Skate Like a Girl » Blog Archive » Clothes Swap! Proceeds go towards scholarships for new 8 week classes!

Clothes Swap! Proceeds go towards scholarships for new 8 week classes!

16 August 2010 4 Comments

Superstar volunteer Leah Eister-Hargrave is coordinating a Clothes Swap!

Clean out your closet and take home a new (to you) fall wardrobe! Just in time for back to school! Bring your gently used clothes, shoes, accessories, etc to swap. Show up at 10:30am, swapping will start shortly thereafter. Women and girls only, please! Come mingle and have snacks with friends, and update your wardrobe all while benefiting Skate Like a Girl!

Entry is one bag of clothing (bring more if you did a super closet clear out! Leftover clothes will be donated to local organizations) + $20 per person, or $30 per family. Cash or checks only please.

The event will take place on Sunday September 19 from 10:30am -12:30pm.

Location: University Heights Center (5031 University WAY NE, Seattle RM 109).

Bring all your friends!

4 Comments »

kim schwarzkopf said:

This is a great fundraising idea! And a great cause! I heart clothing swaps…

# 16 August 2010 at 11:38 am

em d said:

Skate like a girl community! I am a 25 yr old female and have been skating for the last nine years. I have participated in various competitions, I have had a store sponsorship, and overall a love and true passion for skating. As a female skater I appreciate the mission of skate like girl and the efforts to create a more inclusive skate community. Although I am curious, interested, and supportive I still have found myself cringing at a couple of the flyers and have been reluctant to get involved due to the stereotypical representation of women and girls. My first introduction to skate like a girl was a flyer that had a young girl in a pink tootoo and pink gear as well as an image of high heels on a skate board. Although curious about ‘skate like a girl’ endeavors, I found myself totally turned off and angry at the flyer. I didn’t look into what you all had going on for months. I recently was inspired to check out current updates and events here due to a recent introduction at a skate park to the organizer of GRO (girls ride organization). She had informed me of a skate competition in the area and encouraged me to check it out to support the younger female riders. Anyways, I am back on your site and again have found myself cringing at the flyer for the clothing exchange. I feel that your flyer’s stereotype of an overly-femme lady in high heels with shopping bags illustrates an image that has been a long time oppressor of woman in active sports and in active arts. There is this idea that society pushes that females cannot be acceptably active in sports unless they still abide by the overly femme, sexy appearance. This message exists in adds, on T.V., throughout history, through the expectations of piers and family members. I encourage and support each individual to celebrate their own identity whether it is cohesive to societal standards or not; and i also encourage organizations or programs that I support to challenge the societal standards in attempts to allow individuals to express who they are freely. I’m speaking out because I want to see skate like a girl be successful in advocating for women, girls, and trans of ALL ages, races, sexual orientation, sexual identity, class, abilities,etc without flaunting stereotypes (femme or not). Oppression exists deep within the roots of our system, but we can continue to challenge the status que by starting with the places we spend time SKATE PARKS- and we can continue to check ourselves and each other in attempts to build a more safe, inclusive, supportive, and empowering community. I would love to hear back if you have any thoughts!
Kind Regards,
Em D

# 2 September 2010 at 1:37 pm

nancy chang said:

Thanks for taking the time to write. Skate Like a Girl and I whole heatedly agree with your critiques.

We have observed in the last 10 years that many girls and women are hesitant to label themselves feminists, or go beyond gender binary.
These for me are the participants that I would like to engage, because it’s a win-win situation for both SLAG’s mission and them.

SLAG does not operate in a silo, we want to broaden the spectrum of skateboarding. Our marketing is limited – volunteer designed, but they do not reinforce any ideals that the viewers don’t already want to adhere to. For example I am not a fan of stereotypes like the tutu, but in the framework of skateboarding, it is pushing the view that skateboarding is masculine. And the Clothes Swap is a ridiculous poster, who does heel flips in heels? It’s suppose to be funny, but really it is up to viewer to generate and prescribe meaning to images.

But using a variety of posters, that don’t appeal to one group is important to us. That’s how we can rope in the girly girls and the tom boys, to skate together in a community that values both of their sense of selves. As people get involved they understand what a supportive community is like, which counters the current skateboarding mainstream, which is mostly focused on performance, and adhering to masculine values.

People are meant to evolve based on experiences, and when these two extremes girly girls that believe they have to navigate the world through their sexuality, and tom boys who often carry internalized sexism get together – they can grown and change together to see that life is not black and white.

My challenge for you is to get involved in a community and critique it from the inside rather then stay as an outsider.

I hope you feel this is of value. Hope to see you skate in the future.

# 13 September 2010 at 11:41 am

kim schwarzkopf said:

Good conversation…I agree with you Em D in many ways. But, knowing SLAG and how it started and who is involved, makes me love the posters and marketing, even though it doesn’t look like me.

I think the posters and all the marketing material is so professional and rad and the fact that it is all done on a volunteer basis is incredible. I think the image will grab womens’ attention- the women who are interested in trading some duds for duds and supporting a good cause.

Let’s help send some girls to a Skate Like A Girl clinic by rounding up a posse and checking out the swap!
We’re always looking for teachers/coaches too! Turn that curiosity, support and interest into action!
Peace, kim