Activism Log 3

Jessica Schwendeman
WST 3015 – Perez
3/7/2010

Activism: This morning I worked with the girls to sell cookies in front of the Super Wal-Mart at Colonial. This was a great opportunity to reinforce concepts learned; such as counting back change and correctly tallying their totals. I would constantly ask the girls how much change was due or how much a customer owed. Any questions regarding the cookies I would divert to the girls themselves to teach them the basics of customer service. I also tried to instill in them some basic marketing techniques, helping them come up with enticing tag lines to attract passers-by, up-selling, and creating an image for their product.

They had a very keen sense of what they were saving for (a trip to the Nickelodeon Hotel for “two whole nights!”) and seemed to enjoy selling the cookies. I actually love direct sales and had a great time. I don’t know how exactly how much the girls made but it was definitely a high-traffic area and they did very well.

Reflection: Girl Scouts is an important organization that teaches girls that they have a creative outlet, and also helps them to process the mixed messages they receive from everywhere – the media, their friends, their family, school, etc. Because 83% of girls experience sexual harassment at school (Seely 203), a mentoring organization can help them realize what’s not appropriate and how to fight back for themselves.

Reciprocity: I am really having a great time with the girls. They are very intelligent and strong, which I hope is at least something of a representation of the programming they are receiving from Girl Scouts.

Works Cited
Seely, Megan. Fight like a Girl: How to Be a Fearless Feminist. New York: New York UP, 2007. Print.