The Supermodel Astronaut Challenge: traversing frames of mind

Abstract

Purpose

The Supermodel Astronaut (SMA) Challenge began with a group of women in a graduate class who joined together to take the pledge “I Am Enough.” The goals of the pledge are to practice positive affirmative actions of self-acceptance, self-grace, self-improvement and positive encouragement of oneself and others. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The SMA Challenge involves an online video pledge to encourage women and girls to demonstrate their opposition to the promotion of singular ideals of body perpetuated through media. Various individuals and groups have created music videos titled SMA to the soundtrack created by Ellen Tift (the originator of the project).

Findings

Here, framed by Daignault’s (1983) theories on curriculum construction, the authors critically reflect on their support of the idea of the video, but also their apprehension and insecurities in participating in the video production.

Originality/value

From reflections, writings and dialogic discussions, they determined five embodied frames of mind that supported them in traversing the liminal space of new learning: imagining the possible, learning in doing, settling in vulnerability, journeying through empowerment and heightening self-reflection.

Citation

Glasser, L., Young, E. and Sameshima, P. (2019), "The Supermodel Astronaut Challenge: traversing frames of mind", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 415-425. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-02-2019-0023