Laurie A. Westley is a Senior Vice President at the Public Policy, Advocacy and the Research Institute of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

When it comes to media, we have so much to be grateful for.  The media has educated, inspired, and entertained us for generations.  The revolution of new technologies such as social media, handheld devices, and interactive media has literally changed our world.

For today’s girls, that means more media – up to 10 hours of recreational media a day – in many more forms and places.  Many of those media messages and images, especially messages about women and girls, can both positively and negatively affect girls’ confidence, body image, relationships, and leadership aspirations. 

As media and policy leaders, we have a responsibly to ensure we are promoting positive images.

This week the Girl Scouts of the USA joined forces with the National Association of Broadcasters, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and The Creative Coalition to launch Healthy MEdia Commission for Positive Images of Women and Girls.  Co-chairing the commission are Geena Davis, Academy Award-winning Actor and Founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and Deborah Taylor Tate,   former FCC Commissioner. 

Our Commission recognizes that as children’s media use continues to increase, all youth – both girls and boys – would benefit from positive, balanced images of girls and women.

(more…)