Double Journal Entry #5 : "I want to be a Mermaid!"

Quote:  "Strategies for critical analysis of media messages have been created that target teens; however, results so far indicate that teens are better-educated, but still fall victim to eating disorder behaviors and low self-esteem in terms of body image. "


Response:  This quote substantiates the need for critical media skills to be taught in educational and residential settings.  As a parent and teacher, I can validate that the concepts of physical, emotional and social well being are being taught in most physical education and health classes.  Instructional activities include; posters, brochures, commercials, advertisements, music deconstruction, and numerous other activities that promote healthy lifestyles.  But, some students that are creating these powerful messages are on the top of the victimization list.  In addition, mass media tactics mainly pursued by companies that are focused on stock piling assets, are overpowering intended educational outcomes.  Teachers and parents need to be informed, and assist teens with gaining a "voice" to represent themselves against mass media tactics to persuade teens to accept stereotypes.  This problem is difficult, and not one that has an easy solution.  A final thought, if teachers and parents are accepting and promoting stereotypes, how do we get our teens to evaluate and analyze media to make changes?


Reference:  Sauer, H., & Robles_Pina, R. (2003). What Adolescent Girls are Reading and the Way They Shape Body Image. In Advancing Women . Retrieved September 22, 2011, from www.advancingwomen.com


Additional Resource:  Beauty and Body Image in the Media
"Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that media images of female beauty are unattainable for all but a very small number of women. Researchers generating a computer model of a woman with Barbie-doll proportions, for example, found that her back would be too weak to support the weight of her upper body, and her body would be too narrow to contain more than half a liver and a few centimeters of bowel. A real woman built that way would suffer from chronic diarrhea and eventually die from malnutrition. Jill Barad president of Mattel (which manufactures Barbie) estimated that 99% of girls aged 3 to 10 years old own at least one Barbie doll.3"
Reference:  Gerber, R. (n.d.). Beauty and Body Image in the Media. In Media Awareness Network. Retrieved September 22, 2011, from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
Barbie boots up. (Time, Nov 11 1996).http://www.time.com