Changing lives by changing appearances

“I first got referred to Image for Success back in 2010 when I was 16 years old,” said Herrera. “I was doing an internship at the County of Marin and my supervisor was in the process of choosing an intern to work for Senator Mark Leno’s office over the summer. I was honored when she said she wanted me for the position. However, the first thought that popped into my head was, “what do I wear to work at the state senator’s office?” My supervisor thankfully had already sent out my referral to Image for Success. She explained what the program was all about; and shortly after I received a phone call to set up an appointment. I was very excited the day of my appointment, but I was also a bit nervous. I had never shopped or even tried on any business attire in the past, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The personal shoppers, on the other hand, were very knowledgeable about what would be good for the job I was doing, what was age appropriate, but most importantly what looked good and would make me feel comfortable and confident. I was very grateful walking out the door with a new wardrobe ready for my first day at Leno’s office with the confidence of a professional.”

The saga continued.

“Years later, in 2015, I was referred a second time to Image for Success,” Herrera said. “This time, I had just been hired as an assistant to the ESL department at the College of Marin. I was much more nervous for my second appointment because I had just had a baby and was not comfortable with my body. Nevertheless, the personal shoppers greeted me and made me feel comfortable right away with their bright personalities and knowledge of clothing. I never thought I would feel as comfortable in clothing as I did that day. They showed me many tricks about how to wear clothing, and not let it wear you. On my way out, I stopped to thank Skipper Cummings, the program director. We talked about my position at the College of Marin and she mentioned Image’s interest in hiring a part-time assistant who is bilingual. I was thrilled because I have always had a passion for working with people and seeing them grow. I was hired in July of 2015 and could not have asked for a more rewarding position. I am an administrative assistant, and I also work in the retail store. Recently, I was given the privilege to start dressing families, and it has been a wonderful experience. As Skipper says, ‘we get more than we give.’ I look forward to many more years with this amazing nonprofit organization, but more importantly with these wonderful volunteers, dedicated staff, and heartwarming clients.”

On March 9, Image for Success and the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) hosted a celebratory event at Image for Success in honor of Women’s History Month.

According to The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits, Image for Success and four other agencies are kicking off events in March throughout the U.S. aimed at helping women prepare as much as possible for employment. Smart and Sexy Day events will inspire women — boosting their self-confidence so that they feel assured, confident and, most of all, employable. The holiday was launched in 2012 by The Women’s Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits — a national organization of independent, community-based member organizations who provide professional attire and career skills training to low-income women and men — and sponsored by Ariela Associates International, one of the largest privately held lingerie companies in the country.

“Image for Success is proud and honored to be a part of the “Smart and Sexy Day” event for our fourth year,” said Diane Ettelson, Executive Director of Image for Success. “We’ve seen lives transformed by the knowledge shared and the opportunities presented, and we see attendees land new jobs, promotions, and job interviews. With a new wardrobe from Image for Success and new undergarments from Ariela Associates the women leave with more confidence and enthusiasm for their job search. We can really jumpstart the lives of so many Marin women in need, all in one day. It’s also a great example of how effective and innovative collaborations can be between non-profits and for-profits.”

As part of the celebration, the Image for Success will provide a day of workforce training, a professional image class and individual support for women with the goal of enabling them to take action, secure employment and enhance the quality of their lives. The goal of this special event is to help women feel good about who they are. Women who attend Smart Sexy Day will receive foundation garments from Ariela Associates International. The impact of the day is to demonstrate how Ariela Associates International, ACDN and organizations like Image for Success support women in more ways than one! Attendees will also be taught how to shop and build a professional wardrobe on a budget.

“In today’s slow rebounding economy, it continues to be difficult for those who have been out of the job market to find employment. Combine that with not having the appropriate clothing to make an excellent first impression at an interview, it can create impossible barriers for some disadvantaged women,” says Jeanne Flint, Fund Development Chair of the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits.

“We find that when women wear clothing that fits right and looks professional, they are more confident and can project that confidence in an interview. Our community-based, volunteer driven member organizations serve over 60,000 women each and every year, day in and day out assuring low-income women seeking self-sufficiency have an equal chance! Smart Sexy Day brings awareness to this important work and the impact our members are having on thousands of women’s lives in your community.”

Contact Chris Rooney at scope@marinscope.com.

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When It Comes to Ideas About Gender, Children May Be More Progressive Than Adults

Research supports this early flexibility in children’s gender concepts. For example, in a well-known study, psychologist Sandra Bem showed preschool-aged children three photographs of a male and female toddler. In the first photo, the toddler was naked; in the second the toddler was dressed in gender-typical clothing (e.g., a dress and pigtails for the girl, a collared shirt and holding a football for the boy); in the third photo, the toddler was dressed in stereotypical clothing of the opposite gender. Bem asked the children a variety of questions. First she asked them about the photo of the naked toddler and the photo of the toddler dressed in gender-typical clothing, asking children whether the toddler was a boy or a girl. She then presented the children with the same toddler dressed in opposite-gendered clothing. She told them that the toddler was playing a silly dress-up game and made sure that the first nude photo of the toddler was still visible for reference. She then asked the children whether the toddler in the third photograph was still a boy or a girl. Most 3-to-5-year-olds thought that a boy who decided to dress up like a girl was now indeed a girl. It wasn’t until children internalized the simplistic logic that boys have penises and girls have vaginas that they also began to express the idea that changing your clothes doesn’t change your gender.

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