GirlSpeak

In this episode we are going to explore shopping addiction from a psychological lens. Specifically, how our addiction to fast fashion, the modern world, and gender all play major roles in how we interact with and consume fashion.

TRIGGER WARNING: Before we dive into this podcast episode we want to give a quick trigger warning for the following topics: addiction, addictive behavior, and addictive substances. While this episode focuses on the complexities of shopping addictions, there will be other addiction related topics discussed. If any of these topics are at all triggering to you, please look after yourself and hold off from listening to this episode.

In this episode, we will be looking at the new, different, and exciting range of teenage fashions in the 1950s and 1960s. This was a particularly exciting period for teenagers, as they began to break away from their parents’ generation to develop their own distinct style and interests. Vogue stated that there was a “Youthquake” in the sixties, due to the overwhelming popularity of revolutionary new styles and trends brought in by teenagers. But why did the concept of the teenager develop? What changes were happening in society that brought about these changes in fashion? What were the most iconic clothes and why were they so popular? 

What do you know about the Greek myth of Pandora's box? In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first girl to be created. Her portrayal can tell us about how girls were viewed and treated in ancient Greek society. This podcast will explore Pandora's portrayal and her influence on girls in later popular culture, in order to understand why girls are so often taught to not be curious or ambitious. 

Why are girls discouraged from being wild, free and playful when they grow up? Can we ever regain this wildness? This podcast looks at the Festival of Arkteia in Ancient Greece, in order to explore where this idea of purging wildness in girls comes from. 

This month marks 100 years since the death of Nellie Bly. Remembered for her investigative journalism, most do not realize that Nellie was a *girl* when she began her remarkable career. We investigate.

In this special episode for International Day of the Girl, Yuwen talks with Fabiana Romain, the LOG OFF movement’s podcast co-host and director of its Female Empowerment initiative. Learn about the beginnings of LOG OFF and Fabiana's insights into social media use during the pandemic and in light of recent news, such as the revelation of studies from Facebook showing that Instagram is harmful for teenage girls. 

Our new exhibit 'More than Pretty: Girls and Body Decoration' is now live! Here we explore the history of body decoration the Ancient world and how girls who lived during this period would decorate themselves from the neck up. 

In today's episode, our junior girl Seav Lov recounts the fascinating stories of females goddesses present in Chinese mythology.

What do the Pendle Witch Trials, Wurzburg witch trials, and today's Democratic Republic of Congo have in common? Join us to explore the stories of girl witches...and how their circumstances reveal much about how we picture girlhood.

Tia Shah presents a special episode for International Day of the Girl 2020, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic and how it presents an opportunity to foster a "brave new world."

What role did Greta Garbo's girlhood in Stockholm play in her life and career? In exploring Greta's biography, Tiffany reveals the secret power of introverts.

Is there one way or a right way to learn? Education Adviser Hillary Rose explores the stories of young girls achieving advanced educations to answer our inquiry.

In the second of our First Girls mini-series, Sophie looks at more recent 'First Girls', up to the present day. From Helen Taft to Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, these girls' stories illustrate how the role has changed in recent decades and prompt questions about sexism, racism and the future of girls in politics. 

Sophie takes a look back into the history of girls in the White House. Discussing how the role of 'First Girl' developed, this episode spans from Nelly Parke Custis through to Alice and Ethel Roosevelt.

Why do museums need girlhood? We reflect on an earlier episode and hear answers from our team.

In response to the global COVID pandemic, we're sending our well wishes, top tips, and thoughts on how acting together - and supporting one another - will help us emerge into a brighter future. Tune in to hear contributions from our Junior Girls around the world.

Karen Robertson details her research into the mother-daughter pairs who advocated for women's suffrage. Identifying a common theme of "focusing on future generations" in suffrage work, Karen details the mothers who fought for their daughters' rights - even if it meant they would not live to see those dreams fulfilled.

Karen is a museum professional in the United States, who has spent the past years preparing for the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She has spent time working with modern activists and researching historic activists. 

Ashley explores one of our earliest exhibitions and discusses what it means for girls who are canonized as saints. 

Tia Shah explores what infographic statistics can tell us about female entrepreneurship, what changes we have seen, and what changes we might see in the future. She also provides suggestions on what governments, business, existing entrepreneurs, the venture capital industry, and the media can do to better support future girl entrepreneurs.

Being an entrepreneur is not easy and being a female one is even harder. Historically and in the current day, female entrepreneurs face many challenges to starting and sustaining businesses. Not only do female entrepreneurs have to face inequality, limited access to education, familial pressure, sexism and more in many patriarchal societies– but women also have to tackle funding biases’, a lack of role models and supportive networks in the business world as well. Despite these challenges, female entrepreneurs can and are emerging, and their ranks are growing each day. 

Tia Shah explores the many struggles that girl entrepreneurs have historically had to overcome, and the ones that they currently face – seeing how a changing environment and world has eliminated some challenges while perpetuating others. 

Interview with Florence Schechter, science communicator and founder of The Vagina Museum. Here,  Head of Contemporary Art Scarlett Evans speaks with Florence about the museum's mission to empower and educate people about one of the most controversial parts of the body. 

Hillary, Libby, and Tiffany reflect on their experiences at the International Girl Studies Association at Notre Dame conference. 

In this podcast, Tia Shah explores the power of food in Indian culture. As she states, "Our personal, political, commercial, socio-cultural and psychological relationship with food reflects how we see ourselves; our roles in society and the home, and also how we see others and their roles. Food can crucially be used to define and bolster gender roles, but I will also explore how food can be used to resist oppression and to demonstrate conflict. In particular, I want to talk about how the preparation, serving and eating of food is linked to women and specific gender roles in India. My interest in this topic has sprung from my research for Girl Museum’s Girl Child of India exhibition. This new exhibition is all about what is like being a girl in India "

In 2011, we launched Girl for Sale, an exhibition about art, poetry and multimedia on the topic of human trafficking. In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we revisit the exhibition and focus in on what has changed since its publication, particularly in terms of girls being trafficked for underage marriage.