Introduction

Welcome from the presenting sponsor

Conference program

Presenter bios

Presentation abstracts

Organizing committee

Conference contributors
Special Thanks to:



Public Service Announcement


INTRODUCTION

We hope that you joined us in Toronto, May 4-5, 2007 for SHADES OF GREY, an energizing and thought-provoking conference on body image and self-esteem.

Our conference theme is inspired by a poem that champions “real vision”, vision which comes from seeing complexity and nuance in a subject too often divided too neatly into black and white. We aim to change that at this conference. We want to do so by providing you with multiple opportunities --opportunities to learn what leading edge educators, activists and practitioners in the field of body image and self-esteem are doing, opportunities to share your own experiences and stories, opportunities to expand your horizons and fine-tune your understandings and ideas for future action.

It’s clear we need to move beyond the obvious concerns voiced these days about an obesity pandemic. But did you know that 25% of boys and 30% of girls aged 10-14 are dieting to lose weight, even though they fall within a healthy weight range? Or that weight and shape preoccupations are rarely about health or even vanity?

At a time when so many people are struggling with low self-esteem and negative body image, what other perspectives can we be trying on? And what other voices do we need to be hearing?

To find out, we invited you to come to SHADES OF GREY and share in this provocative and enriching exploration of body image and self-esteem.

We thank our presenters, delegates, partners and donors for making the conference the success it was.