It might make the whole world change

BODYkind
Toolkit for Facilitators

Formal education has a long tradition of prioritizing the mind over the body. Instead of learning how movement, sensing, thinking, and feeling are interrelated, we are exposed to messages reminding us that our bodies are not good enough.

Restricting and condemning our bodies come at a high cost. When the gap between our minds and bodies is wide we might become strangers to ourselves. We might not be aware of our resources and the true range of our potential. To appreciate our bodies is to trust ourselves, and from that comes the power to make a difference in our lives and our communities.

The BODYkind project aims to transform the educational practices in which the bodies and body image of the learners are neglected or even damaged.

Body image consists of the personal relationship with our body - encompassing our perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and actions that pertain to our physical appearance. Body image can affect different aspects of our lives - interactions with others, experiences at school, meeting new people, relationships with friends and family members, physical activities and satisfaction with life in general. With our work, we would like to encourage young people not to avoid being active and voicing their opinions because they dislike their appearance. No one should feel less valued or less able to use their potential because of their appearance. And it requires some inner work and some social change as well.

The digital toolkit available on this website consists of eight training modules and offers ideas and non-formal learning methods which can be used to lead a conversation about body image with young people, boost their confidence and critical thinking, and encourage their active participation in developing inclusive and healthy communities.

The toolkit is still work in progress and will be published in spring 2024. Below there is a list of the topics it will cover. Meanwhile you can listen to our podcast where experts from different areas share their point of view on tackling body image in youth work and education. You can try out exercises for facilitators to improve your own connection to your body, your self-awareness and self-acceptance. And you are welcome to join our upcoming events.

This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. You can learn more about receiving the funding for similar international educational activities on the website of the Erasmus+ Programme.

  • Introduction to Body Image

    MODULE I

    How we see ourselves is essential for our self-confidence and well-being. Creating a healthy relationship with our bodies is a long process which can be challenging, especially in the period when bodies are changing and when there are lots of pressures around.

    This module introduces key terms and explains the relation between body image, learning and participation. It opens the discussion about our individual perception of our own bodies, and what has influenced it.

  • Bodies in Media

    MODULE II

    Media and social networks can have a significant impact on body image. Young people are constantly exposed to a content that can create unrealistic beauty standards, increase their insecurities, and lead to low self-esteem. Studies have shown that people who spend more time on social media are more likely to be unsatisfied with their bodies.

    The aim of this module is to increase the critical thinking of young people, to make young people aware of the negative effects that media and social networks might have, but also to encourage them to influence the conversation on social media by becoming the ones promoting realistic and diverse notions of beauty.

  • Body Stereotypes

    MODULE III

    We might be not aware of many stereotypes we have, yet they might unconsciously impact how we see or treat other people - we call them implicit bias. These biases are often unintentional and can influence our behavior even if we consciously believe in fairness and impartiality. So, when it comes to looks, we might have a certain bias toward people who are, for instance, fat, have tattoos, are extremely tall or short, and have blond hair or dark skin color.

    It is essential that we reflect on our stereotypes, question them, and act out of kindness towards ourselves and others. This module aims to raise awareness of how stereotypes and hidden biases influence our treatment of others.

  • Shame and Boundaries

    MODULE IV

    Many of us have an experience with body shaming - receiving hurtful comments towards our bodies - that is deep rooted in our societies.

    Responding to body shaming is one of the biggest challenges young people face. Nevertheless, there are opportunities to learn to recognize body shaming and raise the understanding how harmful it can be.

    This module explores various ways of addressing body shaming, such as setting boundaries, reflecting on our actions, and standing up against it. The proposed activities invite to cultivate empathy and inclusivity - two important elements that create safer spaces for the young people.

  • Embodied Arts

    MODULE V

    We are not used to talking about our bodies. Not really. We talk about the shape of them, or our satisfaction or dissatisfaction with them. But we do not speak about how it is to live in our bodies. How it is to breathe every few seconds, to digest, to experience love or fear. Maybe it is also, because there are not enough words for such a description. But there is one form that can allow us to have at least a glimpse of how we feel inside our bodies - and that is art.

    This module aims to increase the appreciation and acceptance of our bodies through creative process and reflection.

  • Finding Your Movement

    MODULE VI

    Movement is our natural need. As much as breathing or eating. But unlike with hunger or thirst, our body does not show us that much of its need for a stretch or a walk. Or maybe it does but we stopped listening. So, let us find our own movement.

    This module will help the learners to know how to nurture their bodies and how to use movement in a healthy way. It invites people to move through the daily errands and challenges with more ease. The module also teaches knowledge of how to experience a conscious movement and ability to provoke it.

  • Body Image and Identity

    MODULE VII

    How other people treat us based on how we look, how we evaluate ourselves based on what our bodies can do, and how we choose to change our appearance to express individuality or belonging to a group - these are just a few examples of how our bodily experiences interact with who we are.

    This module invites young people to reflect on different aspects of their identity and explore the role their body plays in how they see themselves and how they express themselves to the outside world.

  • Body as a Protest

    MODULE VIII

    Bodies are our universal tool which can also provide creative forms of participation. Sometimes bodies are used to set or erase boundaries between us and them. Sometimes the very presence of particular bodies can be a form of resistance against the political power or social expectations.

    This module aims to develop an understanding how changing body practices can help us to reach a bigger institutional or social transformation. It introduces how body expression can pass political messages, and invites young people to explore their personal needs and opportunities to become activists.