Tuesday 15 July 2008

“Get Real!”, a major event on body image issues, will be held on Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Friday July 18, as part of World Youth Day.

Hosted by independent women’s think tank, Women’s Forum Australia , “Get Real!” will take place at the Parkside Ballroom, Sydney Exhibition and Entertainment Centre, at 8pm.

The event will look at issues around the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls in popular culture, body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. The Sydney launch of WFA’s magazine-style research paper Faking It will also take place on the night.

Speakers include Adelaide researcher and Faking It author, Selena Ewing, Kids Free 2B Kids founder Julie Gale, from Melbourne, Canberra author, commentator and Faking It editor Melinda Tankard Reist and Dannielle Miller from Enlighten Education, Sydney. Rising Melbourne artist Alexis Smibert and Australian Idol’s Gary Pinto will perform.

WFA spokeswoman Melinda Tankard Reist said “Get Real!” was perfectly placed within a global youth event, because young people everywhere were facing pressure to buy into a culture that idealizes perfect bodies.

“This pressure is taking a massive toll, shown in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, self-harm and low self-esteem,” Ms Tankard Reist said.

“Get Real!” will be a great opportunity to focus on the issue and the need to do more to protect the health and wellbeing of young people growing up in a culture that is becoming increasingly toxic.

“We want to help them resist the negative message from popular culture and live real, authentic and unique lives”.