Having high self-esteem means having an approving perception of one’s self, or being content with who you are. Self-esteem is a factor in how a person determines their self-worth, plus how they gains confidence and competence.
This is why attention should be paid to how girls on Kaua‘i gain self-esteem.
Many studies have shown that as girls go on from grade school to high school their levels of self-esteem drop drastically as opposed to boys. This usually occurs to girls putting emphasis on physical appearance in order to be happy.
“You got to be absolutely gorgeous,” says Dr. Elinor Weeks of the pressure teenage girls have. Being a psychiatrist specializing in children and adolescents, she understands how much of an impact a girl has in this time of her life.
Having low self-esteem is a factor in young girls dropping out of school or becoming pregnant. And this doesn’t go away with age. These girls are more likely to become women with low self-esteem, being more susceptible to depression, substance abuse, suicide, and eating disorders.
Nana’s House, located in Waimea, is an organization aiming at combating the problem. The program was developed by Child and Family Services and provides family support and family preservation services to the families of West Kaua‘i.
One of the programs that aim to boost self-esteem in girls is the “Girls are Great” program.
Girls are Great is a six-week program set to start this Fall when school reopens. Along with focusing on self-esteem, it also aims to encourage goal setting and a healthy lifestyle.
“This will also be a place for personal questions,” says Nancy Zerner, parent, school, and community facilitator at Nana’s House. Girls will be given a comfortable setting where they can be with other girls and counselors and talk about issues such as puberty and boys. Nana’s House also provides a Mother/Daughter program which is also six weeks long and has started this July. This program aims at having productive communication between mothers and daughters through activities such as watching video clips of poor and good communication, writing in weekly journals that ask for participants’ points of view on parenting and being a child, and doing crafts.
One way the program stresses effective communication is through talking sticks, where only the people holding them are allowed to speak.
“They help facilitate the conversation (between mother and daughter),” says Zercker of the program’s two goose head-shaped driftwood sticks decorated by the program’s participants with raffia, feathers, and beads that have the words such as “love” and “acceptance” written on them with a marker.
Registration for the Mother/Daughter program begins again at the onset of school. For more information about Nana’s House, call 338-0252.
The Girl Scouts program is another aimed at assisting girls on Kaua‘i.
Organized in Hawai‘i in 1933, the Girl Scouts has long been a part of developing the future women of Kaua‘i. Being a Scout helps girls achieve their full potential and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities and leadership skills, and by learning how to cooperate.
A year-round program, the organization’s Kaua‘i headquarters is located in Lihu‘e.
Girl Scouts participate in activities such as camping, hiking, exploring careers, arts and crafts, and marching in parades such as the Festival of Lights, Veteran’s Day Parade and the Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade.
“It’s a chance to grow personally,” says Troop 812 Scout Leader Leesha Kawamura.
The Healthy Relationships merit badge is one that Girl Scouts can earn that’s aimed directly toward developing self-esteem. A main goal in achieving the badge is learning how to make a relationship good, and what makes a relationship an abusive one. Becoming a Teen is another Merit Badge that Girl Scouts can earn by learning about physical development and social issues of a teenage girl. In gaining the Merit Badge named Differences are OK Girl Scout teach respect to themselves and to others.
For more on the Girl Scouts, call their office at 245-4984.
Developing physical competence through sport is another way girls can gain self-esteem.
Through de-emphasizing the importance of physical attractiveness and focusing on physical competence, they can learn to love their bodies for what they can do, instead of a perceived appearance by themselves and others.
Participating in a sport also allows girls to trust and rely on themselves and also give a sense of cooperation.
A large list of activities for all of the youths of Kaua‘i, not only just girls, are shown in the Kauai Youth Directory available at the Office of the Mayor. For more information on the Directory, call 241-6300.
