ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 7, 1996 TAG: 9605070049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Reporter's Notebook
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
In the past few years, Blacksburg High School art teacher Linda Hinson found herself talking with more and more teen-age girls. They confided to her their eating disorders, their pregnancies, their lack of self-esteem.
They made her aware of the need for guidance and support, and most of all, knowledge.
"Guidance counselors do so much - we could use a few more to handle it all," she said. "But some kids don't feel comfortable talking with them, or to me, so this was a way to pick up kids who were kind of on the outskirts and help them."
She started the Women's Studies Club. In its first year, the club has about 60 members; a quarter of whom are boys.
"They're concerned about women's issues too - they've got sisters and moms, and maybe one day, wives."
The group, which meets about once a month, recently discussed the way women are portrayed in advertising. Particularly, Hinson said, the group looked at beer and alcohol commercials.
"There were a lot of kids who left that meeting pretty mad."
It's the kind of knowledge, Hinson said, teen girls need as they face peer pressure, gender stereotypes and dating.
"You see these kids who are so curious and so forward, and then all of a sudden all they seem to care about is whether their blush was on right."
She said there are many girls who "have very heightened awareness" about the challenges many women face. They notice, she said, when they feel threatened around town or when boys are favored in class.
Fellow teacher Lee Worley teaches a self-defense class for the club. Members have invited others to discuss teen nutrition, self-esteem and sexual harassment.
Last month, the group and Hinson's efforts were recognized by the Blacksburg Branch of the American Association of University Women, which awarded Hinson teacher of the year.
Hinson received money for the club, and she said she might buy more books for the library or more materials for Women's Month, which takes place each March.
Hinson said she was surprised by teens' positive response to the club and to her.
"I guess I work very hard to treat the kids fairly, and I take their concerns very seriously," she said.
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