Mirror, mirror on the wall…do you see me? This is a question that will be asked in our campaign. It will focus on how our women today deal with the issue of an identity crisis. As we jump into the thick of it…identity issues can be one of the most crippling things in a young woman’s life as it hinders growth and confidence in self. Brooks described it as: “a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society. An identity crisis is a developmental event that involves a person questioning their sense of self or place in the world.”
For this campaign, we had the opportunity to speak with Jhanille A. Brooks M.A., a
Licensed Associate Counselling Psychologist. The aim is to get our audience to know that it is normal for women to not know who they are.
As stated by Brooks:
“Women have many expectations placed on them by society – we are expected to look and behave a certain way, we are mothers and wives and often act as all things to all people. This can cause a burden that blurs the way we view ourselves. People tend to experience identity crises at various points throughout life, particularly at points of great change, including beginning a new relationship, ending a marriage or partnership, experiencing a traumatic event, having a child, learning about a health condition, losing a loved one, losing or starting a job”.
However, it’s okay for them to work through these stressful periods.
Our campaign is designed to show women how to cope with an identity crisis and provide tools to help get them through this period. It must be noted that this is not described as a mental disorder. “identity crises are not mental health diagnoses”.
“Unresolved identity crisis and lack of purpose and sense of self can contribute to depression and anxiety”. Brooks also believes that identity achievement is attainable, meaning that someone can be contented with who he or she is.
Our primary target audience are young women between the ages of 18-21 and the secondary audience may possibly be the family members and peers of these young women. Young women should be encouraged and assured that it is never too late for them to find themselves. Everyone “finds themselves” at various stages of life. People can also choose to recreate their selves as life progresses. Based on Erikson’s Theory of Development, persons usually find themselves in early adulthood”.
We think this is a dominant issue within today’s society. Women don’t take the time out to get to know themselves because how they should think and look is already stitched into their minds. We aim to change this narrative as we need to get our young women to be comfortable with whom they are and not be worried about what society has indicated to be so.
