workshop 6

Self-expression

overview

This workshop is about reflecting on and expressing ourselves with the Be Her Lead values of bravery, respect and empathy.

It is an opportunity for the group to bravely confront aspects of themselves they feel insecure about, and re-frame them in more empathetic and respectful ways.

Creating self-portraits together is an opportunity to create a space where self-expression is accepted and celebrated, rather than judged.

Copy of Zine issue 1 for printing (1).png

YOU WILL NEED

Everyone will need a small hand mirror – if you can’t provide these, ask everyone to bring one the week before
Self-portrait materials in what ever medium chosen - colouring pens, pencils, clay, collaging materials, paints. Provide as many colours and mediums as you can, so that the self-portraits can be colourful and playful.

check-in

Give everyone a hand mirror / ask them to take out the ones they brought.

Take 1 minute to allow everyone to look, in silence, at themselves in the mirror. Acknowledge that this will probably feel uncomfortable and strange.

After the 1 minute is up, ask everyone to write in their journals any words or phrases that came up during the minute, or the first things that come into their minds.

Next, ask everyone to close their eyes and ‘look inwards’ for another minute – reflecting on inner thoughts and feelings, fears and motivations, hopes and dreams.

Open eyes and again, take a moment for everyone to write down whatever comes to mind.

Go round the group, not pressuring anyone to share what they wrote unless they wish to, but asking how they found the experience. Remind them of the Be Her Lead value of bravery - it is very brave to look at ourselves honestly.

creative activity

““I told the girls about being super tall and how it was difficult to be so obviously different. But then I came to like being tall as it’s hard to hide when youre tall anyway – why try and hide when being tall is something that makes me unique?””

— Kirsty, Be Her Lead teacher, reflecting on this exercise

Taking the journalled words and phrases from the check-in as a starting point, and the discussion prompts below, ask everyone to reflect on an aspect of themselves with the Be Her Lead values of empathy, respect and bravery.

Using the hand mirrors as much or as little as you wish, spend some time creating self-portraits using the materials provided, maybe with music in the background.

As inspiration for the self-portraits, you could show students some of the images from the Be Her Lead zines , this section about self-portraits and identity from the National Portrait Gallery, or this series of self-portraits by Black photographers published by the New York Times in 2020.

Allow the group to use as many colours and mediums as they wish, and to be as abstract or as realistic as they like. Encourage the use of words and symbols.

discussion prompts

Which words or phrases from the check-in do you want to celebrate and show respect in this portrait?
How can you use empathy to re-frame something you are usually negative about?
Which parts of you require the most bravery to express?
How can you show your inside self, and your personality, in the self-portrait?
Which colours best express your identity or personality?
How could you celebrate your background and cultural heritage in this self-portrait?
As you’re drawing, how do you feel about yourself?

The exercise does not have to be relentlessly positive – encourage explorative, empathetic talk about aspects, physical or otherwise, that students might find difficult to be positive about.

Challenge negative self-talk with alternative interpretations, but also allow students to share negative feelings and see that they are not alone in feeling insecure. Hopefully, discussion will demonstrate the benefits of sharing and expressing our emotions, rather than hiding or bottling them up.

This could also be a useful opportunity to discuss inequities, and the way in which some bodies are more likely to be marginalised or objectified. Body positivity is not easy, but part of a wider struggle against racism and patriarchy. See further reading / thinking for more ideas.

check-out

Ask students if they are comfortable sharing their self portraits. You could arrange them round the room as a mini-exhibition.

Give everyone some post-it notes and depending on the dynamic of the group, either:

ask students to create a frame of affirmations for themselves using the post-its – these can be words (“funny” “fabulous”) or phrases (“you are unique”). This could be done privately if students don’t want to share.
ask everyone to wander round the exhibition, writing words and phrases of affirmation on the post-its and surrounding each image as a frame. This could be a powerful way of connecting the group, but carries a risk of some students feeling left out.