This short film, from Dove's "Inner Beauty" campaign, reminds me that I need to pay attention to the message my little girl gets as she grows old enough to pay attention to such things.
I think the messages aimed at girls are much harsher or more demanding than those aimed at boys. Before the Marlboro Man became verboten, he represented some sort of idealized man. The closest thing I can think of now are Brett Favre's commercials for Wrangler jeans. Here's Brett playing football with the guys in the mud; field all soggy, and old rough and tumble Brett is wearing Wrangler jeans. But I think the "be an ideal man, here's how" pale in comparison to the intensity and frequency with which we bombard women.
But I have only a daughter (so far). Parents of sons, do you agree or disagree?
1 comment:
I think the messages that we bombard girls and women with hurt both female and male members of society.
Girls are taught from an early age that they need to look or act a certain way in order to be considered "beautiful" - as a result, boys are given skewed views of what they should be expecting in a future partner and often don't realize how much pressure that puts on girlfriends and wives.
On the other hand, society expects boys to become men from as soon as they're able to stand - while girls are allowed to show sensitivity and seek out comfort in childhood, most boys are taught to "man up" and ignore or repress their feelings for fear of appearing "weak".
All in all, it's difficult to raise a child regardless of their sex, because of the unique challenges that come with gender stereotypes in American society. It makes me incredibly sad to think that my son may be considered less of a man someday if he rejects football for art, or if he decides that he isn't interested in women.
Scary to think about. :(
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