We heard earlier this week from Carrie Goldman, mother of Katie Goldman; the Star Wars girl who united fangirls and fanboys all over the world after her Mom shared her story of being bullied for carrying a Star Wars water bottle to school, that she will soon be releasing a book called Bullied. After her daughter’s experience with bullying, Carrie has poured herself into research for more than a year and has written an amazing guide telling us what every parent, teacher and kid needs to know about ending the cycle of fear. I was honored to speak with Carrie as she was doing research for her book and I had the opportunity to share my stories and experiences with her. In anticipation for the book’s release, I have joined Team Bullied, a website devoted to sharing videos from fans all over the world telling their personal stories about bullying and sharing advice. You can watch my video above.
Please visit the Team Bullied website and share your story. One way to help put an end to bullying and the cycle of fear is to speak up! This is another chance for all of us self proclaimed and proudly proclaimed Geeks to help pave an easier road and create a more accepting environment for the younger geeks coming up behind us.
THEN….At Celebration VI on Thursday August 23rd, make your way to room W311ABCD from 3:30 PM – 4:40 PM for a special panel, where I will be interviewing Carrie about Katie’s story and everything she has learned in her research for Bullied. Trust me it’s FASCINATING!!!! We will dive right into this subject that has affected everyone in some way or another. Everyone knows someone that has been affected by bullying, especially in our own community. This panel will be family friendly and educational for all ages, but I encourage parents to come and listen to Carrie. I have an advance copy of her book and she has become such an amazing advocate for anti-bullying and I look forward to chatting with her about everything she’s learned. We will also open the floor to questions, so please come and join the conversation.
I want to share a photo with you before I sign off, of this Clone Wars birthday card I saw in the grocery store. Katie was bullied because she carried a Star Wars water bottle to school and the boys made fun of her because they said Star Wars was for boys….Well do you blame them, when the retailers have signs like these? They are clearly saying that this card is not for a girl! Even with Ahsoka on the front! One small way to help all of the little girls out there that like Star Wars is to at least make it acceptable for them to receive a Clone Wars birthday card without feeling like they are getting a card meant for a boy. Last time I checked there are boy AND GIRL Jedi!
This was in my local grocery store
May The Force Be With You!
Ashley 
Ashley Eckstein is the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and also the Founder of Her Universe, the first merchandise line made exclusively for female Star Wars fans! You can follow Ashley on Facebook and Twitter.
Tags: Bullying, Katie Goldman
My 7 year old daughter loves SW. Last year for her BDay we had a party and we got her lego SW for her DS and a couple lego SW sets. When she opened them, she allowed herself to get embarrassed. We asked her why and she said because her friends think SW is for boys. Well, we keep telling her that she can like whatever she wants to. We keep encouraging her not to be shy about liking SW or anything else that is considered “boyish.” We’ll keep drilling this message into her head.
Hi Amanda!
Thank you for your comment and please tell your daughter that there are A LOT of girls that like Star Wars and she is not the only one! I used to be shy, just like your daughter, and I was into all of the boyish things too. Please tell her that Ahsoka is proud of her ;o) for being who she is and for being so brave! I sense the Force is strong with her…
I have seen that card and sign in the stores…Thing is, being a fan of anything should just be a part of the wonder of who you are, something that makes you “you”. I am a nerd, always have been, though back when I was of an age to be bullied–and, believe me, I was–there was no “Star Wars.” Today all of those things I love are what my friends find endearingly a part of me, and they accept me just that way. WHY can’t things be like that for all ages?!
Wow! I never knew that these cards were individually labeled. I personally have been bullied by star wars. I am glad Carrie made a book about this.
Ms. Eckstein I agree! When I went fathers’ day shopping I encountered the same thing I went to the grocery store today to do some Fathers’ Day greeting card shopping back in June. While I was going through the cards, I came across a few Star Wars greeting cards!To my disappointment, the Star Wars themed Birthday cards were in the “Boys Section.”
Now, many people can argue that Star Wars has mostly a male fan base.However, this is not so! (I would like to add that I was wearing my Her Universe Empire Strikes Back shirt at the time.)
I have ALL the Star Wars cards–from birthdays to greeting cards. Now, the greeting card company had the decency to not say in the inside “To an awesome boy…” like so many Superhero and sci-fi cards do.
Since we have so many Star Wars cards for boys, I don’t see why it would be hard to make an Ahsoka Tano or a Padme Amidala card. They could read, “To one tough Jedi…” or “Happy Birthday to the Queen of your world…” Maybe one day we’ll see birthday cards like this and when they come out, you can be sure I’ll be first in line to buy one!
I never been bulied about being a SW fan but my heart dose out to thous that have been. I think Katie is such a brave kid, she had her tuff times thinking that she had to hide what she loved but now she’s showing all of us that we don’t have to be secretive about what we like.
Once I went into a store and at the time I was wearing my Rebel Alliance shirt that my brother got for me and from across that store this guy yelled out “STAR WARS!” I turned to look at him and he was looking right at me with his thunbs up. I had a big smile on my face all the reast of that day. I would wear a jean jacket over my SW shirts inbarssed that I was a girl that was a geek, but after that day I wear anything Star Wars or geeky with pride and no jacket.
Thank you Ashily for your suport for all girl SW and syfi fans. MTFBWY
I haven’t actually been bullied yet about being a Star Wars loving girl, but I HAVE gotten some rather strange looks!
It is so funny that you posted this, because today I finished a purse I have been working on for myself: It is pink and white with a pink bow, and on the front in pink felt/embroidery I have “Star Wars.” Girls and Star Wars go together perfectly!
at school i’ve never been bullied for liking starwars. most of the guys thought it was cool and i even had a couple starwars marathon parties with my friends. however, my mom was always the one who criticized my liking of things that were “for boys.” i remember her telling me one time i think when i was in 4th grade that my yoda luncbox was boyish and that i should get a different one. My dad is the opposite though, he supports my love of starwars, which is what kept me a fan. now that my parents are divorced my mom is more accepting, although i think it’s because she knows if she keeps pushing me i won’t stay over at her place as much. except for last week when she walked into my room and told me it looked like a boys room because i had a wonder woman poster and SW action figures. i really like what your doing to help us fangirls and wish you luck, MTFBWY
Ashley, you’re such an awesome role model! Great to hear about you joining Team Bullied. My daughter Amanda, who always chats with you at NY Comic Con and at the last Celebration is so excited to see you again at C6. We will definitely be at the Bullied panel!
I work at a summer camp, and last summer I saw a group of girls teasing another girl for liking Star Wars because it’s “for boys.” I walked right up and said “I LOVE Star Wars. It’s for boys and girls. She is awesome for liking something awesome. If anything, she should feel sorry for you because you are missing out. Star Wars is the best and if you don’t like it it’s your loss.” Maybe a little off the cuff, but it did the trick. That little girl smiled so wide and said. “Yeah! Star Wars is the best!” It was pretty cute.
Ashley, I really enjoyed this video! I’m not that old, a girl, and people sometimes get on me saying that Star Wars is “dumb” and its for boys. You really inspire me, more than you know, and thank you for your video. May the force be with you, too!!
Can’t wait for SWCVI!
Also, I saw that same card, and it made me mad that it said it was for a boy. Uggh!
To ALL of the lovely ladies who have left comments, Thank you so much for sharing your stories with me and for your kind words! If you have time, it would be great if you could tell your story, film it and share it on the Team Bullied website! You are all so inspirational and you could definitely help others! Thank you again for your support!
I posted two videos on that website already. Though I wasn’t perfect in explaining myself in regards to my experiences with bullying whilst growing up at school, but I tried and I hope that people can relate to it in a way as well.
It just to show how in society today, a lot of people are not only ignorant, but can be cruel as well. One hurtful word can put a person down in a big way. Regardless if it’s a fandom they like, or for just being different, or for just having special needs. Bullying is bullying and it can have a drastic affect on some people!
It’s good to know that we are not alone indeed.
[...] of note: Bullied – What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know, led by Ashley Eckstein (who wrote about it last week) and Carrie Goldman, the mother of Katie the Star Wars girl, as well as a panel on Planning Your [...]
Thank you SO much! I will have to check it out.
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wow! ashley, you are so amazing, inspiring, and sweet to do this. I love Her Universe, and I love what you are doing with it. thank you so much for this video!!!
ps, ikr on the card! I passed one of those with my mom and I was like, “hey, that’s not just for boys! girls too!”
ashley i hate to admite it but iv never told enybody but my mom,dad,nephews, and friends about my love of star wars im just to shy and scared people will make fun of me.