In class recently, we discussed the evolution and overall art of being a hipster. The idea of being a part of a counter culture that goes against the grain and says no to showers and mainstream music. The concept of being different from everyone else by wearing a flannel you got from a consignment shop. This all sounds really great and empowering, but how does one become a part of such a movement?
Being a hipster, in my opinion, really is not a thing. Hipsters are constantly changing what their idea of cool so how is anything ever relevant. Maybe nothing is ever relevant to hipsters. They can't even like a band for more than a month because than they become "mainstream" or they "sell out." I have a friend, Gabe. In my opinion, he is a true hipster. He wears a suit jacket as a coat, drinks whiskey out of a plastic cup with a manatee on it and only listens to vinyls because the sound of anything else is just "disrespectful and empty." But in all reality, is he a hipster or is he just a prick?
Watching the spoof video about hipsters made by the Harvard Sailing Team was very comical. They talked about it as if it were an epidemic that required medicine. But in a sense, this is kind of true. Like in the video, these seem more like symptoms than actual human attributes. This is a widely spread idea of a fictional being that people will never live up to.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Masculinity Madness
In class recently, we have been talking a great deal of femininity in the media. In the documentary we watched today, Miss Representation, it talks about the role of women in society today and how media has made women out to be thoughtless, invaluable creatures. But, while on the topic, I could not help but think to myself that men are getting the same types of messages. Women receive messages about how their value is determined by their beauty. Which is terrible and needs to be put to an end. But men are getting harmful messages as well. From a young age, boys are taught that they have to be strong, smart, and entitled. As they get older, they get these same messages, but also contradictory ones as well. They are taught to defy women and treat them as objects. But then, when they are ready to have children, they must find a "good" woman to marry and have children with and to provide for her and his children under any circumstances or he is seen as a failure. Now how is that an effective message? Telling teenage and college aged boys that you should sleep with as many girls as possible to be seen as cool and powerful. Power. Such a significant and almost undeniable term in the masculine world. When young boys are playing cops and robbers to playing sports in high school to competing in the job market, men are programmed and trained to believe that they must be the best. All in all, I think the male population needs help too. There needs to be some pressure taken off them to let them grow into the men THEY want to be, not what society THINKS they should be.
Madelyn Webster 3
Women are misrepresented in the media, men are misrepresented in the media, kids, dogs, cats, just about everything you see is misrepresented in the media, and you know why? It sells. No one wants an ugly doll. I can see the politically correct ads now “Here is our new every girl doll, she has a birthmark, she is pleasantly plump, her clothes are just a little drab and definitely not designer brand, she is just like every real girl in the world” Who wants to buy that? Let alone watch it on TV… I mean am I the only one guilty of going to see a movie because the main actor is swoon worthy? I don’t think so. The issue I have with this whole deal is not the media, because they just take what consumers want and bring it to them. My issue is with the American people themselves. Our culture is so centered around sex that it is seen in literally every aspect of our lives. Who can blame the media for using it if it works? When we as a culture stop buying Victoria’s Secret, stop watching shows that have explicit scenes, and stop listening to music that talks all about sex, maybe then a change will occur. Regardless of what it is, the media will use whatever the most successful way to make money is. Making money is their only goal and it is their job! Again I ask can we blame them for doing their job? I for one say no. Who we should blame is the corrupt society that we live in, the one that lets sex rule our lives.
First Impressions
As a Fashion Merchandising Major, people automatically assume that all I care about is looks. FALSE. In class today, after watching the video, all I could hear was people bashing those that were concerned with their looks. Although looks are not the most important feature we posses, it is still something to be concerned about.
I have actually done a lot of research on this topic and actually wrote a research paper on this subject. First impressions MATTER. And I know most people may disagree with me but the way we present ourselves matters. Consider your personal hygiene and clothing as a cover letter and resume when applying for a job. This is the FIRST thing someone notices about you before you even open your mouth to speak. It takes less than 10 seconds to make a first impression and years to change someone's perception of you.
Looks do matter. It shows the person you are interacting with how you handle situations. I'll give you an example. What would your first impression of someone be who smelled, never washed their hair, and wore pajamas all the time? Exactly. We all think it, none of us are just willing to say it out loud.
But we can't be criticized for what we have learned through adaptation over the centuries. In my paper I discussed a certain study that concluded EVERYONE judges. Everyone. If you say you don't, get over yourself. It is programmed into our behavior. When you first do something new, what do you do? You asses the situation to see if it is safe or not; if it is worth your time. It is due to our "fight or flight" nature. We automatically make assumptions based off of what we see to decide if we are safe or in danger.
What I am trying to say is that the way one presents themselves tells others how they feel about themselves. If you want to make a good first impression, be your BEST self as much as you can. Don't change yourself, that isn't what I am saying at all...but be your best self. And if someone doesn't like you, oh well. You can't please everybody.
I have actually done a lot of research on this topic and actually wrote a research paper on this subject. First impressions MATTER. And I know most people may disagree with me but the way we present ourselves matters. Consider your personal hygiene and clothing as a cover letter and resume when applying for a job. This is the FIRST thing someone notices about you before you even open your mouth to speak. It takes less than 10 seconds to make a first impression and years to change someone's perception of you.
Looks do matter. It shows the person you are interacting with how you handle situations. I'll give you an example. What would your first impression of someone be who smelled, never washed their hair, and wore pajamas all the time? Exactly. We all think it, none of us are just willing to say it out loud.
But we can't be criticized for what we have learned through adaptation over the centuries. In my paper I discussed a certain study that concluded EVERYONE judges. Everyone. If you say you don't, get over yourself. It is programmed into our behavior. When you first do something new, what do you do? You asses the situation to see if it is safe or not; if it is worth your time. It is due to our "fight or flight" nature. We automatically make assumptions based off of what we see to decide if we are safe or in danger.
What I am trying to say is that the way one presents themselves tells others how they feel about themselves. If you want to make a good first impression, be your BEST self as much as you can. Don't change yourself, that isn't what I am saying at all...but be your best self. And if someone doesn't like you, oh well. You can't please everybody.
Whose to Blame?
Today in class we watched Miss Representation. I found it very interesting and thought it had a lot of valid arguments but some things I may have done differently. Media guides our thoughts and shapes our perceptions of what is normal and what should be expected as us. It shapes gender roles, draw unnecessary attention to personal appearances and over all causes an increase in insecurities among many. For the most part, the media in no way empowers our society, rather hurts it.
The whole purpose of the film was to show how the media has negative effects on women. Due to the content media is made up of, both men and women have unrealistic expectations about what a women should look and act like. The media portrays these images of the "perfect women" but she completely lacks substance, it is all very superficial and appearance based. While I completely agree with this argument and can relate to the struggles of being a women in modern times with all the media influence, I do not think that women are alone in this struggle. As women, we have the solid facts and concrete evidence that the way we are portrayed on media can relate to and effect how we are perceived by others in society and how it effects us in regards to politics, leadership roles and other important opportunities. I think that since we do have the facts to go along and strengthen this argument, it is easy for us to blame society for the lack of women leadership in our country. While i believe in this, I also think we need to take a look at the influence the media has on men.
With all of our facts, our argument is easily made and supported. Although women may be the larger targets for the media, men are also subjected to the power of the media as well. It may not be as prominent but men have insecurities due to portrayals of how they should look and act from the media. Although women are treated as objects and sex symbols, men are seen as the same way.
Someone made the point that on instagram there is a "Women crush Wednesday" and how sexual images of women are being displayed all day. But to counter that point, there is also as she had mentioned in class "Man crush Monday" where we as women do the exact same thing. This is happening not only to women, but to men as well. The sad thing is, we are use to it and don't tend to think twice about this. Women find it normal to see half naked women in advertisements and shirtless men. We have stopped questioning these things, its just how it is and we have come to terms with it (not saying this is right).
I did find the video very interesting and probably speaking from a biased point of view, I do think women are criticized way more for imperfections than men. Although at times I felt as though the video was reading too much into some issues, I still found myself offended when some of the guys in the class would claim how ludicrous some of the points were. I guess that is similar to being called a bitch. I can call myself a bitch, especially when i'm acting like one, but the minute someone else calls me out as being a bitch, then its not ok. The issue as a whole can be touchy because as women, we see things one way and men see things in their own way. Even though we can agree on some/most things, it is still hard to completely relate when its not your gender being attacked.
The whole purpose of the film was to show how the media has negative effects on women. Due to the content media is made up of, both men and women have unrealistic expectations about what a women should look and act like. The media portrays these images of the "perfect women" but she completely lacks substance, it is all very superficial and appearance based. While I completely agree with this argument and can relate to the struggles of being a women in modern times with all the media influence, I do not think that women are alone in this struggle. As women, we have the solid facts and concrete evidence that the way we are portrayed on media can relate to and effect how we are perceived by others in society and how it effects us in regards to politics, leadership roles and other important opportunities. I think that since we do have the facts to go along and strengthen this argument, it is easy for us to blame society for the lack of women leadership in our country. While i believe in this, I also think we need to take a look at the influence the media has on men.
With all of our facts, our argument is easily made and supported. Although women may be the larger targets for the media, men are also subjected to the power of the media as well. It may not be as prominent but men have insecurities due to portrayals of how they should look and act from the media. Although women are treated as objects and sex symbols, men are seen as the same way.
Someone made the point that on instagram there is a "Women crush Wednesday" and how sexual images of women are being displayed all day. But to counter that point, there is also as she had mentioned in class "Man crush Monday" where we as women do the exact same thing. This is happening not only to women, but to men as well. The sad thing is, we are use to it and don't tend to think twice about this. Women find it normal to see half naked women in advertisements and shirtless men. We have stopped questioning these things, its just how it is and we have come to terms with it (not saying this is right).
I did find the video very interesting and probably speaking from a biased point of view, I do think women are criticized way more for imperfections than men. Although at times I felt as though the video was reading too much into some issues, I still found myself offended when some of the guys in the class would claim how ludicrous some of the points were. I guess that is similar to being called a bitch. I can call myself a bitch, especially when i'm acting like one, but the minute someone else calls me out as being a bitch, then its not ok. The issue as a whole can be touchy because as women, we see things one way and men see things in their own way. Even though we can agree on some/most things, it is still hard to completely relate when its not your gender being attacked.
turn on and turn offs Ellen Lee 008
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Today in class we watched the Misrepresentation documentary,
and honestly I was kind of disappointed at our society. I do not know when it
became acceptable to call people “fat” and “stupid” to try to prove a point in
the media. I am a woman of the United States and I think that we should be more
worried about the well being of our country than worrying about Hilary Clinton
crying in Connecticut. Most of these people have so many opinions but they are
not scholarly opinions, they are the opinions of people like you and me; so why
does what they say affect us more than the people we are close too, or people
who actually want to better themselves.
As I was watching the video I was very turned on by the part
about woman being seen as sexual objects. I was looking on Facebook the other
day and I noticed that some of the younger folks on my friends list do this
thing where you put in order of who is the most attractive from 10 to 1. As I look
at this I become angry that this is where American’s have progressed. When I was
in grade school and high school I could care less about who the hottest people
were because most of the men in those times were tools or douche bags. I just
wish that women AND men could see that it is not about what everyone thinks of
you, but how you value yourself.
I was a bit turned off by the video because they focused solely
on women and paid no attention to how men are represented in America. In order
to have the most knowledgeable information possible I think we need to focus on
both sides of the argument and not just put the focus on women. This is why the
media makes such a big fuss about a woman being successful because we keep
allowing them to make judgments on us about our gender. I would LOVE for a
politician to run for office and have someone said “iron my shirt.” I would
hope they turned to them and complained that they could be doing
something productive with their lives instead of being a sexist fly in their
ear. This is whom I would put my vote for. Someone who does not let the public
defy them but they defy the public. I want someone who knows what they want
from this world and to do whatever necessary to achieve that goal, and most
importantly, I want someone who cares about our society and make it a better
place to live.
NO, I really am a princess!!
But I think it all comes down to how you are brought up as a kid. Your parents and peers can point out the materialistic princess, or can uplift the strong princess I have always seen. My favorite line of this video is when she says, "I've heard I am beautiful, I know I am strong." When I won the queen pageant, I made it a point to talk to little girls and show them what a princess could be. I had a princess party for all the local girls to attend. Yes, we all dressed up in tiaras, tutus, and girly dresses, but it was so much more than that. We ate hotdogs, planted flowers for people, and just had a good time. Being a princess doesn't mean you're perfect, it simply means you are someone to look up to and you should act like it. If anything, being a princess gives you extra incentive to always be on your best behavior.
The more I thought about the lecture over princesses, the more I questioned it. But in the end, the less you read into the princess culture and take it like it is, the more it makes sense. Princesses can be a role model, but teach them the side of it you want them to be. As a kid, everything really is as simple as the first glance. Kids don't over analyze their toys, neither should we.
I am a princess...Long may I reign!
Does that mean Manly Men Have to be Useless?
I can't help but wonder that when the media refers to manly men they refer to strong (but lazy), handsome men that don't share feelings, aren't sensitive and care more about sports and beer then their wives. Is that really what we consider a "manly man" to be? In the TV clip that we watched in class, it was almost like it wasn't manly of him to drive the minivan or talk to his kids or help around the house, and if you noticed a lot of the clips were him just sitting on the couch. If that is what you consider as a man thennnnnn I guess I don't want one.
I was raised to believe that a husband and a wife are "one "and that they should help out each other in every situation. If my mom needed help toting the kids around my dad wouldn't hesitate to help even if it meant driving a minivan, my dad always wanted to talk to me and still does to this day. He does things like wash the dishes, clean the bathroom, and vacuum WITHOUT my mom having to ask him too, and NO he is not a stay at home dad, he still works to provide for our family. Why is that so hard for people to grasp that a REAL manly man is a man that respects women and cherishes them. They should provide and protect, and should have no problem with having an imaginary tea party with your daughter either. I really wish this world would wake up and realize that sports and beer is not the only thing a man should care about.
I was raised to believe that a husband and a wife are "one "and that they should help out each other in every situation. If my mom needed help toting the kids around my dad wouldn't hesitate to help even if it meant driving a minivan, my dad always wanted to talk to me and still does to this day. He does things like wash the dishes, clean the bathroom, and vacuum WITHOUT my mom having to ask him too, and NO he is not a stay at home dad, he still works to provide for our family. Why is that so hard for people to grasp that a REAL manly man is a man that respects women and cherishes them. They should provide and protect, and should have no problem with having an imaginary tea party with your daughter either. I really wish this world would wake up and realize that sports and beer is not the only thing a man should care about.
Is There Hope After All?
Lauren Kruger-Patchin
Is There Hope After All?
02/28/2013
Blog #5
Let's think positively today...
A few weeks ago I started a 10-week, independent study course. It is a women's gender studies course. As I read from the textbook and do the classwork, I can't stop thinking about how closely some of the topics relate to our Comm322 course. Both deal with feminism. Both deal with the way women and men are portrayed in the media. Both talk about first, second, and third waves of feminism. There are a lot of similarities between the courses; they complement each other very well, so it benefits me to be taking them at the same time.
The real reason I am bringing this up is because in the WGS course, we are assigned movies to watch that demonstrate feminist acts. Some of the movies are old and some are decently new. This got me thinking... in class we focus on how the media creates so much pressure and determines how men and women should act, but we forget to mention the movies that stand against this.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003) with Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Styles and other big names, was one of the movies assigned in my WGS course. The movie is 10 years old, but uses actresses that still play roles in movies. In Mona Lisa Smile, a free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 50's Wellesley girls to question their traditional societal roles. The professor is supposed to strictly teach from a syllabus that a man made, but the students know all of the material and the professor tries to stray away from it and teach other material. This was a bold move during the 50s. The movie gives great context about that time period and shows the expected roles of men and women, but how some could fight against it. This is one example of how the media helped feminism views.
Another great example of a very recent movie release, not from my WGS course, is The Help (2011.) I personally, LOVE this movie. It brings out great emotion in the view. It's funny, sad, and encouraging all in one movie. When I think of this movie, I think of two parts: 1) Mini don't burn fried chicken, because it was hilarious and cute the way the black woman was helping and teaching the white woman how to cook for her husband; the privileged woman needed to rely on the "lesser" woman 2) When the housekeeper (black female) taught the young, white child "you is kind, you is smart, you is important" because her own parents didn't pay attention to her or properly care for her. The house keeper may not have had the education and proper English, but she was a better parent to the child than the privileged, white parents were. This movie brings up the issue of culture, race and gender in many ways. Even the white, privileged women were expected to stay home while the men worked, whether they had a housekeeper/child care or not. This movie also gives some historical context. The movie description: An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
My point: there may be hope after all. Some parts of the media may send good messages. They show how in the past there were these huge issues of inequality that we overcame. It gives home that we could overcome the other gender role issues.
Is There Hope After All?
02/28/2013
Blog #5
Let's think positively today...
A few weeks ago I started a 10-week, independent study course. It is a women's gender studies course. As I read from the textbook and do the classwork, I can't stop thinking about how closely some of the topics relate to our Comm322 course. Both deal with feminism. Both deal with the way women and men are portrayed in the media. Both talk about first, second, and third waves of feminism. There are a lot of similarities between the courses; they complement each other very well, so it benefits me to be taking them at the same time.
The real reason I am bringing this up is because in the WGS course, we are assigned movies to watch that demonstrate feminist acts. Some of the movies are old and some are decently new. This got me thinking... in class we focus on how the media creates so much pressure and determines how men and women should act, but we forget to mention the movies that stand against this.
Mona Lisa Smile (2003) with Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Styles and other big names, was one of the movies assigned in my WGS course. The movie is 10 years old, but uses actresses that still play roles in movies. In Mona Lisa Smile, a free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 50's Wellesley girls to question their traditional societal roles. The professor is supposed to strictly teach from a syllabus that a man made, but the students know all of the material and the professor tries to stray away from it and teach other material. This was a bold move during the 50s. The movie gives great context about that time period and shows the expected roles of men and women, but how some could fight against it. This is one example of how the media helped feminism views.
Another great example of a very recent movie release, not from my WGS course, is The Help (2011.) I personally, LOVE this movie. It brings out great emotion in the view. It's funny, sad, and encouraging all in one movie. When I think of this movie, I think of two parts: 1) Mini don't burn fried chicken, because it was hilarious and cute the way the black woman was helping and teaching the white woman how to cook for her husband; the privileged woman needed to rely on the "lesser" woman 2) When the housekeeper (black female) taught the young, white child "you is kind, you is smart, you is important" because her own parents didn't pay attention to her or properly care for her. The house keeper may not have had the education and proper English, but she was a better parent to the child than the privileged, white parents were. This movie brings up the issue of culture, race and gender in many ways. Even the white, privileged women were expected to stay home while the men worked, whether they had a housekeeper/child care or not. This movie also gives some historical context. The movie description: An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
My point: there may be hope after all. Some parts of the media may send good messages. They show how in the past there were these huge issues of inequality that we overcame. It gives home that we could overcome the other gender role issues.
Staying True to my Childhood
Barbie.....
That one name is known by young girls all over the world, even some young boys. I grew up with Barbies. Owning almost everything Barbie, name it and I had it. From the Barbie dream house, to the perfect outfit combinations that would make any girl jealous. I remember even forcing my little brother to play Barbies with me (although I remember not having to beg much). Before we talked about my favorite childhood toy in class I never thought negatively of Barbies. I was very surprised to see how many people believed those dolls created an unreachable image for girls. Personally, I never felt like I had to match up to my pretty dolls nor did I feel inferior of them. They were, and still are just toys to me and this upset against them being too 'perfect' for girls to see is just silly to me. Barbies were meant, in my opinion, simply for fun for young kids. I refuse that they were created for unrealistic expectations of girls. Truthfully, many know that there children would not enjoy playing with a doll that was unattractive looking. The good looks and stylish outfits of Barbie are the reason that this doll became so popular among little girls.
Even though some rather convincing arguments are made on why Barbie gives girls, as well as women, an unrealistic expectation, I'm still staying loyal to Barbie. In my eyes, she is my childhood, and I refused to believe she was meant to make me feel I have to look just like her. I guess once a Barbie fan, always a Barbie fan.
That one name is known by young girls all over the world, even some young boys. I grew up with Barbies. Owning almost everything Barbie, name it and I had it. From the Barbie dream house, to the perfect outfit combinations that would make any girl jealous. I remember even forcing my little brother to play Barbies with me (although I remember not having to beg much). Before we talked about my favorite childhood toy in class I never thought negatively of Barbies. I was very surprised to see how many people believed those dolls created an unreachable image for girls. Personally, I never felt like I had to match up to my pretty dolls nor did I feel inferior of them. They were, and still are just toys to me and this upset against them being too 'perfect' for girls to see is just silly to me. Barbies were meant, in my opinion, simply for fun for young kids. I refuse that they were created for unrealistic expectations of girls. Truthfully, many know that there children would not enjoy playing with a doll that was unattractive looking. The good looks and stylish outfits of Barbie are the reason that this doll became so popular among little girls.
Even though some rather convincing arguments are made on why Barbie gives girls, as well as women, an unrealistic expectation, I'm still staying loyal to Barbie. In my eyes, she is my childhood, and I refused to believe she was meant to make me feel I have to look just like her. I guess once a Barbie fan, always a Barbie fan.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
In Defense of the Princesses
I found the princess culture discussion to be interesting. I
enjoyed it because I love the Disney princesses. From a young age, I have
adored them. My favorite princess is belle.
I have a few disagreements with the article claiming that girls are not
learning from the princesses and that the attitudes of the princesses will
cause them to act a certain way. I feel that the princesses also have good
qualities that people can learn from. I did a project last year in tcom 204
over how the princesses were becoming more diverse and feminist. Over the
decades the princesses started to reflect the changing times. They were no
longer the stereotypical princess of fairy tales. The princesses have come a long
way since the days of snow white. Belle’s love of reading reflects the rising
number of women entering college in the early 90s. Tiana's dream to own a
restaurant reflects how women have moved up in the workforce. The princesses
are teaching that if you want something, you won’t be handed it. You have to
work hard in order to achieve all your dreams. I feel that liking the
princesses and acting like a princess won’t negatively affect the child as they
grow up. They will realize that they can’t have everything that they want. I
live in the residence hall known as “the castle” and I am referred to as the
princess. I know I’m not really a princess and don’t expect everyone to bow
down to me even though they do anyways. The article just focuses on extreme
cases that aren’t the norm. Little girls are going to turn out fine if they
like princesses. They are not going to grow up disillusioned if they don’t
achieve that. The parenting should be looked at and not the messages in the
films.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Princess Culture made me a Tomboy
Barbies, American Girl Doll clothes and our own clothes is what covered most of my floor that I shared with two sisters. I remember trips to the American Girl Store in Chicago and drooling over everything I just had to have for my doll. My mom got the holiday Barbie every year from our dad, which also turned into our gift. Disney movies were also watched during our special picnics. We would lay out a blanket in the living room and our mom would go to extra measures to make the least sloppiest meal she could for us while we sat at our picnic while watching princess movie after princess movie.
Considering there were three of us girls, we were bound to grow up in the princess culture. Surrounded by pink, love, fashion, dolls, fantasy, playing home and more. We had all the typical toys you would expect to find in a house of three female children. From the word cloud in the article called, "Word Cloud: How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes," the main words that popped up were love, magic, fun, girl, party, hair and mommy. And I completely 100 percent believe this. I remember keeping the boxes that my Barbie's came in because they were so pretty, pink and had a lot of sparkle on them.
When I was little, I didn't understand how different my parents were, but I certainly do not. They went through a terrible and destructive divorce and four years later, they still find every excuse to harp on the other or to say their two cents no matter what the subject is. The best thing about the huge differences is that while my sisters and I did grow up in a princess culture, our dad was there to bring our little feet down from the clouds of Barbie Wonderland onto the concrete of a basketball court, grass of a soccer field and into gyms.
My dad would spend countless hours of his time encouraging us to get outside, play a sport and to stay active and in shape. He even built us a soccer net, two balance beams, two sets of bars and bought us a trampoline for our backyard. He did everything he could to provide us with the resources we needed to get outside and play. He also always encouraged us to play with the children in our neighborhood. I have loved sports and have always been competitive my whole life, so I tended to veer towards the boys of the neighborhoods.
Around the fourth grade, I went through an interesting phase. I remembering spending hours just drop kicking a football across the street while hanging out with my three boy friends from down the street. I day dreamed about trying out for the middle school football team and I wanted the boys to treat me as one of them. I started to reject the everyday girly activities and I really wanted to be Batman for Halloween that year. I think I remember this stage in my life so clearly because I felt like I went in the complete opposite direction of what I was supposed to be doing. Although I kept most of these feelings to myself, I really wanted to be more like a boy than a girl at that time.
I think the princess culture overload and the fact that my dad was such a pusher to get us to be active made me reject the princess culture for a period of time. I did go through a little tomboy phase, but once I was in the sixth grade, I learned a little more about myself and grew into my skin.
Considering there were three of us girls, we were bound to grow up in the princess culture. Surrounded by pink, love, fashion, dolls, fantasy, playing home and more. We had all the typical toys you would expect to find in a house of three female children. From the word cloud in the article called, "Word Cloud: How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes," the main words that popped up were love, magic, fun, girl, party, hair and mommy. And I completely 100 percent believe this. I remember keeping the boxes that my Barbie's came in because they were so pretty, pink and had a lot of sparkle on them.
When I was little, I didn't understand how different my parents were, but I certainly do not. They went through a terrible and destructive divorce and four years later, they still find every excuse to harp on the other or to say their two cents no matter what the subject is. The best thing about the huge differences is that while my sisters and I did grow up in a princess culture, our dad was there to bring our little feet down from the clouds of Barbie Wonderland onto the concrete of a basketball court, grass of a soccer field and into gyms.
My dad would spend countless hours of his time encouraging us to get outside, play a sport and to stay active and in shape. He even built us a soccer net, two balance beams, two sets of bars and bought us a trampoline for our backyard. He did everything he could to provide us with the resources we needed to get outside and play. He also always encouraged us to play with the children in our neighborhood. I have loved sports and have always been competitive my whole life, so I tended to veer towards the boys of the neighborhoods.
Around the fourth grade, I went through an interesting phase. I remembering spending hours just drop kicking a football across the street while hanging out with my three boy friends from down the street. I day dreamed about trying out for the middle school football team and I wanted the boys to treat me as one of them. I started to reject the everyday girly activities and I really wanted to be Batman for Halloween that year. I think I remember this stage in my life so clearly because I felt like I went in the complete opposite direction of what I was supposed to be doing. Although I kept most of these feelings to myself, I really wanted to be more like a boy than a girl at that time.
I think the princess culture overload and the fact that my dad was such a pusher to get us to be active made me reject the princess culture for a period of time. I did go through a little tomboy phase, but once I was in the sixth grade, I learned a little more about myself and grew into my skin.
Miss Representation
Before
we came to this presentation, I was already interested in Jennifer and her Miss
Representation campaign so I was immediately drawn into her presentation. At first, she comes off heavily favorite
towards females, but if you kept listening, she did say how the gender
inequality is hurting males empathy and emotion. While females are expected to
be beautiful, at a males side and a mother, males are hurting too because they
are now expected to be and do so much. I think after making this point, if the
males felt discriminated against or that Jennifer was here to put them down,
they came back and understood that this gender equality issue is about them
too.
The film definitely resonated with me because the video had examples of
how females are downplayed and the examples of the male being interviewed said
the comment about a female president PMSing and the headline reading Bitch and
Slut. This made an impact on me because I was shocked how everyone seems that
saying these comments or writing these headline is perfectly ok. I felt personally
hurt by the PMS comment and I would have been irate if that was specifically
about me. After seeing all the famous females speak about their opinions on the
media hurting females, I was really intrigued and felt empowered as a female to
break the stereotype. But after the film, I also felt against males. I have
never been personally or directly discriminated against for being a female in
the working world (yet) but seeing those women that were hurt also hurt me. The
point that she makes about how the media is hurting males too also resonated
with me because she brings her point full circle, the media hurts females AND
males. When we first learned the definition of the feministic perspective in class, I thought, "Ha yea, right." I didn't think that there was a way that being a true feminist was to examine both sides, but after this, I definitely believe this definition and the feministic perspective.
I think her best idea was how the media affects both females and males
negatively. Although she spends much more time on the effect of females, she
does mention that is it important for males to understand as well. I really
think to solve a problem, you can’t just look at, examine and analyze one side,
there are always two sides and Jennifer is trying to bring both to light.
Desperate Housewives Aren't Really All That Desperate
When we were discussing
examples of other, more recent, television shows that are examples of featuring
a strong, independent, and thus a feminist-perspective-supporting female lead,
one of the shows that I thought of was the example of Desperate Housewives. I feel
as though this example is a perfect example of our discussion in class. The story line is a perfect example of Girl
Power! in my opinion. Some may not
support me in this feeling. Some may see
the show Desperate Housewives as a
show that yes features women as the lead, but is not one that portrays Girl
Power!, nor the feminist perspective. I
can understand why others may think this.
Much of the plot is concerned with the women finding a romantic partner,
them experiencing the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship, and
them making messes in their lives and then scrambling around to try to clean up
the messes they make. However, even
though they do spend a lot of the show and plot line concerned with these
issues, I feel as though they do it in a way that is the essence of the Third
Wave of feminism. The Third Wave of
feminism is concerned with feminists being very feminist but at the same time
still being very feminine simultaneously.
All of the women go through extreme circumstances on the show, being a
dramatic prime time evening show. How
the women handle themselves during and through those circumstances, no matter
how “girly” those circumstances may seem to be, are still in a way that can be
seen as independent, strong, and feminist based. To me it seems as though the women may want
to be with a man, they do not absolutely have
to be with a man in order to be happy and in order to be okay to get
through though times. I will admit that
the women all may not have started out like this. But quickly past the first season of the
show, the women all became independent and strong. Bree Van De Kamp did this when her husband
died and she became a widow, forcing her to be a single parent. She also became an entrepreneur by starting her
own catering business. Lynette Scavo
always seemed to be this way in that while she was a mother of five kids she
was also a top-dog in the business world and portrayed as even better than her
husband and other men at times. Susan
Mayer became a portrayal of the feminist perspective by also becoming a widow
and living a life on her own without a man to take care of her. Finally, Gaby Solis was the a perfect example
of Third Wave feminism in that she had a career as a fashion model, an
extremely feminine career, but also never let any man take advantage of her,
and also became the primary caregiver and provider for her family when her
husband became blind, thus showing a flip-flop of roles for males and females
on a television show.
"Better Late than Never" Djesus: Uncrossed - Culture Jam
Djesus: Uncrossed
While most may view this skit from last week's SNL as nothing more than a harmless or perhaps even moderately offensive representation of the Christian messiah. I believe the overall message is extremely overlooked. Masked in all of the fake gore, and cheap laughs is a culture jam in itself of which most fail to realize. However when looking at this text through a rhetorical scope, the many purposes of this skit become clear.
The most obvious theme would be that of violence. Have we become so desensitized to a culture of violence that we only become aware of the overbearing sights when they are portrayed with humor, and feel nothing when they are in a situation of severity? Furthermore, what does this say about the concept of revenge portrayed in many Quinton Tarantino movies?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
Second Wave Feminism
The discussion about Second Wave Feminism and Third Wave Feminism got me thinking about my mom and how I was raised. My mom is a Second Wave Feminist and raising a daughter meant raising another Second Wave Feminist.
The concept of Third Wave Feminism wasn't around for my mom. She is an activist. She is invited to speak at conventions, and is always calling and emailing her representatives in congress about her favorite issues. Her very favorite issue is equal pay for women. She works in the health care industry and that is where unequal pay is the most prevalent.
Because of growing up seeing her go out and do these things to make a difference I have to agree with Malcolm Gladwell that activism is more about leaving our comfort zone. Even though I use the Internet as a tool, it is not the end all be all for accomplishing tasks. In my experiences of creating online communities there absolutely has to be a real-world connection otherwise the online community fails. That's why even gaming communities that start online will eventually plan get-togethers outside of their community to actually get involved with each other.
As a sidebar, we've gone over a lot of television texts in class. I did not grow up watching TV and I still don't really watch TV. Books are a lot more relatable when thinking about texts as early feminism. There are tons of examples of girls and women featured as the heroine such as Little House on the Praire and Nancy Drew. I was personally a big fan of the Junie B. Jones and Clifford the Big Red Dog series.
The concept of Third Wave Feminism wasn't around for my mom. She is an activist. She is invited to speak at conventions, and is always calling and emailing her representatives in congress about her favorite issues. Her very favorite issue is equal pay for women. She works in the health care industry and that is where unequal pay is the most prevalent.
Because of growing up seeing her go out and do these things to make a difference I have to agree with Malcolm Gladwell that activism is more about leaving our comfort zone. Even though I use the Internet as a tool, it is not the end all be all for accomplishing tasks. In my experiences of creating online communities there absolutely has to be a real-world connection otherwise the online community fails. That's why even gaming communities that start online will eventually plan get-togethers outside of their community to actually get involved with each other.
As a sidebar, we've gone over a lot of television texts in class. I did not grow up watching TV and I still don't really watch TV. Books are a lot more relatable when thinking about texts as early feminism. There are tons of examples of girls and women featured as the heroine such as Little House on the Praire and Nancy Drew. I was personally a big fan of the Junie B. Jones and Clifford the Big Red Dog series.
Female v. Male in TV
Today in class we discussed the trend of television shows staring females, creating these independent and empowering roles. We also talked about how television portrays men. A lot of good points were discussed during class but the one that stuck out to me most was in order for women to be seen as powerful, men have to be seen as doofy and vis versa. In the 90s when we were first exposed to shows such as 'Clarissa Explains it All' and 'As Told by Ginger' we finally were able to view a young girl on television who was independent and had a voice. These girls did not rely on boys and had great confidence. But in each of the shows, the male characters were portrayed as weaker, not as intelligent and inferior to the leading girls. With other series that had a strong male lead, most of the female characters were seen in the same light, as inferior to the characteristics and talents of the male role. While having a female lead is empowering to girls, it also can effect the way we view the male roles also, which can translate to real life experiences and opinions.
In most television series, we see male characters portrayed in one of two ways: either as the ultra male (athletic, macho, ladies man, etc.) or as nerdy/slacker (weak, reserved, meek, lazy, etc.). It is very rare to find a character who is well rounded and similar to your average Joe. This can cause women to have unrealistic and inaccurate thoughts about males in real life. Not only are we perhaps searching for a certain type of male that very well may not exist, but we also are seeing other behaviors on television that make us believe are ok. Such as when men don't listen or forget a birthday, as annoying as that can be, we just understand that thats how the male mind is wired and theres not much we can do about it. This is what sells and what makes programs, but it is wrong to have to put down one gender in order to empower another. Think of what television would be like if both genders were equally equipped? Not saying that these shows don't exist, but when trying to think of them, I find it hard to come up with examples on the spot.
Television and media feed into the stereotypes created for both males and females. A good example of this is the video shown last week in class with the men and women at the gym. In the video they had reverse roles and although it was a parody and meant to be funny, it was very funny to me because it was so accurate. In real life a lot of those stereotypes can be true, but they also are reinforced on television so much that when we see videos that reverse the roles, we can relate and find it very entertaining.
Television can almost be seen as a double edged sword. It can empower a certain group of people, but in the process of empowering one group, it can be putting another down. For the most part when I watch T.V. i don't look that closely into those kinds of things. I'm too interested in the plot of the show to think about all the other aspects and politics behind it. But after having this discussion in class, it will be interesting to watch for these kinds of things from now on when watching television.
In most television series, we see male characters portrayed in one of two ways: either as the ultra male (athletic, macho, ladies man, etc.) or as nerdy/slacker (weak, reserved, meek, lazy, etc.). It is very rare to find a character who is well rounded and similar to your average Joe. This can cause women to have unrealistic and inaccurate thoughts about males in real life. Not only are we perhaps searching for a certain type of male that very well may not exist, but we also are seeing other behaviors on television that make us believe are ok. Such as when men don't listen or forget a birthday, as annoying as that can be, we just understand that thats how the male mind is wired and theres not much we can do about it. This is what sells and what makes programs, but it is wrong to have to put down one gender in order to empower another. Think of what television would be like if both genders were equally equipped? Not saying that these shows don't exist, but when trying to think of them, I find it hard to come up with examples on the spot.
Television and media feed into the stereotypes created for both males and females. A good example of this is the video shown last week in class with the men and women at the gym. In the video they had reverse roles and although it was a parody and meant to be funny, it was very funny to me because it was so accurate. In real life a lot of those stereotypes can be true, but they also are reinforced on television so much that when we see videos that reverse the roles, we can relate and find it very entertaining.
Television can almost be seen as a double edged sword. It can empower a certain group of people, but in the process of empowering one group, it can be putting another down. For the most part when I watch T.V. i don't look that closely into those kinds of things. I'm too interested in the plot of the show to think about all the other aspects and politics behind it. But after having this discussion in class, it will be interesting to watch for these kinds of things from now on when watching television.
Online movement for VFX
After the Oscars on Sunday, an online movement has started to bring to light what is happening in a certain part of the movie industry, the visual effects departments. Most movies nowadays outsource their visual effects to outside studios, but those studios only make about 5% of the overall profits from the movie (not very much for how much work they do). With several big studios filing for bankruptcy recently, there was a protest outside of the Oscars which got no publicity from the media. One of the major firms that filed bankruptcy recently was Rhythm and Hues, who worked on the Movie Life of Pi. The movie won the Oscar for best visual effects, but during the acceptance speech the visual effects supervisor for the studio tried to bring up the studio, the orchestra attempted to play him off early. When he kept going, right before he got to the good part they completely cut off his microphone. This upset many people in the industry and started the movement over social media sites. This movement was brought to my attention by a friend of mine who is in the VFX industry who changed his facebook profile picture to a green square. He explained the situation, about how the industry is failing itself and that he changed his picture to a green box to represent the green screens they use as a filler for shooting so they can add in the effects later on. They're trying to get the attention of the movie studios so they can see what's going on. The movement has been being shared throughout networks on facebook even outside of the VFX industry and their friends. Many pages have been sharing photos of before and afters of movies before the VFX studios got their hands on the films. I'm not sure if the movement will actually change anything, but I do know they are getting the word out quite well. If enough people see it hopefully it will be brought up to some of the big movie studios and it can change something.
Boys dont like girls, boys like cars and money Ellen Lee 007
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Today in class we discussed the power of the media in
correlation with male and female messages. I agree that young women are more
glorified then the men characters on these shows produced by Nickelodeon and
Disney. In shows such as ICarly Spence, Carly’s brother, is portrayed as a
dimwitted older brother who provides for his sister, but only her food and
shelter. Carly is seen as the intelligent young girl who creates her own
business and she isn’t even out of high school yet. I think these shows are
aiming high for young girls but completely ignoring their male audience.
I was a nanny for a nine-year old boy and a six-year old
girl. Both enjoyed watching the same shows on Nickelodeon and Disney but the
male characters were not as strong as the females. I noticed that Devon (the
boy I watched) loved watching old westerns such as Bonanza and classic western
movies. I had always thought that was strange because the only other person I had
known to watch those shows were my grandparents, but then it started to make
sense to me. The men he was watching in these shows were action stars to him
but without so much violence. The shows are about cowboys and Indiana’s but
there is not much violence because of the times these shows were created. Devon
had to look to these shows so that he could know that he could be strong and
powerful without hurting others in any way. Now whether this is what he
actually think or this is my interpretation, but I think those shows are still
the apex of television for younger children.
Addi, the little girl I babysat, enjoyed ICarly, Zoey 101,
and Big Time Rush. I found this interesting too because these shows seemed
almost too old for a six/seven year old girl. There were situations where I am
sure Addi did not understand the conflict within the show, but I think her real
reason for watching these shows was because she enjoyed the music and the
crappy jokes. I do not think this is always bad to have younger girls seeing
more mature content but I think there needs to be a very fine line. Some of the
materials on these shows are not always appropriate and when they become
appropriate for a certain age the people want to watch even more mature shows.
I think it is a never ending cycle.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Don't judge a Book by it's Cover
I wrote this blog in response to the inspiring speaker Jennifer Newsom.
In the past, present,
and future, females have, are, and will be portrayed in a certain way. People
are wrongly viewed in almost every category. I try to not stereotype at all
(even though it is literally impossible) due the frustration of being stereotyped.
People need to learn who someone is instead of being judged by their category.
From Females, to Jocks, to Frat guys, everyone is judged.
Women have been seen in
a view that is wrongly portrayed. They can take steps to change that image
which is "wrongly portrayed" to "correctly conveyed." I am
saying change how women conduct themselves, to explaining who they are. When I
see a girl dressed provocatively, acts over-friendly, acts needy, or
unintelligent because they think guys like "ditsy girls", it makes me
un-attracted to them in every way. When I see girls like this I do think that
girl is slutty, immature, weak, or dumb because that is what she portrays.
After seeing that I don’t believe every girl is like that. I know a large
amount of females who are intelligent, independent, strong, and respectable. It
is probably due to how I was raised. My mother is a strong, intelligent,
respectable woman who shows me what kind of, not only women, but people I want
surrounding me in the future. Those who are judged in a negative way, a lot of
times it’s because of how they let people see them.
Horrible stereotypes are
also related with “Frat Guys.” A lot of people see them as pigs, egotistical,
assholes, disrespectful to women, and much more. Yes there are some Frat Guys
who are these things, but there are also non-Greek students who have those
traits. I am in a Fraternity and it upsets me when people judge me for it
before they get to know me. I joined solely to meet more friends, connections,
and have more opportunity to experience what I otherwise could/would not. What
most people don’t realize is that ATO has taught me to open doors for women, no matter how far behind you she/they is/are,
dress more respectably, care for my friends and brothers more, respect women
more, socialize more efficiently with people in all situations, and more. So
after you read this and see me wearing letters to class or in public and think,
“Oh just another Frat Boy,” delete that bias and try to actually know me and
not who you think I am. I say this because you don’t know me, what I have been through,
who I have helped, what values I have, how respectful/polite I am, or else you
would not be thinking that’s who I am That is why I don’t judge you, because I
am just as clueless about those aspects of your character that I wouldn’t judge
you until I got to know you. I guess I am just trying to say, “Don’t judge a
book by its cover” is so well-known because it’s true. You have no idea if you
will like what you find inside. After you read the book you can keep it around
or read something else.
Personal responsibility and the princess culture
The princess culture in America was conceived primarily as a way to market materialism/narcissism to younger women. When these characteristics become predominant, Madison Avenue has won. Their job is to create cycles of behavior that drive consumption of material goods, either directly or indirectly via their parents. In order to sell a product, a deficiency must first present itself. The thought, "I'm missing something from my life" must needs enter the picture in order to create what I call "the void." The void is any and all feelings of inadequacy one might experience in the presence of peers or those whom one is seeking acceptance/reassurance. In theory, consumption or accumulation of products, adopting attitudes, and projections of future happiness are the only remedies to keep this void at bay. This is where beauty, glamour, and their never ending pursuits find an eternal sense of job security. This is why I really don't get into fashion. Trends change when designers decide it so, thereby creating a new fad to be bought. The fad one month may be faux pas the next, and vice versa. Either way, an impetus to buy has been established. Many people chase these rainbows, in hopes that they will find fulfillment in the end. Of course, the media isn't selling you the idea that you are complete, or that there is nothing wrong with you. If they were, the need to buy anything that doesn't pertain to survival would be greatly reduced. Understanding the motives behind programming of all kinds, not just Toddlers and Tiaras, is fundamentally important to understanding why personal responsibility is crucial to effect change in our lives, if it is so desired. Maybe you're totally fine with the constructs of society and the roles which others have intentionally created for you. If so, feel free to stop reading at any time. I write these things to elucidate a process which I've become privy to in my years spent in the world of business.
In the past year, several people that I know have told me they are on the brink of a meltdown. Their apathy toward life, coupled with the fear of an uncertain future has them in an existential conundrum they simply can't see their way out of. Most of the time they tell me that they just don't believe in anything anymore, or that life is all one big lie. After years of consuming messages of unattainable cultural "ideals," as if they were superattainable has certainly led to a great deal of disillusionment which the prescription drug industry is more than happy to oblige. Having faced a number of these scenarios in my own life, I gave them the best advice I could think of. I told them that they couldn't do anything about the lives they were "promised" by television/media when they were children. Instead, I proposed the idea that they can control which ideas they are buying into, now that they are adults. Personally, I don't buy into 99% of the material I am exposed to, whether it be professors, politicians, TV shows, or talk radio. They all carry messages, which contain narratives, which contain motives, which are tied to their livelihood. By taking personal responsibility for the degree to which I accept the premise of their message, I'm able to form unbiased decisions about my sense of adequacy and self worth. I am, in essence, removing the lens of consumerism, upon which almost every facet of society is founded. I can no longer be subject to the disappointment and disillusionment that can result from "buying in." Also by casting a non-vote, as it were, I am reducing the incentive for media to create shows which aim to exploit myself and others because I exercise choice, and choice is precisely what makes a capitalistic society tolerable.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Boys and the Superhero Culture vs. Disney
In class we talked about superheroes and and the influence it has on young boys, similar to the princess culture and how it affects young girls. I feel like the overall themes that are seen in superheroes are positive, saving the day, stepping up to do what's right for mankind. But one potential problem is that the hero is usually not good enough as his normal self. It’s once something miraculous happens, or after tons of training to improve and change himself, that he is good enough to save the day or reach his dreams. Superheroes are also shown to be super tough, strong, and manly…
Growing up, I was never a superhero boy, I was much more into the male Disney characters, like Aladdin and Hercules. (Regardless of how some may feel towards the princesses) I feel like the guys in Disney movies are a very good example for young boys. Aladdin for example is just a “street rat”, and at first he thinks that he has to become something he’s not, but it’s only when he returns to his true self that everything works out and he reaches his dreams. And Hercules, he’a a super human, but that doesn’t get him anywhere, its when he loses his powers that through love and self sacrifice that he is triumphant. I think these are great examples for young boys. It’s a different message then they are going to get in the majority of media surrounding them.
Growing up, I was never a superhero boy, I was much more into the male Disney characters, like Aladdin and Hercules. (Regardless of how some may feel towards the princesses) I feel like the guys in Disney movies are a very good example for young boys. Aladdin for example is just a “street rat”, and at first he thinks that he has to become something he’s not, but it’s only when he returns to his true self that everything works out and he reaches his dreams. And Hercules, he’a a super human, but that doesn’t get him anywhere, its when he loses his powers that through love and self sacrifice that he is triumphant. I think these are great examples for young boys. It’s a different message then they are going to get in the majority of media surrounding them.
Those gosh darn hipsters...
I must say, the hipster presentation in class was quite amusing. I could not help but notice that we had very many hipsters attending the class. After this lecture, I started to wonder. Do hipsters act so non-conformist because they want to stand out? Do they feel the need to only drink Pabts Blue Ribbon and ride neon bikes because they like to? As some people would state that the "hipster" style is non-conformist, I want to make it clear that I feel the opposite. The hipster style is not becoming a trend, but is one now. I think why people buy the things they do and act in a certain way is because they want to conform to the hipster style. But on a different note, people have the freedom to conform to any style they wish and should not be hassled when they do so. Although I do find somebody in the Atrium using a typewriter taking it a bit far. They obviously do not use a typewriter out of connivence because we have come a long way since then.
On the other hand, we may have a little "hipster" in us. I must state that I do enjoy drinking Starbucks and wearing flannel. I also enjoy having a little facial hair as well. But does this label me hipster? No. And that is just that. "Hipster" is a label that some wish to have and others just get it tagged to them. I think it is evident to say that most individuals who dress like a hipster enjoy to have that label. Maybe because they will be accepted to a certain crowd. Or maybe they do so because they like certain things that most hipsters like and later just conform to the stereotype.
On the other hand, we may have a little "hipster" in us. I must state that I do enjoy drinking Starbucks and wearing flannel. I also enjoy having a little facial hair as well. But does this label me hipster? No. And that is just that. "Hipster" is a label that some wish to have and others just get it tagged to them. I think it is evident to say that most individuals who dress like a hipster enjoy to have that label. Maybe because they will be accepted to a certain crowd. Or maybe they do so because they like certain things that most hipsters like and later just conform to the stereotype.
Princess Culture
February 22, 2013
Heather Jacobs
Yesterday in class we discussed princess culture and how it affects not only young girls, but older girls and even boys. I find this topic very interesting because at the time we receive these messages they seem completely normal and wonderful. And our parents see nothing wrong with them because they too, grew up watching similar if not the same stories.
The problem is that these movies disguise the provocative messages they tell. They make many of the characters extremely brave, strong willed, or intelligent. Why then, must they dress them in provocative clothing and give them huge boobs and beautiful hair? It is ridiculous. I am not saying that it is because of these movies that I am somewhat of a girlie girl, but I did take interest in wearing make up and dresses and high heals when I was about ten. And I started liking boys when I was in kindergarten. I don't know what the normal age to start liking boys is, but that seems so young when I think about it now.
I remember I saw a thing on some news show once that did a study on Beauty and the Beast and it was pretty disturbing. They were asking the little girls what they would do if someone were treating them the way Beast was treating Bella. And they all said they would do what she did and just keep being nice to him until he liked her. How terrible! I know it is just a movie, but it is showing girls - probably not on purpose - that guys will eventually change and be who you want them to be if you suck up to them and let them walk all over you. Eh, no.
Personally, I feel much less affected by these types of things now. Yeah, I still care a lot about clothes and love getting dressed up, but if I have to go without wearing make up that is fine. I will go out to the bars in a T-shirt, I don't care that much. I like what we talked about in class yesterday a lot, and I feel like it is giving me advice for if I ever have kids.
Heather Jacobs
Yesterday in class we discussed princess culture and how it affects not only young girls, but older girls and even boys. I find this topic very interesting because at the time we receive these messages they seem completely normal and wonderful. And our parents see nothing wrong with them because they too, grew up watching similar if not the same stories.
The problem is that these movies disguise the provocative messages they tell. They make many of the characters extremely brave, strong willed, or intelligent. Why then, must they dress them in provocative clothing and give them huge boobs and beautiful hair? It is ridiculous. I am not saying that it is because of these movies that I am somewhat of a girlie girl, but I did take interest in wearing make up and dresses and high heals when I was about ten. And I started liking boys when I was in kindergarten. I don't know what the normal age to start liking boys is, but that seems so young when I think about it now.
I remember I saw a thing on some news show once that did a study on Beauty and the Beast and it was pretty disturbing. They were asking the little girls what they would do if someone were treating them the way Beast was treating Bella. And they all said they would do what she did and just keep being nice to him until he liked her. How terrible! I know it is just a movie, but it is showing girls - probably not on purpose - that guys will eventually change and be who you want them to be if you suck up to them and let them walk all over you. Eh, no.
Personally, I feel much less affected by these types of things now. Yeah, I still care a lot about clothes and love getting dressed up, but if I have to go without wearing make up that is fine. I will go out to the bars in a T-shirt, I don't care that much. I like what we talked about in class yesterday a lot, and I feel like it is giving me advice for if I ever have kids.
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