Self-Esteem Reads & Workshops for Girls

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Ranked #3,739 in Family, #122,019 overall

92% of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look

only 23% of girls like who they are

74% of girls say they are under pressure to please everyone.

Girls don't have to let disrespect and unrealistic ideals get them down...Instead they can learn to change their worlds (inside and out) through The Respect Basics!

Courtney Macavinta is an award-winning journalist, author, speaker and teen coach who has reached more than a million girls and women through her work, including her blog RespectRx.com and best-selling book, RESPECT: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect and Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed (Free Spirit Publishing), which has won both IPPY and iParenting awards.

Throughout her tumultuous teens, Courtney dealt with many of the same issues girls face today, from self-doubt and body hatred to risky choices and confusion about her multi-racial identity. Her hard-working family also struggled for respect amid substance abuse, incarceration, violence, poverty and racism. Like many, she fought to find respect without a compass or clue—then discovered it was within her all along. Today that is her message to girls and women everywhere: Respect is always within reach because true respect starts on the inside.

As an expert on teens and women, Courtney has been featured on CNN, Fox, National Public Radio, and in USA Today, CosmoGIRL!, Teen People, Teen Vogue, The Seattle Times, The San Jose Mercury News and numerous other media. She also has been featured as role model in the books The Quarterlifer's Companion, and Cool Women, Hot Jobs. Having been in online media for more than a decade, Courtney formerly was editorial director of the groundbreaking and Webby-nominated online and radio network ChickClick. Additionally, her articles have been published by The Washington Post, The Associated Press, Daughters, Common Sense Media, Wired News, Business 2.0, The Sacramento Bee, CNET News.com and others.

A devoted girl advocate, Courtney's work is focused on inspiring young women and their supporters to build self-respect, sisterhood and social change in their lives. She is an ambassador for the national organization Girls For A Change and has worked with organizations such as Girls Inc., the YMCA, the Ms. Foundation for Women, Girl Scouts and the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. She has conducted workshops and presentations for thousands of teen girls, parents, educators, and youth service providers and companies across the country.

Click here to learn more about Courtney's workshops for girls and presentations for parents and educators!

Learn about the Girls Guide to Getting REAL Tour this October here!
respectrx

The Respect Basics

Respect is connected to everything. Your feelings. Your choices. Your body image. Your relationships. Your safety. Your rights. And your future. Sure, getting respect isn't always easy. Sometimes you have to fight for what you want. But that's the secret we all need to learn: Respect is always within reach because true respect starts on the inside. Even in the face of disrespect, you can always take action by learning and living these basics:

1. Having Self-Respect
Knowing you're more valuable than all the money in the world. Knowing you have a mission in life. Knowing you deserve love-especially from Ms. You. Accepting yourself and seeing your amazing-ness. Finding and following your passions. Taking the time to get to know the real you (now and forever).

2. Listening to Your Gut
Tuning into that voice inside that tells you what you want, and what feels right or wrong. Making choices that pass your gut checks first. Protecting yourself when you feel unsafe. Trusting yourself-even when it means standing apart from the crowd.

3. Setting Boundaries
Exploring your personal beliefs and values. Deciding what's OK with you, and what's so not OK with you when it come to how you're treated or what's happening around you. Sticking to your boundaries when you need to protect yourself or stand up for what's right for you. Respecting your needs and saying no when you want to. Making self-respecting choices. Communicating your boundaries to make your relationships stronger-and honoring others' boundaries too.

4. Speaking Up
Using your voice because your opinions, ideas, needs and feelings matter. Letting your boundaries be known when it makes sense, like speaking up when something doesn't pass a gut check. Improving your relationships (or protecting yourself when needed) by learning to be assertive versus passive or aggressive. Speaking up in the face of disrespect of yourself or others. Telling your truth.

5. Building Strong Relationships (and Sisterhood)
Investing in creating respectful relationships because it makes you stronger and helps you reach your potential. Learning how to communicate respectfully. Understanding that you are not alone. Treating others how you want to be treated. Creating sisterhood in your life-accepting other girls and women for who they are, valuing them, supporting them and leaning on them. Believing that if other women are successful, you are successful (and if they are disrespected, you are disrespected).

6. Fighting for Equality
Understanding that you have certain fundamental rights. Respecting others' rights. Believing that all human beings are created equal. Never believing that you are less than others or above them. Fighting for your rights and against injustice. Leading social change to spread respect for all.

7. Getting Help
Taking care of yourself by getting help when you need it. Asking for support when you are hurting, disrespected, afraid or just don't know how to do something yet. Seeking help when you need to make changes in your life or to build up your self-respect. Finding supportive resources and environments when you need to heal or want to grow. Knowing that getting help isn't a sign of weakness but proof of your strength.

To learn all about the The 7 Respect Basics, check out RESPECT, "Chapter 1: What Respect Means to You." In the book, you'll find tons of tips for how to speak up, stay in touch with your gut, and spread respect!

Adapted from Respect: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect and Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed by Courtney Macavinta and Andrea Vander Pluym © 2005. Used with permission of Free Spirit Publishing Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 1-866-703-7322; www.freespirit.com. All rights reserved. Illustration by Catherine LePage © Free Spirit Publishing Inc. 2005