In the article, Caroline Heldman, assistant professor of politics at Occidental College, writes that low self-esteem and unhealthy body perceptions are often side effects of self-objectification (when we view our bodies as an object to be consumed by others - usually, men). And though the tendency to self-objectify has been around for a while, Heldman argues that the increasingly provocative mass media, which bombards women with images of female bodies shown as outright objects, is feeding the trend and it’s reaching even our youngest girls. The average American is exposed to 3000 to 5000 advertisements a day (many sexually charged) – up from 500 to 2000 a day in the 70’s, and girls as young as 7 years-old are exposed to clothing, toys, music, magazines and television programs that encourage them to be sexy or “hot”.
Heldman states that this onslaught of objectifying images often times leads to increased self-objectification, and those who self-objectify are more prone to depression, low self-esteem and have less faith in their own capabilities. It can also result in decreased cognitive functioning, poorer academic performance and motor skills, and cause girls to view themselves as powerless sexual objects. Kenyon College psychology professor Sara Murnen concurs with Heldman’s findings and adds that girls “are taught to view their bodies as ‘projects’ that need work before they can attract others, whereas boys are likely to learn to view their bodies as tools to use to master the environment.”
Well, for those of you raising young girls, you have your work cut out for you (and I can’t say that I’m envious). Having said that, as a mother of two young boys, I believe that I have a role too.
A Belvedere Vodka Ad
My husband’s Blender magazine came in the mail yesterday with a very seductive Tila Tequila on the front (clad only in a bikini bottom and tiny t-shirt) asking, “Aren’t you in love with me yet?” Before the stack of mail hit the table in the foyer, that magazine got put away (don’t worry, the hubby knows where I hide them).
Every day images like that make their way into my home – from my Victoria’s Secret catalogue to the racy commercials on TV – and I certainly don’t catch them all. But as parents, it’s our responsibility to manage the media our kids have access to. There are lots of confusing messages out there, why add photographs of half-naked or fetishized women to the mix? And even though you may be doing your best to instill healthy attitudes in your children, consistent exposure to these types of images can shape their perceptions of sexuality and teach them how to view women (whether they’re young girls or young boys) and it may not be as healthy as you think.
The most interesting way Heldman suggests to combat the tendency to self-objectify is to avoid media that compels us to do so. Even by the author’s admission, that’s a tough one because that basically rules out a majority of the movies, TV shows and magazines out there. However, her research with college-age women indicates that “the less women consume media, the less they self-objectify, particularly if they avoid fashion magazines. By shutting out media, girls and women can create mental and emotional space for true exploration.”
Now, I LOVE flipping through fashion magazines when I’m getting my hair done at the salon. It’s my time and my place to get lost in glossy pages of glamorous pictures and beautiful clothes and to discover that golden beauty tip I’ve been searching for all my life. But when my stylist puts down the hair dryer, I put down the magazines and don’t see them again until my roots begin to show (or until I go to the dentist). I try not to make them a part of my daily routine and as a result, my exposure to images selling an impossible-to-attain idea of beauty is reduced. (Hopefully my fabulousness hasn’t taken a hit!)
So, toss aside those fashions mags for a week…or a month…and see what happens. Will your head explode? Or will you delve into something more worthwhile with that extra time (like dusting off your journal, reading that book you’ve been dying to, taking that extra class to further your career or putting the hundreds of photos you’ve developed in the past two years into an album). Maybe if we consume less and create more, we’ll start to view ourselves as tools to master the universe.
~tcb
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