Girls, Looks and Works

Joan Jacobs Brumberg, author of "The Body Project, An Intimate History of American Girls" says that, "over the course of the 20th century, good looks rather than good works has become the measure of a female's self worth". Television, magazines and films focus on looking "perfect", while web based groups encourage young women to lose weight to the points of anorexia and bulimia. Today we look at the phenomenon of young women, why they focus on looks over works and how we can possibly reverse this trend. Laura's guests are Joan Jacobs Brumberg, author of a number of books about American women and girls including "The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls". Jordan Reed, a sophomore at Oyster River High School in Durham and Liz Ricciotti, a senior at Dover High School. Both girls participated in the Summer "Arts in Reach" film institute program and helped produce the documentary "Body Image: Stories and Perspectives". Click here to find out more information on the Arts in Reach program