An Activity Guide for Mothers & Daughters

Why was this book created?

Research shows that there is a direct and distinct link between a mother’s influence on her daughter’s ideas about health and body image. At a Dove Self-Esteem Summit, the idea of raising awareness of this important mother-daughter link came up repeatedly. It was felt that if mothers could become more aware of their attitudes towards their own body and those of their daughters, they could help them withstand the powerful influence of a media and celebrity culture that undermines their sense of beauty and self- worth. Recent studies from the Girl Scout Research Institute support this finding. They also found that although there are other major factors that influence self-esteem—including peers, boyfriends, celebrities, and messages from the media, mothers are in a very influential position to shape how narrowly or widely a girl defines “beauty.” The activities in this workbook are designed to raise self-esteem by encouraging mothers and daughters to embrace their own inner and unique beauty. The goal is to empower mothers and daughters to become stronger and more confident women.