National campaign counters unrealistic beauty standards and gender stereotypes

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Women’s Center is hosting a series of events to celebrate the National Organization for Women Foundation’s Love Your Body campaign. Launched more than a decade ago, the Love Your Body campaign has countered unrealistic beauty standards, gender stereotypes and sometimes harmful images imposed by media and advertisers with a simple but powerful message to women and girls – Love Your Body.

Following is a schedule of events:

• 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Love Your Body Day Fashion Show: To kick off Love Your Body Day, the UMKC Women’s Center will present a fashion show at the UMKC University Center’s Pierson Auditorium, 5000 Rockhill Rd. The fashion show will feature models of all ages, sizes and colors. Door prizes and refreshments will be available.

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Love Your Body Day Tables: The UMKC Women’s Center will host informational tables in the UMKC Hospital Hill Health Sciences Building, 2464 Charlotte St.

• Noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Love Your Body Day Workshop: This interactive workshop will take place at the MindBody Connection, located in Rm. 161 of the University Center, 5000 Rockhill Rd. It will feature an open discussion of the media’s influence on body image.

• 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Love Your Body Day Tables: The UMKC Women’s Center will host informational tables at the Oak Street Residence Hall, 5051 Oak St.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.

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This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).