Use these discussion starters to get your Guides thinking about violence in real life and in the media:

• Ask the girls to define what violence is.
  Is emotional violence as harmful as physical violence? Talk about how emotional violence can begin a cycle that leads to physical violence. How do they feel when someone yells at them, calls them names, or threatens them?
• Discuss how violence is used in different kinds of media.
  Is it used gratuitously or is it integral to the plot? Is it used in a humorous way? Is it there to teach a lesson? Is used in a manipulative way?
• Discuss the consequences to media violence.
  Ask the girls to think about the realistic consequences of the violence they see in the media. For example, how would the people involved in the conflict feel in real life? What injuries would have occurred? What property damages would be incurred?
• Discuss why there is violence in media and why people attracted to it?
  Producers create violent media because it sells both at home and abroad -- many people want their entertainment to be action-packed.
• Ask if people can become de-sensitized to media violence?
  Do kids feel that they need to see more graphic violence each time?

Put-Downs
This activity guide examines verbal abuse (in TV sitcoms, film, fashion, pop culture and advertising) and how put-downs affect one's self-esteem and social/emotional well-being.

The Rules For Violence on Kids' TV
In Canada we have guidelines to control violence in kids' TV shows. Distribute The Rules handout and review with girls. (The Rules are adapted from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Voluntary Code on Violence.) Ask the girls:

• Are these are good rules?
• Are there other rules they would like to add?
• How well do children's shows follow these rules?