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:
- Printed bios or image cards showing beauty standards from different cultures (5–10 examples).
- You can find information for cards in Cultural Beauty Standards Around the World.
- Tape or clips to hang or display cards around the room.
- (Optional) QR codes linking to short articles or videos.
- (Optional) Reflection slips or worksheets.
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–30 min):
- Set up a gallery walk with cultural beauty bios (5–7 min).
- Display printed cards or posters around the room showing how beauty is expressed in different cultures.
- Include short descriptions, images, or quotes from each region or tradition.
- (Optional) Add QR codes for scouts to scan and explore more.
- Scouts walk through and observe (8–10 min).
- Encourage scouts to read, compare, and notice differences in clothing, grooming, or values.
- Ask them to look for what’s admired in each culture and how it reflects identity.
- Group reflection and discussion (6–8 min).
- Scouts share what surprised them or what they related to.
- Ask: “Did any of these standards feel familiar?” or “What do they say about what people value?”
- (Optional) Personal response (3–5 min).
- Scouts write or draw one way they express beauty authentically.
- (Optional) Create a mini “My Culture of Beauty” card with their own values, style, or traditions.
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