The
ideas shared in this reading are very alarming about the danger and the harmful
effets of messages about sexualization. Children are growing up in a society
where according to Levin and Kilbourne (2009) in the book excerpt, So sexy
so soon, “the
narrow definition of femininity and sexuality encourages girls to focus heavily
on appearance and sex appeal. They learn at a very young age that their value
is determined by how beautiful, thin, “hot,” and sexy they are. And boys, who
get a very narrow definition of masculinity that promotes insensitivity and
macho behavior, are taught to judge girls based on how close they come to an
artificial, impossible, and shallow ideal”. This is very dangerous because
there is no value of who the person is. The more beautiful, cool, and sexy the
person looks the more he is acceptable between his friends. Almost everything
around children spread wrong messages about sexualization and it seems that
this has become a part of our life that we are not noticing that it is
completely wrong. In these days, no one wants his daughter to look bad or
different than her friends, so what they try to do is just go with what is
going on in the society without even noticing that what they are doing is wrong
and even without explaining to their kids the right or wrong of their behavior.
My daughter used to go to a
Catholic school and she used to wear uniform. The skirt was up to her knee. One
day my daughter came home and she told me that her friends when they leave
school they try to shorten their skirts, she and all the girls in her class
always complained about how unsexy and old fashioned their school uniform are. I
don’t blame them because they are surrounded by all these messages from the
media, television shows, and advertisement that there are certain standards
girls have to do in order to be considered beautiful and in other words ‘hot”
or “sexy”’. One day my daughter came home singing the song “I am sexy and I
know it”, what type of song is that? And no matter what parents do, children
still can hear it everywhere they go like the malls, grocery shopping stores,
and on the radio. This song is a small example of what the media is spreading.
All children are curious and they want to know and explore everything around
them and once they hear the word “I am sexy” I am sure that they want to ask what
it means to be sexy or act like it. This book helped me to see more clearly the harms of sexual messages that permeate the lives of our children both girls and boys. I feel now that it is very important to find ways find ways to protect our children. Levin and Kilbourne (2009) discussed that children need to be able to talk with trusted adults about the relationships and sexual images that they see in the media and in the popular culture”. I think this is one of the best ways to help children develop in a healthy way and to become better able to cope with the inevitable stresses and strains of life.
Resources,
Book Excerpt:: Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009).
[Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what
parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books.
Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf
Hi Bouthaina, I have also been impressed about huge the battle is against culture/media this week. I wonder if by providing healthy alternatives along with the monitoring of screen time it will give them time until they can make informed decisions on their own.
ReplyDeleteThere must be a way because so many children are growing up just fine with healthy identities and a confident demeanor.
I have also read about parent groups that are taking an active stand against these media moguls as well as keeping an open communication with their children.
With this kind of backing, perhaps those lyrics will be giggled away and positive, self-affirming ones take their place.
Thanks for your post and personal examples.
Bobbie
Great examples. You are right what is hard is that it is impossible to protect any child from the media and "sexy" concepts completely. Enjoyed your post.
ReplyDelete