The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Rock on!
Singer empowers young women
By Sheila Pursglove, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: January 10, 2008
As vocalist for the locally based metal-punk hard rock band Bloodlined Calligraphy, Ellen Hoffman is a role model for thousands of girls and young women.
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It's a responsibility the Saline-area resident takes very seriously.
The tech-savvy Hoffman recently took over leadership of the organization Girls with Self Respect, an online movement that originated in the popular social network Myspace.
"It's defined as a movement of 'positivity' that encourages girls of all ages from all over the world --the power of reach that Myspace has -- to have respect for themselves and to stand up tall for their morals, values, beliefs, class and dignity," Hoffman said.
"Many people have read or heard about the horrific, sometimes tragic stories of young teens meeting up with strangers from the Internet through Myspace," she said. "It leaves people asking what good does Myspace do? Do these tragic stories outweigh the good that comes from Myspace?"
Hoffman believes the Girls with Self Respect movement can demonstrate the positive power of Myspace. The group, which launched in August and is free to join, currently boasts a membership of about 3,000 girls and boys.
It has managed to create chapters in just about every state and in a few countries overseas, including Australia, Germany and France. Chapters are run "by the girls and for the girls," Hoffman said.
The organization promotes itself and its positive message to young girls through homemade Internet banners created by members to post on their personal Web pages, by word of mouth and by fliers created and printed at home to pass out at schools, churches, community events, concerts and athletic events.
Hoffman, the daughter of a North Carolina pastor, runs the organization and its Web site in her spare time when she's not working or playing with the band.
It's a movement she passionately believes in.
"I've always been this way -- held self respect enough for myself to steer clear of what I knew was not right for me. I stood up for my morals and personal values and choices, even when it caused me to be a loner and get made fun of," she said.
"It's my goal now to be a positive role model and leader for all the girls who need this message before it is too late and they do something regrettable and drastic, who need the strength they can find within themselves with the help of GWSR and its supporters."
The organization is still young, and has a lot of growth ahead. It has already created merchandise in the form of T-shirts and tote bags, and plans to do more so that members and supporters can show off what they support, feel stronger in where they stand, and so the organization can re-invest in itself to keep up promotion of its positive message, Hoffman says.
"I have big plans for GWSR to get the movement on as many radars as possible and to affect girls' lives for the better as much as possible," she said.
"In my opinion, if a few girls' lives and outlooks on things are changed for the better, then Girls with Self Respect has accomplished its goal and I can feel that I have made the best difference that I could."
Sheila Pursglove is a freelance writer. She can be reached at bingley51@yahoo.com.
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