Social media campaign promotes women’s empowerment
By Sam Rakestraw // Staff Writer
With increasing social pressure, many attempt to replicate the body images painted by the media in order to avoid social rejection. High Point University junior Tiffany Jones is working to rise above this issue rather than accept it.
In an effort to do so, Jones came up with the idea for an event independent from any student run organizations called the Women’s Empowerment Campaign that aims to promote awareness and challenge media expectations.
“I got the idea the week before Valentine’s Day during a Friday night,” said Jones. “I was watching Lifetime TV and a documentary about women’s portrayal in the media was on. It covered all the bases about it and it got me thinking.”
On Valentine’s Day morning, the women who participated each posted pictures of themselves minutes after they woke up without make up or any photo editing.
Many students were eager to help after Jones announced the event and agreed to participate. In preparation, students posted notices on social media and Jones consulted graphic design major, Maddie Romano, to design a flyer for the campaign.
“Tiffany left the design entirely up to me, just telling me the information she wanted on the flyer as far as what the campaign was, how to participate and when it was taking place,” said Romano.
On Valentine’s Day morning, over 30 participating photos were uploaded to various social networks such as Facebook and Instagram.
“It was really powerful seeing how many people got on board,” said Jones. “A lot of residents from the women’s complexes submitted photos and we even had a few people from around the nation also post their own.”
Following this year’s success, Jones plans to run the campaign again on next year’s Valentine’s Day.
“With all these ways the media pictures us, we’re pressured to look a certain way,” said Jones. “Our campus isn’t immune. It helps us to all come together and say that we are happy just the way we are.”