Drew Dakessian and "GirlCaught!"
Drew Dakessian is a feminist activist in Portland, Oregon, who started "GirlCaught", a campaign to raise awareness of how the advertising industry harms young women. It is a sticker-based campaign. This direct action tactict has been used before on magazines and billboards and makes a big impact on the offending companies and the public.
The value of visible public resistance cannot be underestimated:"Direct action can be seen as theater dramatizing issues and raising awareness about them; as punishing oppressors by exacting costs in terms of energy, time, anxiety, reputation, and money; as exposing oppressors to public scrutiny; as publicity for the causes involved; as a means of energizing and emboldening supporters; and as an organizing tool." ("Women Rising in Resistance: A Direct Action Network")
Drew Dakessian came to my attention via Ms. magazine (p. 53, Winter 2003/04). "GirlCaught" arose out of a "Turn Beauty Inside Out" (TBIO) conference; information about previous Turn Beauty Inside Out Campaigns as well as action kits can be found at the "Mind on the Media" website. Be sure and read the shocking facts there.
2 comments:
Wow...thank you. This is Drew Dakessian. My mom recently told me to google myself because of the media attention I was getting, and lo and behold, I'm on your blog. I thought you'd like to know that you got the story right, even more so than Ms. Magazine did. Kudos.
You're welcome! Glad you stopped by.
And if no one has said this to you - thank you for being courageous enough to put yourself in the public eye on this important issue. The advertising industry harms girls and women and it's great that you've taken action. I admire you and the others involved in GirlCaught. Keep going, I wish you all the best! :)
Take care,
- Sour Duck
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