This is our problem statement, which guides our work: FUFA is concerned about the way that women and girls are portrayed in the media. We feel that there are too many negative images of women and girls, and that these images are tied to sexual exploitation and violence against women. We understand that society creates the structure in which these forms of violence take place, and that the media has a large role in that process. We recognize that too many people accept media power and media images without challenging them, and that the media is not held responsible for its actions. FUFA has identified 3 issues in response: to create more positive images of women in the media; to educate the public about these problems, encouraging people to think & act about the media; and to make media more responsible for the images it puts out.

FUFA's work to take action around this problem statement has included:
-- A successful campaign to change the way a local radio station, La Ley 107.9, conducts its advertising;
-- The creation of a photo exhibit, Alternative Windows, which shows positive images of young men and women that we do not see reflected in mainstream media;
-- A partnership with a group of young men who take action with us to end violence against women;
-- Public events uniting hundreds of young people to learn about the issue and take action;
-- The promotion of press coverage around the issue, including local and national articles and TV coverage.

Every FUFA meeting, and every event, includes a discussion or popular education training in which young people can develop their ideas and analysis on the root causes of violence against women and girls. For example, the group has looked at media ownership and how it affects images in the media; we had an in-depth discussion about the alleged rape at Duke University; and we have analyzed street harassment as it impacts different identity groups. At a recent public event, which we held in partnership with 2 other organizations (the Young Women's Action Team & Public Square), young people led discussions about hip hop's portrayal of gender, and where the responsibility lies for negative portrayals.

At the same time, FUFA is all about action. Last year, the group took on a local radio station, La Ley, and successfully campaigned to have negative portrayals of women removed from billboards and advertisements across Chicago (see effectiveness, below). FUFA is now gearing up to take on the hypocritical indecency standards, which penalize even positive portrayals of sexuality while remaining silent about violence against women.

Another innovative aspect of our work is our partnership with young men. FUFA believes that violence against women will not end without involving young men as partners in this work. We hold dialogues with young men around media and violence, and these are facilitated by a team of young women and young men. We have also worked together with the young men to develop a travelling photo exhibit, Alternative Windows, which shows young people's ideas of positive images of men and women that are not portrayed in mainstream media. This new exhibit has already been seen by over 300 people in Chicago.

When we hold our bigger events, we do outreach in several ways: through online communications, such as listservs; through presentations at local institutions; and through contacts with organizations across the city. These events themselves are intended to be communications mechanisms. By showing the Alternative Windows exhibit, by screening films such as Beyond Beats & Rhymes, by hosting spoken word events and discussions, and by creating discussion guides for every event, we are able to communicate our message with a broad group of young people.

Finally, because FUFA is focused on media images of women and girls, an important part of our strategy is to gain positive media coverage of our work. In the past year, we have been featured in articles in the Chicago Tribune, In These Times, and several Spanish language newspapers. Our work has appeared on 3 TV channels, and in blogs. We provided these materials to youth groups across the city, who have used them to spark discussions about violence against women and the role of media.

FUFA has earned some money by providing trainings for groups and universities about media and violence against women, and by taking public speaking engagements on the issues.

In summer 2006, FUFA and a group of young male allies launched a documentation project called “Alternative Windows.” We distributed disposable cameras to young men and women and asked them to take photographs to answer this question: “What positive images of men and women are not represented in mainstream media?” The answers, reflecting positive family relationships, different identities, and people connecting across difference, is now a traveling photo exhibit, accompanied by readings and a discussion guide. It has already been viewed by over 300 people, and is now on the road across Chicago.

-- To continue to build our partnership with young men. While FUFA will remain a young women's space, the young men that we have worked with are committed to continuing to take action. We have found few examples of groups that have built co-ed partnerships around this issue, and we know that this work will be challenging but exciting as we move forward.

-- To target systemic issues impacting media portrayals of women, and violence against women: FUFA is now looking at the indecency laws and the role of the FCC in determining what can and cannot be played on air. We have educated ourselves about media ownership because we feel that it is important to understand the corporate control of media, and how this impacts the images we see every day. Our work will continue to move in this direction, so that we can have a broader systemic impact.

-- To build partnerships both locally and nationally: Our work will continue to be collaborative, and as we move into policy and systemic issues, we are working hard to build local and national partnerships in this work.

Training needs: Related to our financial need is a need for training. In fact, we have found very few organizations that have expertise in media justice as it relates to violence against women. We have been able to build partnerships with groups in the Bay Area that are experts on media justice for youth, and with groups across Chicago that are engaging in community accountability work to end violence against women. We are developing our own analysis around the intersection of these areas.