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Overcast Baldwin graduate awarded for promoting body neutrality
Sterling Young-Wells, Baldwin High School Class of 2021 graduate, has achieved the designation of Gold Award Girl Scout with her "Operation Body Positivity” project, which she devoted over 100 hours of work.
“With my Gold Award, I hope to spread long-term awareness on the fact that you are not alone if you are struggling with your self-image, but it is more than necessary to separate your worth from your looks, as well as educating adults such as Girl Scout Troop leaders and coaches on how to approach these subjects with their girls," said Young-Wells.
Formerly known as the “fat acceptance movement,” the body positive movement began in the late 60s focusing on putting an end to fat shaming and weight discrimination by attributing different meanings such as the appreciation of your body despite its flaws, confidence, self-love, body acceptance, and the promotion of body neutrality.
Now a freshman at Clemson University, her goal was to help people understand how the intrinsic bias of societal norms within beauty and media contribute heavily to the relationship that people, especially teenage girls, have with their bodies. Her project placed an emphasis on the promotion of body positivity and neutrality.
Young-Wells explained, "Now more than ever, in a world where over 90% of youth are involved in social media, it has to be ingrained in young minds that you should not base your perception of yourself solely on your physical appearance, and it's okay if that's not easy.”
As a part of her research, she collected data from a survey she created that included responses from both males and females between the ages of 13 and 18. In her findings, she found that over half of the respondents felt their body image was not represented within media, and similarly, over half of the respondents have at one point altered their image in some way for social media.
She concluded, “The understanding of body neutrality is crucial because it is important for teenagers to understand that it is okay to not love everything about your body, but also that there is more to you than just your physical appearance.”
She created a pamphlet and presentation discussing, among other things, that the promotion of body positivity and doing whatever is needed to feel confident also comes with the popular message that thinner, fitter people are happier, healthier, and more beautiful which is untrue, as thinner people deal with weight and body image issues as well.
“Happiness and health are not contingent on weight,” Young-Wells emphasized.
Only six percent of Girl Scouts are recognized each year with this honor. In addition to receiving a badge and certificate, the Gold Award will often lead to academic scholarships and other financial awards for college.
Upon being designated with the Gold Award, Girl Scouts of the USA selects ten of the Gold Award Girl Scouts, nominated by local councils, as National Gold Award Winners. They are chosen based on their projects demonstrating extraordinary leadership, measurable and sustainable impact, and whether it addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue.
In addition to being a devoted Girl Scout, Sterling was on the Girls Varsity Badminton team and served as the Girls Varsity Soccer captain. She was also involved with the Principals Leadership Group, Superintendent's Advisory Council, Sportsnite Advisory Board (Props), as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She's currently in the Sigma Kappa Sorority.
Compiled by Cristina Arroyo Rodriguez.
