SPARK Summit Ignites Movement Against Sexualization of Girls

It's hard for girls to just be girls when they're assaulted by a constant stream of hyper-sexualized images of young girls and teens every day. Even worse, teens regard these images as 'normal.'

When fashion, music, television and film all force feed us a diet of girls looking much older than their years, it's no wonder that girls as young as 11-14 are already sexually active. As responsible adults we may realize this is going on, but we rationalize its impact. How many times have you heard a mother say, "Well, this is what other kids are doing, but not my child."

For girls and teens who resist these media images and want to learn about advocacy and activism -- and those adults who want to provide support and guidance -- all it takes is a spark.

SPARK -- Sexualization Protest: Action, Resistance, Knowledge -- is a one-day summit to train girls, teens, and young women to speak out, push back on the sexualization of girls, and launch a girls' rights movement to promote healthy sexuality. Scheduled for Friday, October 22 at Hunter College in New York City, SPARK brings together the country's leading activists, sex educators, media experts, psychologists, scientists and bloggers to inspire participants and promote change.

Registration is $25 for girls and young women activists age 14-22, $50 for adults, and $15 for the SPARK virtual summit for those who can't attend in person.

Keynote speaker for the event is Geena Davis, actor, activist, and founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.