Tag Archives: chapter 11

All that Jazz?

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Jazz Jennings posing with her book that was written to support transgender teens.

Fourteen-year-old Jazz Jennings became a You Tube star as she advocated for transgender rights.  Recently, Clean and Clear featured her in an online advertising campaign called “See the Real Me.”  [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyNZXQ136oI[/youtube].

Now she is becoming the first to star in a reality TV show that focuses on the life of a transgender teen.  According to CNN, the show called “All That Jazz” will debut on TLC in the summer of 2015 and focus on Jazz and her family “dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth.”

I’m glad to see more shows with diverse casts that feature people in in more complex ways who are transgendered.  But, given that TLC is the same network that featured such “reality” shows as Here comes Honey Boo Boo and Toddlers and Tiaras, I am not holding my breath waiting for a thoughtful portrayal of the life of a young person who also happens to be transgendered.

If this show falls prey to the same oversimplified, one-dimensional representations of gender that some of the other TLC shows include, this leaves us with question: Is it better to have no or few representations of a person who is transgendered, or one that may have some truths to it, while overemphasizing “drama” and perhaps reinforcing some stereotypes too?

Valentine’s Day Gifts Speak To The Infantilization Of Women

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But beware…. this bear might just steal your woman!

Are you a man who wants to “measure up” when getting your romantic partner a Valentine’s gift?  If so, check out this ad for the “perfect” gift that every grown woman wants – a gigantic teddy bear.

A recent Forbes op-ed described how this Valentine’s Day ad that “creates girls out of women .”  In addition, the ad certainly plays on the gendered theme of men being valued for being sexual, as described in Gendered Lives. The ad proclaims ““It’s a great gift for her, and it’s sure to pay off for you,” as a man winks and hugs his girlfriend who is ecstatically happy over her giant bear gift!

Check out the ad for yourselves!  The comments below the video are hilarious too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uojoBHjZohI[/youtube]

 

 

Disney Plus Size Princess Petition

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Jewel Moore, a junior right here in Farmville, VA has made international news with her petition on change.org for Disney to include a plus-sized princess. In just under 3 weeks, Jewel’s petition has amassed over 25,000 signatures and national and international news coverage.

In part, Jewel’s petition reads:

I made this petition because I’m a plus-size young woman, and I know many plus-size girls and women who struggle with confidence and need a positive plus-size character in the media.

Studies show that a child’s confidence correlates greatly with how much representation they have in the media. It’s extremely difficult to find a positive representation of plus-size females in the media. If Disney could make a plus-size female protagonist who was as bright, amazing, and memorable as their others, it would do a world of good for those plus-size girls out there who are bombarded with images that make them feel ugly for not fitting the skinny standard.

The Huffington Post reports that Jewel is correct in her assessment of how girls engage in unhealthy eating behaviors.

The reaction to this petition also demonstrates social learning theory – how positive and negative reinforcement from others influences gendered norms (in this case, the importance of and type of ideal appearance for women).  For negative reaction, check out hostile comments made about Jewel in response to her petition and even broadcast on national news.  However, Jewel has also received a great deal of support in her quest for more realistic and a variety of body types to be represented in children’s media – my favorite is this great video created by an artist of his work to create a princess in Jewel’s image!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh5bYIubbIg[/youtube]

 

How the Media Failed Women in 2013

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This is a very interesting video compilation of high- and low-points of how women have been represented in mass media in 2013.  Worth watching!

The video was created by the founders of The Representation Project, whose mission statement reads:

The Representation Project is a movement that uses film and media content to expose injustices created by gender stereotypes and to shift people’s consciousness towards change. Interactive campaigns, strategic partnerships and education initiatives inspire individuals and communities to challenge the status quo and ultimately transform culture so everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, or circumstance can fulfill their potential.

Artist Puts Disney Princess Filter On 10 Real Life Female Role Models

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Check out this artist’s parody of real influential women as imagined by Disney.  From the artist, David Trumble:

“Fiction is the lens through which young children first perceive role models, so we have a responsibility to provide them with a diverse and eclectic selection of female archetypes. Now, I’m not even saying that girls shouldn’t have princesses in their lives, the archetype in and of itself is not innately wrong, but there should be more options to choose from. So that was my intent, to demonstrate how ridiculous it is to paint an entire gender of heroes with one superficial brush.

Halo 4 devs speak out against sexism

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All you gamers out there will be interested in this article.  This article talks about how the way female characters are created (e.g., consistently dressed in revealing clothing & very sexualized) promotes a sexist gaming culture.  Emboldened after reading Lean In, one executive spoke out against this and resigned from a high-profile position in protest.

In better news, Halo 4 developers have stated they will start banning players who make “gender-specific slanderous comments” and are working to promote a less sexist online player’s community (which is important from a moral grounds and business perspective too if they want to expand their customer base).

‘Attractive & Fat’ ad spoofs Abercrombie

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In this interview with activist and artist Jes Baker, she explains what motivated her to write a public letter to the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch after he had been quoted saying that they did not offer women’s sizes over a size 10 because “We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”  This is an example of how institutions (in this case business) influences gendered norms because while there are XL and XXL men’s sizes at Abercrombie, you won’t find larger women’s sizes.

Baker has prompted a change.org petition and created a Abercrombie ad parody to “challenge the separation of attractive and fat.”  Check it out!

Vogue plays dress-up with little girls

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Here is the blog I referenced in the online lecture analyzing the 15-page pictorial in a 2011 French Vogue issue featuring girls dressed as adult women in provocative poses.

This is a great example of the same pattern we are using in our Class Business blogs of building interest, establishing credibility with and educating your audience through citation of experts, and concluding with why this issue is important.  Note how it is visually easy to scan for key ideas through the short paragraphs and sub-headings, with pictures throughout to hold reader interest.