When I was seven, Condoleeza Rice was using her unwavering drive to protect the United States as the first female African American National Security Advisor, Sandra Bullock worked tirelessly and completed her 30th major film before she turned 40, and J.K. Rowling had released five of the seven books which would later turn into a profit of millions of dollars from merchandizing, movies, and an amusement park. I, along with thousands of little girls, sat in my room picking out a bright pink Barbie outfit to go along with her marker-highlighted hair, as I watched Snow White being rescued by Prince Charming on my TV.
From childhood, girls are influenced by an attitude of "pink, pretty, and sassy". Being anything else, it seemed, is unacceptable. In the article What's the Matter With Girls These Days?, written by Marilyn Wedge, the drastic affects of this societal influence are explained through the increase of adolescent girls with different types of depression, low self-esteem, and poor self-image. Since "society" doesn't seem to value girls who are smart, confident, and driven, adolescent females with these qualities are torn between being themselves and being the "sexy" young woman that society wants them to be.
Take the character Cady Heron from Mean Girls for example. Originally an intelligent and compassionate teenage girl, she eventually dumbs herself down to get a boy's attention and begins to hurt the people she loves in order to gain popularity with girls she thinks are the "in crowd". Spoiler alert, at the end of the movie she realizes that she wasn't being herself, just what everyone else wanted her to be, and she fixes her mistakes.
Take the character Cady Heron from Mean Girls for example. Originally an intelligent and compassionate teenage girl, she eventually dumbs herself down to get a boy's attention and begins to hurt the people she loves in order to gain popularity with girls she thinks are the "in crowd". Spoiler alert, at the end of the movie she realizes that she wasn't being herself, just what everyone else wanted her to be, and she fixes her mistakes.
Before we had such "wise" characters like Cady Heron to learn from, women struggled for years trying to attain equal treatment to men. Now that their mission is almost complete, Snow White and Cinderella have come along and quickly ruined what progress they made. Now, instead of dreaming of becoming the first woman president of the United States, girls are sitting at home wondering when their Prince Charming will come along and save them too. It seems almost impossible for young women to grow up when the world around them is still obsessed with Barbies.
Why do societal values have such a large influence on girls' lives? Why does today's media emphasize the "pink, pretty, and sassy" image of females over that of strong, successful women? Does the conflict between being yourself and being what society wants you to be personally affect you?
I agree that the media and pop culture have a negative influence on young girls. Just look at shows like Toddlers in Tiaras or Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to see that people are telling young girls that they need to be "pink, pretty, and sassy". I don't think this is new, the story of Snow White has been around for a long time, although it has been modified, but I do think that our modern culture amplifies it. Kids spend so much time watching TV and searching the net; they are bombarded with ads heralding pretty, stupid girls.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me appreciative of the opportunity to go to IHA, where there are no boys or pretty clothes to get in the way of academics.
Olivia Payne
I agree with Jenna and Olivia that society has a negative influence on young girls, but I also believe that being "pretty, pink and sassy" isn't always bad. With that being said, I was probably the biggest girly girl when I was younger. My favorite color was always pink and I always wanted to watch the Disney Princesses. I don't feel like the image of being "pink, pretty and sassy" always has to be bad. A girl doesn't necessarily have to be a certain way to be successful or hardworking.
ReplyDeleteMany people have seen the movie Legally Blonde, where the "pretty, pink, and sassy" Elle Woods enters Harvard Law School. Even though this may be far fetched, she is the perfect example of a successful, hardworking woman, who was able to maintain being "pink, pretty, and sassy." Women may take society portraying woman as "pink, pretty and sassy" as a bad thing, but it doesn't always have to be bad. There are many things to learn from this hardworking women, who are proud of their femininity.
Before women had any rights, their lives centered around the private sphere of the home: household chores, raising children, and preparing a meal for their husband was their life. Back then, the characteristics of a successful woman did not include what kind of job she landed or how much money she made, because that was not an option. Success was based off the wealth and career of her husband, his reputation, and the beauty of her home. Young, single women had only one job to do, and that was to make themselves look desirable to attract these promising men. She wasn't valued for her critical thinking skills or confidence, but her ability to impress a man, to present a balance of "sexy" and modesty, and to become the classic trophy wife that stands by her husband's side with a plastic smile and an "everything is perfect" attitude. Even though we as a society have advanced significantly since this period, I think that we still hold on to a bit of our old ways: girls are only attractive if they are physically attractive, and if they can show it off in the right way. More importantly, I think these girls are better liked by society by the number of guys/boyfiends they can snag. If guys like them, then so should everybody else.
ReplyDeleteI really think that in a subconscious way, we still think that desirability = value. Why else would we force the "sexy" image on girls from such an early age, beginning with a Barbie doll who's BMI ratios would be considered anorexic and seriously malnourished if she were an actual person?
Obviously, women are so much more than this, and we SHOULD be valued for our smarts and strength.
Anyone agree/disagree?
I agree with Marisa and Jessica. A girl being "pink, pretty, and sassy" doesn't always have to be bad. Television, magazines, and billboards these days have ads plastered with girls that are incredibly skinny and perfectly tan, but that is not the average person. We all have things are are unique to us and while the television, magazines or billboards do not tell us, we should appreciate them. These differences may make some self conscious, which is understandable because of the pressure society puts on us, but if we were all size two with brown hair and blue eyes what good would that be?
ReplyDeleteBeing a strong, successful woman does not mean we have to lose the "pink, pretty, and sassy" side to us. There are many different ways to express ourselves these days. Everyone has there own style and when we are in the work field our clothes are a perfect way to show that we can be successful and "pink, pretty, and sassy" at the same time. Just because a woman has a high paying job doesn't mean she has to wear an all black pant suit, she can still wear those pretty colorful dresses everyone else does.
I agree with Keara completely. When I was a little girl my favorite movies were the Disney princess movies. I was Cinderella for Halloween three years in a row, and even my junior research paper was on Disney. Mr. Matthews told us to choose a topic that meant something to us, and the first thing that popped into my head was Disney. Most people expected me to do my report on the effect Disney princesses have on girls, similar to this blog post about Barbie, instead I chose to write it on the business methods that make Disney successful. Ironically, I even choose business as my elective sophomore year for the sole reason that the summer reading book was on Disney. The things I learned about the business world from studying the Disney have made me choose accounting as my major. My interest in the princesses translated into my career choice, and hopefully I will be a successful business women while also being "pink, pretty, and sassy."
ReplyDeleteI think the most important thing is balance. I am such a girly girl, but I also know how to work hard in school. If more girls were taught the importance of schooling at a young age then I believe the image of "Barbie" and "princesses" might have a chance at changing.
I agree with mostly everything that's been said so far- I think society pushes it way too much, but I don't think, in the end, that being "pink, pretty, and sassy" has to be a bad thing. If a girl grows up to be that way and is comfortable in their femininity, but can still assert herself and feel comfortable being intelligent and able to compete with the best of them, then that's absolutely wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think our generation more than others before us, was really lucky. Yeah, we grew up right as the Barbie Boom, but we also grew up in the age of the Disney Renaissance (the time between 1989 and 1999, featuring the hit animated movies we all grew up enjoying), which had lead female characters like Mulan, who defied all gender norms of the time, or Esmerelda, who stood up for what she believed in even if it meant going against the law, and many more. And then the TV shows we watched displayed the same- As Told By Ginger, where the lead female is a strong, level headed young woman. Hey Arnold, where Helga goes against any idea that women should be soft and frail.
Sure, we had feminine toys like Barbie or the Bratz dolls, but we also had strong female leads in loads of things- we had such a strong balance, and I think that's why girls our age (and maybe it's just because of where we are- IHA is kind of the best school around- Holy Angles, ha.) are so easy to go between the "pink, pretty and sassy" side, but also the kick-butt female empowered side- we grew up having a good balance, even if one side might be overshadowed by the other at a couple given times.
As I read this article, the first thing that popped into my mind is when I go to the mall or any public place, I constantly see girls as young as eight or nine wearing more makeup than I am. Is this the result of advertising and shows like Toddlers and Tiaras?
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone saying that having a balance of being confident yet still being able to be "pink, pretty, and sassy" is important, however I also believe that we are somewhat biased. We go to school where we wake up, roll out of bed in the morning, and how we look is basically how we go to school. We don't spend the time fixing our hair or putting on makeup (unless you are really motivated unlike me) everyday like the girls that go to public school. My one friend who goes to public school got up three hours early on her first day of school just so she could find the perfect outfit, have the perfect hair, and perfect makeup. Basically she wanted to be the bad side of the "pink, pretty, and sassy" mindset. She said that she even had anxiety issues about what she was going to wear to school every day, hoping that other people would like her outfit.
We IHA girls are also biased when it comes to the concept of people dumbing themselves down to impress boys. We almost like to fight to say that we have the harder course load or we stayed up later studying, and this is because we don't have the interference of boys to make us wonder if we should act stupider (which we shouldn't!). This article on the Huffington Post shows that females in single sex schools DO have higher academic achievement: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-sawyers/are-single-sex-schools-go_b_184971.html. It also says that, although we tend to show high intellectual promise, we still are prey to the same insecurities of co-ed school girls. Like everyone else said, we just have to be confident with who we are, and as a girl in this century of too skinny models and sex appeal, this road is always going to be a tough one. You have to ask yourself if changing some part of you for someone else, like a boy, is ultimately going to help you in the long run.
I am a blonde, cheerleader, who loves pink and dressing up. One of my childhood dreams was to become a real life Elle Woods, from legally blonde. I don't think I could be anymore cliché or "pink and sassy" if I tried. But maybe it is because of this that I disagree with a lot of what has been said. Or maybe it's because I go to IHA. Regardless, being a strong, independent, intelligent woman, is something that has been drilled into my head since as far back as I can remember. There is no denying that society and media play a major role in female adolescent self-esteem issues, and that the 'Barbie-doll' that goes shopping and comes home to Ken is something that little girls aspire to. However, these stereotypes have only motivated me to disprove them. I want to be a smart, successful and accomplished woman. I don't want to be defined by a boyfriend or a hair color. Like everyone has previously said, there should be a balance of girly freedom, and empowered drive.
ReplyDeleteAs it's been mentioned along with these impractical models of what women should be, we have also had many women, even in childhood cartoons, showing us otherwise. I don't think that adolescent girls are getting their low self-image from the influence of these negative stereotypes because there are so many positive reinforcements (like Condoleeza Rice, Sandra Bullock etc.) showing them the opposite. I believe boys with these ideals are the one having the effect. As an experiment (I know I am so lame) I just texted one of my guy friends about the possibility of going brunette and he said "No, I like blondes better". Think about it, why do we change things about ourselves? Why do we dress nice and wear make-up? Most of the time it is to impress some boy. If society has taught him that he is supposed to be looking for his Barbie-doll trophy wife, then I think that is what causes us to "play dumb" or try to lose weight we don't need to, or even give up in a sport that's not considered cool.
So my conclusion is that the men of the world are the ones whose opinions need to change. Their ignorant comments about how a woman should be "making them a sandwich in the kitchen" are what leads to adolescent female problems. And, in my opinion, while it may be society that gives them this impression, it is ultimately them who do the most damage.
Agree, disagree?
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley and Julia with the notion that boys have a significant effect on a girl's self-esteem and behavior. Like Ashley said, we go to school every morning neglecting to put in any semblance of effort to look presentable. We are able to focus solely on school work and school work alone because there aren't any other distractions (cough cough boys) to steer us away from our priorities. However, when Friday and Saturday night come around, you better believe I am spending at least an hour in my room and bathroom trying to decide on the perfect outfit, putting on the right makeup, doing my hair, etc. and I know most of you can attest to doing this as well. This whole tedious process is almost always set off by the intention of impressing a guy.
ReplyDeleteGirls, and even all people in general for that matter, want to feel wanted and crave the approval of others. We all have the notion engraved in our minds that people should find "the one" and eventually get married and have kids. That has to start somewhere, right? This whole process starts by meeting the "perfect guy", and how do you do that? By looking what you think is your best and acting how you think boys would want you to act. Boys are ostensibly the main reason why many girls are insecure and feel the need to cake on makeup and act like total airheads.
However, should it be this way? Should boys have such a large impact in a girl's self-esteem? Should we as intelligent and strong ladies live life with an IHA mentality, focusing on other things such as thinking critically rather than dumbing ourselves down? I think it is important for girls to keep sight of who they are and resist the temptation of changing their behavior, style, and thinking in the hopes of impressing a boy.
I have to disagree with this article! Growing up, I had over 50 Barbie’s: Dog Groomer Barbie, Teacher Barbie, Bilingual Barbie, Flight Attendant Barbie, Rock Star Barbie, Teacher Barbie, Bridal Shop Barbie, et cetera. Barbie was, and continues to be, a woman of many careers. It has been about 12 years since I have played with a Barbie Doll, and Barbie hasn't aged or slowed down one bit. Barbie will always be seen as the perfect blonde with unrealistic body measurements, a never ending closet, a perfect car, and a steady boyfriend. But unlike the stereotypical ‘pretty girl’, Barbie doesn’t rely on her looks! The babrie.com website features a Barbie "I Can Be" section, featuring Barbie as a Dentist, Veterinarian, Engineer, and Architect. Clearly, the makers of Mattel are using their influence in the toy world for a greater good. They have created and maintained the image of a hard working and well-rounded ageless women that can inspire generations of young girls to come. I feel that it is only natural to dwell on Barbie’s looks, rather than delve into the character that Mattel has created.
ReplyDeleteWhile many would argue that exposing young girls to unrealistic expectations is unhealthy, I don’t think that the concept of Barbie is to be held responsible for this. Neither are Disney Princesses. I think that most of us can agree that watching Arial and Cinderella on VHS day after day was a central part of our childhood. These movies were an outlet for the young imagination. I highly doubt that any 5 year old girl would tell her Kindergarten teacher that she wanted to be the Secretary of the US Department of Defense. Why pin it on a young child to know about the duties of government cabinet members? Therefore, let young girls use their imaginations and dream up a life in a far away land with a prince in a castle. I have yet to hear of a 5 year old with anxiety over the fact that her waist wasn’t as small as Barbie’s or Snow White’s. Young girls aren’t aware of their imperfections until they are blatantly pointed out to them.
This is where the beauty campaigns come in. I am under the impression that the pressure to be perfect stems from a girl’s tween and adolescent years. Cosmo, Seventeen, Teen Vogue and CoverGirl pressure young girls in particular to become ‘perfect.’ Unfortunately, this day in age, we don’t think that boys will like us unless we diet, highlight our hair, and rip out our eyebrows once a month. Therefore, I admire Mattel’s attempts to glamorize careers and inspire girls to be who they want to be. Similarly, I respect Disney’s attempts to encourage girls to dream up any fantasy they imagine. However, I don’t particularly appreciate media targeted at tweens to be perfect and buy a beauty product.
(Sorry if this posted twice, the first one wasn't formatted correctly.)
I'd have to agree with Jenna in saying that the overwhelming pressures and expectations from today's advertisements, products, and various kinds of media have caused a change in the development of young women. I also agree with Ashley on the fact that we IHA girls have fortunately grown up knowing we are capable of anything we set our minds to. We know we have the capacity to learn and the will to achieve, and with these tools we can be just as competitive, if not more competitive, than guys in the job market and in the real world in general. Unlike the majority of girls in America, as mentioned in the article, who believe that girls either "have it or they don't", we know that we can constantly improve and impress ourselves, as long as we keep trying. I believe many girls today are not as lucky as we are in being so confident and sure of ourselves and our futures, which is why I would agree with the theory that the "pink, pretty, and sassy" phenomenon is taking a toll on most young women. Many girls act as blank slates, pieces of clay that are ready to mold to whatever society expects them to be. Right now, that is the skinny, girly, helpless damsel in distress waiting for a big, strong man to sweep her off her feet. I hope, as time goes on and more women take on respectable positions of authority and leadership, as many already have, more girls will open their eyes and see just what "girl power" can do!
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with this article. It is mind boggling that after all that women have fought for, they would take 20 steps back by creating a barbie doll that emphasizes looks that are simply unrealistic. We, as IHA students, are fortunate enough to attend a school where encouraging and empowering young girl is a priority. However, not everyone is so lucky. Many young girls believe only what they see in the media and therefore, they believe that the standards Barbie sets. Here are some shocking statistics I found ...
ReplyDeleteREAL WOMEN
Average woman’s height is 5’4″
Their weight is approx. 140 lbs.
They wear a size 14 dress
Their bust is between 36″ and 37″ (B cup)
Their waist is between 30″ and 34″
Their hips average between 40″ and 42″
Their shoe size is estimated to be between 8.5 and 9.5
BARBIE
Barbie’s height would be 7’2″
Her weight would be 101 lbs.
She would wear a size 4 dress
Her bust would be 39″ (FF cup)
Her waist would be 19″ (same as her head)
Her hips would be 33″
Her shoe size would be a 5
Clearly, Barbie sets an unrealistic and unhealthy standard for young girls. Barbie is a wonderful companion and playmate but she doesn't have to be so perfect. Girls should have dolls that present a real depiction of women. I always wonder why, after realizing the negative influence Barbie can carry, they haven't changed her dimensions? They have made some progress by making Barbie doctors, presidents, nurses, firefighters, etc. but Barbie's sexy look remains throughout. Hopefully, young girls look past Barbies physical appearance and take into account the "girl power" attitude instead!
(information was found at http://www.peacelovelunges.com/blog/ask-sam/what-if-barbie-were-a-real-woman/ )
I believe that society portrays women in almost a hypocritical way. Some ads portray women as nothing more than figures of beauty while others portray women as inspiring leaders of work forces or dedicated mothers who can never catch a break. Barbies portray this same critical idea, I feel. Barbies are thin, perfectly sculpted, always in style, and always flawless (Have you ever seen a Barbie with a zit? I think not.), while, like Suzanne said, Barbies can also be women of infinite possibilities and careers. Basically, my take on Barbie is that it's providing girls with the idea that, yes, they can do and become whatever we want to be, but we have to "look pretty" while doing it.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree that society pressures young women into always looking their best. Why is it that it is perfectly acceptable for a guy to go out in a T-shirt and athletic shorts but girls have to be in summer dresses, high heels, and their faces caked with make up? Is there a hidden rule that says girls have to look more presentable than guys do? No, but we all do it anyway. It's not Barbie or Disney that created that rule, however - it was society itself. Girls are highly competitive and get jealous easily. We all feed off of each other and try to compete to be the smartest, prettiest, most athletic, etc. The only people that made us that way are the people around us - not Barbie or Disney. Look at Snow White or Cinderella - they were certainly not decked out in ball gowns. One was a servant and one lived in a cottage - how glamorous is that? Not very.
As we grow older and begin to find who we are, I feel as though society's influence weakens as our personalities get stronger. The Barbie phase only lasts for so long.
While I agree that pressure from society can change young girls’ behavior and how they develop into adults, I don’t think that the “pink, pretty, and sassy” attitude is completely bad. When I was little I had a large collection of Barbies with matching outfits and watched Disney princess movies nonstop. Barbies and princesses, however, were not my only interests, and I didn’t strive to look like a doll or become a princess and live in a castle. When I was little I also played with Legos and toy cars and trains with my brother. I never really felt like I had to be either girly or smart, I always thought and still think that I can be both. I don’t agree that Disney princess movies promote the idea of just waiting for Prince Charming. As Carly mentioned, characters like Mulan represent strong women and promote the opposite of “pink, pretty, and sassy”. Every day at IHA, we are encouraged to succeed and be intelligent young ladies. I realize that we are different from public schools, but my friends in public school don’t dumb themselves down just to get attention. I do think that young women are encouraged to be smart and successful, not just to be girly and dumb. If girls today are not as intelligent as they used to be, then why is there so much competition to get into college? I think us girls can be both girly and smart.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jenna and Marisa in that society has taken a toll on the development of young girls, but I also think that a child's upbringing influences how much society affects his or her development. While television and movies often portray women who are "pink, pretty, and sassy" as the most accepted in society, it is our parents' job to teach us the difference between make-believe and reality. I think that it can be difficult for young girls to reject the social norm because what society depicts as a "perfect girl" and the tempting belief of a "Prince Charming" is constantly portrayed in every aspect of television, movies, literature, and social media and it's almost impossible to escape the pressure that society brings. I think that it's a shame that the vast majority of women aspire to be what society expects them to be instead of being independent. As a result of this desire, women waste valuable time trying to be someone they're not.
ReplyDeleteFrom my own experience, I've learned what characteristics a good role model should possess and I have been taught to be confident in myself, despite the temptations to be what society expects me to be. I admit that sometimes I may doubt myself or care too much about what others think about me, but I know that I should be proud of who I am today and who I have grown to be. Yes, I am still working on resolving the conflict between being myself and being what society wants me to be, but luckily, I am thankful to have wonderful role models in my life who continue to shape me into the independent and unique woman that I aspire to be.
After reading this article, I was in shock about how many girls are influenced by the way society portrays how a girl should be. I think it is safe to say that this article does not apply to the average independent and hard-working student at IHA. Everyone at this school is so competitive and driven that it has never dawned on me that teenage girls are scared to work hard and be driven because they want to be seen as sassy. The conflict between being yourself and being what society wants you to be does not personally affect me because I do not believe that girls cannot be smart and driven in order to be pretty and get guys. So many girls in this school have boyfriends, so the notion that boys aren't attracted to smart girls is not correct.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the conflict does not personally affect me, I see why these societal values can have an influence on girls who go to school with boys. They want to impress the boys with their looks, and with the silly notion that boys don't like smart girls, they would stop trying in school. Girls are all about self image, but it is such a shame that intelligent girls out there are letting that intelligence go to waste because they think that will impress people.
Like a lot of other people are posting here, I honestly can't say I fully agree with this article. These days, there is constant controversy over gender roles. Take a look on all the parenting websites out there. There are countless articles on the web about mothers frantically seeking advice from the world about their "unfathomable" issue- their child likes a certain toy. Whether that toy is "too boyish" for a supposedly feminine girl to play with, or "too girly" for a supposedly balanced girl, there is constantly the question of what is "ok" for a kid to play with. I think that although there is probably some significance to this, the whole idea is really extreme.
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I was the opposite of this article. Growing up with two brothers, I spent plenty of time playing baseball, climbing trees, and building forts- and I don't think this made me any more of a "self-confident" or "independent" person. I don't think it's a toy that makes a person who they are. I babysit two young girls that are the epiphany of this article, they love pink and want to play princess and dolls all the time. Yet, I don't think these girls are going to be any less successful in life because of this. The dolls are just playthings to them, and although I think children would benefit from a more realistic looking Barbie, I see no harm in the whole idea of playing with pretty dolls. When we look at our toys, do we see what we hope to be in the future? Or do we just see what it really is- a simple toy for us to enjoy. I think that a person's self esteem and confidence is determined much more significantly by their parents' positive encouragement and influence.
I do agree with the fact that society has pushed this image of being a perfect women on young children. Like Jessica said the ideal women in the past has been someone who obediently stands by her husbands side with out a complaint. Our country has made great strides in obtaining equal rights for women and today it is not uncommon to see a women as the CEO of a multi- million dollar company. Of course the stereotypical ideal women still exists I think that we have become much more accepting of girls who do not fit this criteria. For example in the fashion industry the standard has been waif like figures but recently there has been an increase of "plus size" models that more closely resemble the average women. Women have realized that they have to become more self reliant and can not rely on their "prince charming" to save them. Many women have found ways to keep their femininity while having successful careers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suzanne that it is unrealistic to think that a 2 year old little girl would aspire to be Secretary of State. They will grow up and realize that their dream of becoming a princess in unrealistic, but while they are still young I think it is good that barbie and Disney help to foster their healthy imagination. I don't think that Barbie or Disney Princess can be held responsible for corrupting the youth. I think that Disney princess is the least of our worries with shows like Toddler's in Tiaras on TV and in comparison Disney princess seems harmless. The notion that women are subordinate to men existed way before little girls started to play with Barbies.
I agree with Caroline and most of what everyone has said! I don't see anything wrong with young girls playing with barbies or getting excited over girly things. As a little girl I always played with Barbies, and I distinctly remember begging my mom to wear my sparkly Wizard of Oz inspired red ballet slippers to preschool. Just because I was excited by fun and girly toys and accessories, doesn't mean I didn't have other interests, too. I always played sports and had fun doing totally non-girly activities.
ReplyDeleteI feel that it is all about balance, and the key to the problem is the media. The TV and internet bombard women with unrealistic images of what society thinks is cool or attractive. I'm realizing that when we were all little there wasn't as much access to media as there is today. We all didn't have iPhones or iPads when we were little, but today kids have access to these devices and much more TV and other media than we ever did. The negative influence society can have on young women has become so much more accessible to a much younger age group. I also totally agree that boys are a major part of this issue because it is the attention of boys that drives girls to criticize themselves so much and to behave a certain way. In general I think that while society and the media have become increasingly influential to a girl's image, little girls simply wanting to be girly and have fun is not harmful, and does not in any way mean that they will not become successful.
I agree with this article to an extent. I believe that the image of “pink, pretty, and 'sassy'” can be empowering if one allows it to be. If you portray this image and act like an airhead then it sheds the image in a negative light. On the contrary, like Marissa said, if you portray this image in the world with confidence and intelligence, then the image of the dumb pretty girl can be disproven.
ReplyDeleteHowever, like Ashley, I agree that younger girls have skewed views of being “pink, pretty, and 'sassy.'” Not only do they have an obscene amount of makeup on, but their shorts show their butts and their shirts would show their chests…if they had hit puberty. They are way too young to have the desire to look like that. I feel as if girls younger and younger are trying to be like the celebrities.
Just last week when I was babysitting a seven year-old and playing “beauty salon,” she picked the darkest color eye shadow and got mad at me when I didn’t put “enough” on her. When I came back after leaving the room for a second she looked like a raccoon. Her eyes were completely black covered in eye shadow. She thinks that the more makeup she puts on the prettier she will be. Kids see things in the media and imitate them, but what they don’t realize, and probably won’t realize for a while, is that it is the personality under the makeup that matters in the real world.
Societal values have such a large impact on girls’ lives because it is hard to live in today’s world without turning on the TV or reading a magazine and seeing the made-up images of celebrities. These women are put in the media to be role models; however, instead of teaching us to be ourselves they show us how makeup can make one look like a completely different person, the results of Botox and plastic surgery. As informed young women, we know that we don’t have to look like that to be liked or successful. Young girls on the other hand don’t know this difference yet and it is our job to teach them the reality.
I have very mixed feelings towards this article. While I agree with and acknowledge the fact that young women, especially recently, have been ridiculed and put down by society and the media, thus creating epidemics of eating-disorders, low self-esteem, and harmful body image, I don't care for the repeated use of the mantra that being into all thing pink, pretty, and sassy is the main or even a large factor in this. In short, I think it was missing the point a little. I believe, based on other articles and videos that I have read, that the most significant factor in creating these epidemics is the objectification of women in the media. The objectification of women in the media creates a whole cascade of issues for today's youth, of any gender, including and not limited to unrealistic expectations on the female body and societal role- see this amazing video (it is long but very important) [http://vimeo.com/20024751].
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the word sassy implies and comes from a place of assertiveness and vivaciousness- just look at the definition at Merriam Webster {http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sassy} and therefore should not be looked down upon in young women. The idea that the color pink is somehow detrimental to a young girl's mental health is absurd- it was only in the last century or so that the color was even identified with femininity {http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html} and the idea that the way you dress indicates what type of person you are only reinforces gender stereotypes, which are the real detriments to any young person's mental health. Now, I won't and can't deny that the overidealised virtue of prettiness does affect the mindset of young girls everywhere- but why is it allowed to become so ingrained in one's head to the point where it makes one feel worthless?
As a child, I always had a Disney role model (or several) and played with both girl and boy toys- I was usually the one building the fortress of Legos, setting up the HotWheels playsets for my brother and myself, and all the while playing with my Polly Pockets- so I don't agree with the sentiment that Barbies and Disney have such negative impacts on kids without being taken out of context. Sure Cinderella was beautiful, but the argument could be made that she suffered from abuse and handled it with grace and was successfully able to live out a dream. Does this mean that everyone should or will live out the dream of becoming a princess? No, but why is this considered a lesser dream? Cinderella steps into a possible position of power as a princess, so why can't a young girl by inspired by this to find any dream and achieve it?
While this article does have an extremely valid point, I think there are a few flaws. Firstly, while the pressure to color our hair, wax any other hair, and always have a flawless manicure definitely exists, we, as free women, CHOOSE to primp ourselves tirelessly. However, I don't think that all girls necessarily do this for male attention. I know that I, for one, simply LIKE to look nice. My philosophy is that life is too short to look like a slob, so when I'm out of my IHA element, the mascara and the normal clothes go on. What's wrong with that? For me, this is simply who I am, not who society wants me to be! If I gave into that sort of pressure, I'd probably go tanning or get a tattoo or something. Our grandmothers, at our age, wouldn't dare be seen without perfectly coifed hair years ago. When we look nice, we feel nice. I don't think we all necessarily do these things to gain acceptance. While it's nice to think that we are all strong, independent women who don't need male attention (which we are), pink and sassiness still shouldn’t be getting such a bad rap. I don't think taking care of yourself necessarily correlates with insecurity or desperation. While media influence makes it very easy to have low self-esteem, I genuinely believe that most people want to look presentable as a sign of respect to the people around them, not always that they are trying to hide their imperfection and lack of Barbie-like features.
ReplyDeleteAlong with others, I am not sure I totally agree with this article. Yes, Barbie is the model woman any young girl would strive to look like. But in reality, no one really looks anything like Barbie. I think that the creators of Barbie did not mean to have this negative impact on young girls, but intended it to be a whimsical and enjoyable pass time. I also agree with Michelle that your own personal upbringing has a lot to do with your self esteem and pressure to be perfect. If your parents and mentors have always taught you to dedicate yourself to being a strong, independent woman, chances are they will have more influence on you than a doll. When I was little I had draws full of Barbie dolls but I never actually wanted to grow up and look like her in the future or be “pink, pretty, and sassy”.
ReplyDeleteSomething all of society today needs to really grasp is the concept of fantasy verses reality. No matter how much we attempt to alter ourselves to try and fit that “perfect image”, no one will really look like Barbie or any other model figure. I think other pressures, such as boys, have more of a negative influence on teenage girls today than Barbie dolls. But if we are raised to be comfortable with ourselves and accept our own talents and limits, entering the adolescent stage shouldn’t be as big of a deal as parents and preteens make it out to be.
I agree with Jenna to a point. The Barbies, the classic Disney movies, all contribute to the idea that women should be beautiful and helpless. These childhood entertainments have great impact on girls' development. They are girls first exposure to society and society's values. No one can argue that society's view of women has been skewed for quite some time. However, women and society's perception of women has been progressing. Women have come a long way from being the perfectly coiffed housewives of the 1950s and are now taking full advantage of roles in business, politics, medicine, teaching, etc. And Disney has kept up with the pace. It seems to me that movies are moving away from the maiden in distress plots. In movies like Tangled and the Princess and the Frog, the girls take their fate into their own hands rather than waiting helplessly for someone to change their lives. I believe society is evolving, and therefore soon we will see more reflections of women's new roles in girls' toys. Perhaps there may be a Barbie made to realistic standards.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading everyone's responses, I think the general consensus is that each of us somewhat agree with the article--but not entirely. I do agree that society places unnecessary pressures on tween and teen girls to look and act for others, and not for themselves. Too many girls spend their time trying to dress to impress others, instead of dressing in a way that may express their own personal style. That's why I'm thankful for these uniforms--I only have to worry about that on the weekends. I do not agree that the "helpless princess" idea has influenced too many girls, though. Growing up, I may have aspired to be exactly like Ariel (minus the tail) so I could get my prince charming when I grew up, but nothing about her princess story, or others like Jasmine and Belle, conveyed helplessness to me. If you're familiar with the story, each of these princesses took action to get their princes. Sure, they were saved by a muscular, gorgeous man at some point, but don't we all need a little saving sometimes? Additionally, each girl had a will in the beginning--and found her way to get there, even if she needed to fall back on her prince charming. While the idea of a princess may suggest someone who needs help, the classic "damsel in distress" image, I think Disney has successfully crafted their princesses to be active and multi-faceted. As Monika pointed out, the "new era" of Disney princesses, like those in Tangled and Princess in the Frog, are taking more action, providing a better example for the younger generation.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily think Barbies and the Disney princesses are the issue in today's society--I think younger and younger girls are watching more reality TV, listening to more explicit music, and other sources that give examples that are negative yet acceptable in our society. For example, a little girl comes into the yogurt stop where I work, wearing a crop top, booty shorts, and pink wedges. Her mom only encourages her behavior, walking up to me and musing "isn't she cute?" as her daughter is demanding to try flavors. I'm seeing more and more girls that are miniature prima donnas under the age of 10 then girls who are innocent or even adventurous. It could be just where I live, but I'm skeptical of how these girls will grow up, without any desire to become a leader. These girls see a woman in a powersuit and stick their tongues out in disgust instead of admiration. I can only hope this is just a phase, and once they get a high school education they will be better informed and hopefully have bigger dreams for their future--ones that don't include starring on a reality TV show.
After reading everyone's responses, I think the general consensus is that each of us somewhat agree with the article--but not entirely. I do agree that society places unnecessary pressures on tween and teen girls to look and act for others, and not for themselves. Too many girls spend their time trying to dress to impress others, instead of dressing in a way that may express their own personal style. That's why I'm thankful for these uniforms--I only have to worry about that on the weekends. I do not agree that the "helpless princess" idea has influenced too many girls, though. Growing up, I may have aspired to be exactly like Ariel (minus the tail) so I could get my prince charming when I grew up, but nothing about her princess story, or others like Jasmine and Belle, conveyed helplessness to me. If you're familiar with the story, each of these princesses took action to get their princes. Sure, they were saved by a muscular, gorgeous man at some point, but don't we all need a little saving sometimes? Additionally, each girl had a will in the beginning--and found her way to get there, even if she needed to fall back on her prince charming. While the idea of a princess may suggest someone who needs help, the classic "damsel in distress" image, I think Disney has successfully crafted their princesses to be active and multi-faceted. As Monika pointed out, the "new era" of Disney princesses, like those in Tangled and Princess in the Frog, are taking more action, providing a better example for the younger generation.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily think Barbies and the Disney princesses are the issue in today's society--I think younger and younger girls are watching more reality TV, listening to more explicit music, and other sources that give examples that are negative yet acceptable in our society. For example, a little girl comes into the yogurt stop where I work, wearing a crop top, booty shorts, and pink wedges. Her mom only encourages her behavior, walking up to me and musing "isn't she cute?" as her daughter is demanding to try flavors. I'm seeing more and more girls that are miniature prima donnas under the age of 10 then girls who are innocent or even adventurous. It could be just where I live, but I'm skeptical of how these girls will grow up, without any desire to become a leader. These girls see a woman in a powersuit and stick their tongues out in disgust instead of admiration. I can only hope this is just a phase, and once they get a high school education they will be better informed and hopefully have bigger dreams for their future--ones that don't include starring on a reality TV show.
I find that its not only TV shows and Disney movies, but also music. No offense to those who love Taylor Swift but her whine-y, heartbroken songs work against IHA's "girl power" motto. Those songs represent young women like us as needy, helpless girls trapped in a castle waiting for Prince Charming. This view may not be accurate in my case or another girl's case, but this is how society will continue to see girls; weak and lonely.
ReplyDeleteMy younger cousins, Chloe and Violet are 4 and 5 years old, and this past summer we visited Disney World. As soon as we arrived, my cousins were dressed in their princess costumes and ready to have lunch with Cinderella in her castle. They would sing along to the Justin Bieber songs on my Ipod and insist on having a "sexy dance party" back at the hotel. Already, society has taken a toll on my cousins: to be a beautiful princess who sits around and waits for his prince. Personally, that fact that they even know the word "sexy" worries me.
My aunt and uncle have tried to curb this issue by buying them big monster trucks instead of barbies, stimulate their minds with educational games, and remind them that their intelligence is just as important as their looks, if not more.
I sincerely hope that as we grow up we change the societal stereotype of needy girls to strong, powerful women that make a difference; not just for out sake but for those younger than us.
The fact that the media constructs our female values is just as relevant now as it was when our generation was growing up. The media has always consisted of airbrushed and photoshopped women in magazines and on billboards, and fashion models with unrealistic features and unattainable bodies. Furthermore, the role of the “popular” or well liked character in movies and television series has always been played by a thin, fit, young looking actress, while the role of the outcast is played by an actor who may be considered average looking.
ReplyDeleteLike the article states, "pink, pretty, and 'sassy' has become a gigantic business”; we all feed into it because it is what we have been brought up to do- and as females, we all naturally desire to be as outwardly pleasing as we are internally beautiful. We buy beauty magazines, read articles on the internet on hair and makeup tips, and are willing to spend our valuable time to make ourselves look attractive and feminine, almost to prove to the rest of the world that we are as much of a beautiful woman outside as we are within.
However, the undeveloped minds of prepubescent girls are more prone to attaching to these societal values in search of approval and security in their growth stages, which may be why we are seeing these tiny, young faces globbed with dark makeup and caked on foundation. Seeing pretty actresses being portrayed as popular and glamorous on TV feeds young girls with the idea that one will be well-liked and popular if she looks like a model. This implants the thought in their minds that popularity is important and is associated with, and perhaps even depends on, one’s appearance.
Although the media does set standards of physical beauty for females, most of which are practically unattainable, I don’t believe these images override the idea of strong, successful women; rather, the two blend together. Like others have mentioned, we all have a biased perspective because we attend IHA, where feminist ideas are constantly accentuated, and obtaining the image of a determined, strong minded, intelligent young woman is our goal. For this reason, the media personally drives me to become the ultimate representation of a women as both “pink, pretty, and sassy” and powerful, clever, knowledgeable and successful. Reminiscing of my childhood, however, I actually have always had this perspective of femininity, especially during the time that I frequently watched Disney movies; I saw the Disney princesses as the epitomes of elegance, confidence, and class.
I think that mothers should start filtering what their children are watching on TV to ensure they aren’t being exposed to anything to risqué, as my mother did when I was growing up. I was shocked when I found out that the mother of the six year old girls I babysit allow them to watch shows such as the Jersey Shore a Toddlers and Tiaras, which are both degrading to the value of women and the idea of being feminine. It wasn’t until I was at least fourteen that I began to watch reality shows and music videos on MTV, and at this point I was old enough to filter out realistic values with media misconceptions.
I understand what everyone has been saying, but I personally think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Yes, Barbie does create this picture-perfect female image. But yes, girls and women are free to make their own choices about their appearances and their self-esteem. While I definitely think that there are girls who fall victim to society's skewed expectations of how women should look and act, it is ultimately up to individuals to decide what is important to them. And while Barbie's long blonde hair, skinny waistline, and overall physical flawlessness are just not a reality for most girls, Barbie isn't all about her appearance. Bikini Barbie is not the only option out there - there are doctor Barbie, lawyer Barbie, and teacher Barbie, just to name a few. I think ultimately what it comes down to is how Barbie is presented to young girls. It is the lessons taught to children in those essential, early years that really have the power to shape who they will become (let's be honest, I really don't know any 17 year olds who play with Barbie). I think that it is the parents' responsibility to present Barbies to little girls like they're just any ordinary toy. They should have no significant impact on how girls see themselves. If adults don't raise their children by rewarding superficial things such as appearance but instead encourage them to learn and develop and value their talents, there really is no need or pressure for Barbie to be anything more to little girls than a fun game to play.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the media does play a significant role in the lives of girls ,however, I think that the area they live in and the people they interact with play a larger factor. When girls are exposed to people in the media it is not as relevant to those who live with or around them. Almost every young child idolizes their parents and would do anything to please those they love. Although as they grow older they may not idolize them to the same degree, they still are influenced by what their parents or any other family member might say to them including comments about weight, the way they dress or the amount of make up they wear. Another important factor is the area that a young girl lives in. If she is exposed to girls who are stick thin with fake blond hair who only care about what their parents will buy them next then the girl will want to be just like those around them.
ReplyDeleteThe portrial of girls as "pretty, pink and sassy" has heavily influenced the perception of who young girls think they are and who they believe they should become. From a ripe young age, they see images of women as beautiful but with an uncommanding presence. In some respects, the Barbie doll and what she represents begins the pattern of images that young girls will see. The norm expectation is for girls to love pink and the princess storyline. Barbie, along with many Disney characters, sets the stage for girls to want to look beautiful and yearn for the "Ken" or "Prince Charming" male figure to sweep them off of their feet. The image is front and center for ripe young girls to buy into. Unfortunately the pattern does not end there. It continues via the media, including movies, television shows and magazines. Girls consistently see images that portray women as dependent on men.
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