Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Outside the Mirror badge requirements.
Info Needed: Beauty isn’t the same everywhere or every time. Beauty standards are shaped by society, media, and trends, but they don’t define genuine beauty. Different cultures and moments in history have their own standards and being yourself is always beautiful. Learn about beauty standards in other cultures to recognize that beauty is defined in many different ways. Being true to yourself is more powerful than fitting into any single idea of what’s “normal.
Items Needed:
- Guests (in-person or virtually) who can briefly share one way beauty is expressed or valued in their culture.
- Space for listening and group discussion.
- (Optional) Computer, tablet, or phone for virtual guest access.
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–30 min):
- Welcome scouts and explain the goal of exploring beauty standards (2–3 min).
- Share that ideas about beauty have changed across cultures, times, and places.
- Remind scouts that inner beauty and self-expression are always part of the bigger picture.
- Listen to short presentations from guest speakers (10–15 min).
- Invite guests (in-person or virtually) to briefly share one way beauty is expressed or valued in their culture.
- (Optional) Use video clips or pre-recorded stories if live speakers aren’t available.
- Encourage scouts to notice differences in clothing, grooming, or meanings of “beautiful.”
- Group discussion and reflection (6–8 min).
- Scouts talk about what surprised them or stood out.
- Ask them to reflect on how expectations in their own culture compare or contrast.
- Reinforce that there’s no single “standard”. Beauty is diverse and personal.
- (Optional) Scout journaling or sketch response (2–4 min).
- Scouts may write or draw one thing they learned and one way they express beauty authentically.
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