Kappa Delta and Zeta Tau Alpha sororities hosted Stand Up! Stand Out!, a forum to discuss the negative effects of the mediaܬs portrayal of body image.
Stand Up! Stand Out! is a national event that promotes discussion among college women about issues that affect women in todayܬs society.
The event was held for all Mississippi State women on Wednesday night.
Mississippi native Jennifer Ogden, executive producer for the movie ܬThe Family Stone,ܬ was the keynote speaker for the event.
Ogden discussed her views of Hollywood and the mediaܬs effects on women in todayܬs society.
ܬThe key is awareness. The more these issues come out and we allow ourselves to talk about these issues, the better chance we have to break the cycle of the current cultureܬs view,ܬ Ogden said.
The event was a first for both chapters. Kappa Delta sponsors the event nationally.
ܬWe want to present this program to the sororities of MSU so they could get a better understanding about womenܬs empowerment and how important women are in todayܬs society,ܬ Zeta Tau Alpha representative Beth McDougald said.
The main objective discussed at the event involved ways to decide to overcome the negative body image issues that many women in todayܬs society deal with.
ܬKappa Delta wanted to participate because society puts a lot of pressures on women, and we felt it was important for MSU to have a better insight on it and be able to have an open discussion on the matter,ܬ Kappa Delta President Allison Blackwell said.
Ogden discussed the many problems in todayܬs society regarding the ideal body image projected upon women.
Ogden said the way to change this image and the way to fight it begins with the individual.
ܬChange happens when we are willing to uncover what has been covered up,ܬ Odgen said.
Lauren Burns, the Kappa Delta chairman for Stand Up! Stand Out! said the focus of the event was to encourage the women of MSUܬs campus to overcome the negative peer pressure imposed by todayܬs culture and society.
ܬOur hope is that women take away the idea that there isnܬt just one body type, that we all are accepted, and we must stand up and stand out that way,ܬ Burns said.
The event offered both a lecture from Ogden, as well as a question and answer period where audience members were allowed to voice their views and concerns on the matter with a response from Ogden.