Race, Gender and the Media: Week 3
February 11, 2010
The examples of sexism toward women in the media that we saw and discussed in class this week are what scare the living hell out of me when it comes to raising my two kids. Who both happen to be girls.
I do believe family is the most important function of the forming of a person’s character, and in that respect I don’t worry too much. My daughters have an amazing, doting father who loves them to pieces.
And I am a strong-willed, independent woman with loud opinions I just can’t keep to myself, much less from my girls as they get old enough to discuss issues.
But as an intelligent, feminist adult even I am unable to keep these images and depictions of women from altering my self-perception. It disgusts me, but it’s true.
And if I have to fight off the affects of the media portrayl of women I can only imagine the toll it will take on impressionable young girls and teenagers.
Forty percent of nine and ten-year-old girls in this country have tried to lose weight? Go freaking figure.
