kate Elliot: kate2091@btinternet.com |
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7 April 2011 |
Bath Spa University |
http://www.facebook.com/groups/bodygossipbath
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