Presentation addresses challenges girls face in the era of social media

Navigating sex, dating, self-worth and relationships in the era of social media is challenging for girls and young women.

Helping girls and young women in the valley channel through these topics is the focus of “What Every Girl Needs to Hear: Life Beyond the Likes,” a free presentation planned at 6:45 p.m. May 4 at Glacier High School, 375 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, in the auditorium. Door prizes will be given away.

“My goal for this event is to provide tools for building confidence in a world and a generation so focused on getting approval of other people at all costs,” said organizer and presenter Noah Couser, who is also a health teacher at Kalispell Middle School.

Along with Couser, speakers include Courtney Baker, a teacher at Edgerton Elementary, and Amanda Minatra, creative director at Fresh Life Church.

“Starting conversations between generations about struggles, beauty and self-worth has become a passion of mine,” Baker said. “Giving women and girls a place to feel safe, hear stories, and know they are more valuable than they will ever understand is what this night is all about.”

Minatra added a similar sentiment: “I want to invest in and see this generation of young women to live life with confidence, remembering that they are loved, are valuable, and have a great purpose in this world.”

Couser used to give a similar talk to eighth-grade girls as part of health and sex education class at the middle school.

When he posted one of those talks titled “What Every 8th Grade Girl Needs to Hear,” on YouTube, he received hundreds of responses over the past three years and the video has nearly hit 3 million views. He also posted a talk given to eighth-grade boys.

Couser said the video’s popularity may be due in part to conversations that just aren’t happening at home.

“Young girls especially can benefit from someone in their life telling them they are valuable, and encouraging them to start by loving themselves and appreciating who they are as an individual in this world,” Couser said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.