Podcast — Caralena Peterson

#TBH: Collegiate Women real talk

a call to female-identifying undergrads: are there hidden aspects of your college experience that you think need to be brought to the forefront of conversation on your campus and beyond?

Caralena peterson is currently embarking on a journey to 22 campuses across the u.s. to capture a more open and honest dialogue about the gender issues today’s women run into in college. she is looking to combine her speaking tour with her podcasting — allowing her to share some insights from her book, while also providing an opportunity for students act and engage.

the topics covered in the 22-episode podcast are listed below. if you and your friends have something to say about these issues (or you think something important is missing!), email cara.peterson14@gmail.com to set-up a phone call to discuss a future collaboration. Caralena typically tries to interview 6-8 female-identifying undergrads per campus. diversity of perspectives is crucial.

episode 1: “Effortless Perfection” — debunking the myth and considering a new dominant narrative. (Host Campus- Duke)
Episode 2: Self-esteem – women tend to leave college with less self-esteem than came in with while male peers leave with more. the word “enough” and the weight it holds for young women.
Episode 3: Reassurance addictions – using accomplishment as a cure all. Female students dropping out of STEM classes for fear won’t be able to achieve an A.
Episode 4: Stereotype Threat and Imposter Syndrome – plus a need for role models who are willing to show that they don’t have it all and are willing to be vulnerable.
Episode 5: Confidence – how it is often defined in a masculine way and how women can work to create their own forms of displaying confidence, focus on women in student government.
Episode 6: Assertiveness – are the handicaps women experience “self”-imposed? What role do social sanctions and the status quo play?
Episode 7: Being a “good girl” – the seductive power of niceness and unanimity. fear of being controversial. over apologizing and feeling pressure to always appear cheery.
Episode 8: Dissent— how female expressions of disagreement and anger are often interpreted more harshly. fear of expressing anger even though it holds certain power. getting “political.”
Episode 9: Depressed-entitlement effect – plus search for validation.
Episode 10: Disordered eating– the alarming normalcy of disordered eating on college campuses. expanding our understanding of disordered eating beyond anorexia. racialized beauty standards.
episode 11: Social media and body-image – social media is home to both pro-ana and body-positivity accounts (choosing wisely). advertisements and insecure consumerism. not feeling ownership over our own bodies.
Episode 12: Beneath the surface – factors of disordered eating that go far beyond just how one looks. societal denial of female appetite. recovery and embodiment.
Episode 13: Hook-up culture – ambiguous nature of the term “hook up,” steering away from labels and relying on subtext. creation of a “you’re lucky to be with him” mentality.
episode 14: Pros and cons of hooking up – plus how it impacts the LGBTQ community and women of color.
Episode 15: The smokescreen – why so many students are projecting they just want to hook up when stats show they often crave a full-fledged relationship.
Episode 16: Raunch culture – what does a “sexually empowered woman” look like?
Episode 17: Uneven power dynamics – the nuances of coercion and the predatory nature of acquaintance rape. #metoo.
episode 18: I believe her – rape culture/jokes. negligence and apathy to act when sexual assault occurs. #iamthatgirl and other movements showing solidarity with survivors.
Episode 19: Belonging – trading our values for a chance to fit in. striving to be “easy enough to love.”
Episode 21: Pursuing an image versus an identity – the link between effortless perfection and mental health. analyzing our relationship with control. showing vulnerability.
Episode 22: The personal is political – coming together as a collective force to address the issues we discussed. what now?

#TBH: Collegiate Women real talk

a call to female-identifying undergrads: are there hidden aspects of your college experience that you think need to be brought to the forefront of conversation on your campus and beyond?

episode 1: “Effortless Perfection” — debunking the myth and considering a new dominant narrative. (Host Campus- Duke)

Episode 2: Self-esteem – women tend to leave college with less self-esteem than came in with while male peers leave with more. the word “enough” and the weight it holds for young women.

Episode 3: Reassurance addictions – using accomplishment as a cure all. Female students dropping out of STEM classes for fear won’t be able to achieve an A.

Episode 4: Stereotype Threat and Imposter Syndrome – plus a need for role models who are willing to show that they don’t have it all and are willing to be vulnerable.

Episode 5: Confidence – how it is often defined in a masculine way and how women can work to create their own forms of displaying confidence, focus on women in student government.

Episode 6: Assertiveness – are the handicaps women experience “self”-imposed? What role do social sanctions and the status quo play?

Episode 7: Being a “good girl” – the seductive power of niceness and unanimity. fear of being controversial. over apologizing and feeling pressure to always appear cheery.

Episode 8: Dissent— how female expressions of disagreement and anger are often interpreted more harshly. fear of expressing anger even though it holds certain power. getting “political.”

Episode 9: Depressed-entitlement effect – plus search for validation.

Episode 10: Disordered eating– the alarming normalcy of disordered eating on college campuses. expanding our understanding of disordered eating beyond anorexia. racialized beauty standards.

episode 11: Social media and body-image – social media is home to both pro-ana and body-positivity accounts (choosing wisely). advertisements and insecure consumerism. not feeling ownership over our own bodies.

Episode 12: Beneath the surface – factors of disordered eating that go far beyond just how one looks. societal denial of female appetite. recovery and embodiment.

Episode 13: Hook-up culture – ambiguous nature of the term “hook up,” steering away from labels and relying on subtext. creation of a “you’re lucky to be with him” mentality.

episode 14: Pros and cons of hooking up – plus how it impacts the LGBTQ community and women of color.

Episode 15: The smokescreen – why so many students are projecting they just want to hook up when stats show they often crave a full-fledged relationship.

Episode 16: Raunch culture – what does a “sexually empowered woman” look like?

Episode 17: Uneven power dynamics – the nuances of coercion and the predatory nature of acquaintance rape. #metoo.

episode 18: I believe her – rape culture/jokes. negligence and apathy to act when sexual assault occurs. #iamthatgirl and other movements showing solidarity with survivors.

Episode 19: Belonging – trading our values for a chance to fit in. striving to be “easy enough to love.”

Episode 21: Pursuing an image versus an identity – the link between effortless perfection and mental health. analyzing our relationship with control. showing vulnerability.

Episode 22: The personal is political – coming together as a collective force to address the issues we discussed. what now?