Plastic versus Flesh
Barbie has been the iconic image of "women" for young girls since 1959 when the first doll was created. From then until now, the image of Barbie has shifted dramatically from that of an independent woman, into a sexualized icon for "Ken's enjoyment". We have seen how this sexually charged symbol can have negative side effects on both young girls and women, such as Heidi Montag from "The Hills". The real question is, what can we do about the way the media advertises and portrays girls and women?
Beauty versus Brains
This image sum's up the harsh yet true reality of the hidden message implied by Disney Princesses throughout their films. Unfortunately, Disney will not come out and say what the true meaning behind their Princesses stories are. However, it is apparent when closely examining these fairy tales that their message is more than what we see at face-value, rather we must critically evaluate them to see what is beneath the the surface.
The captions to the right focus a great deal on beauty and the objectification of women. There are multiple media organizations working to fight this unrealistic image of beauty in the media and one of the ones worth mentioning is About Face. Based out of San Francisco, About Face aims to imbue girls and women with the power to free themselves from the burden of body image problems so they will capable of fulfilling their varied and wonderous potentials. This is something that the Disney Princesses do not do. It is important for young girls to be educated on this topic and learn how to move past body image so they can discover their potential in a wide variety of other things than exploiting themselves in the media.
Visit: http://www.about-face.org for more information on body image and beauty versus brains.
The captions to the right focus a great deal on beauty and the objectification of women. There are multiple media organizations working to fight this unrealistic image of beauty in the media and one of the ones worth mentioning is About Face. Based out of San Francisco, About Face aims to imbue girls and women with the power to free themselves from the burden of body image problems so they will capable of fulfilling their varied and wonderous potentials. This is something that the Disney Princesses do not do. It is important for young girls to be educated on this topic and learn how to move past body image so they can discover their potential in a wide variety of other things than exploiting themselves in the media.
Visit: http://www.about-face.org for more information on body image and beauty versus brains.
Female Athletes in the Media:
The Fight for Media Literacy
Ameican Academy of Pediatrics advocates four primary tenants for deciphering media messages
● All media messages are constructed.
● Media messages shape our understanding of the world.
● Individuals interpret media messages uniquely.
● Mass media have powerful implications.
● All media messages are constructed.
● Media messages shape our understanding of the world.
● Individuals interpret media messages uniquely.
● Mass media have powerful implications.
Athletes versus Models
Sexualization occurs when a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics such as knowledge or physical capabilities. Sexualization also occurs when an individual is sexually objectified or made into an item for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and finally, Sexualization occurs when sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person, or a character which is seen throughout Disney cartoons such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbelle, etc. (Satcher, 2001; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States [SIECUS], 2004).
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sexualization of girls occurs within three interrelated spheres:
1. The contribution by society or the cultural norms and values that are communicated in various ways including through the media. A culture can be infused with sexualized representations of girls and women and is seen throughout media, suggesting that such sexualization is good and normal.
2. An interpersonal contribution as girls can be treated as, and encouraged to be, sexual objects by family, peers, and other influences.
3. Self-sexualization occurs when girls learn that such sexualized behavior or appearance are approved of and/ or rewarded by society, whose opinions matter most to them, they are likely to internalize these standards through self-sexualization
1. The contribution by society or the cultural norms and values that are communicated in various ways including through the media. A culture can be infused with sexualized representations of girls and women and is seen throughout media, suggesting that such sexualization is good and normal.
2. An interpersonal contribution as girls can be treated as, and encouraged to be, sexual objects by family, peers, and other influences.
3. Self-sexualization occurs when girls learn that such sexualized behavior or appearance are approved of and/ or rewarded by society, whose opinions matter most to them, they are likely to internalize these standards through self-sexualization
Click The Link Below to Review the American Psychological Association's Report on the Sexualization of Girls
report-summary.pdf | |
File Size: | 154 kb |
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