Saturday, April 26, 2014

Talking Points: Teens Talk Back

Reflection


I have to start by saying that I didn't think it would be hard to find teens standing up against the negative images that the media displays about them. I guess my thinking could have been persuaded by our positive talks about teens in class and after seeing the Youth in Action group. I was very impressed by their presentation and on their awesome progress with their school. This article reminded me of the three Queer readings when they linked personal experiences with teens. For this blog and research, I started by searching on Google and then went to YouTube where I found a video. This video showed girls talking back against the negative and unrealistic images that the media portrays. Many of them felt angry and upset with the commercial and shows because they were displaying unrealistic images that they thought all girls should live up to. The girls said the following things when asked to talk about media and the negative images that it displays “if you’re rich or you have money, then you can be popular other than that you’re a nobody. That’s not fair,” It’s trying to say your ugly without this product, or you’re not popular without this product,” “The media gives you standards for looking good, and makes you think the product will help,” “It’s almost like they want you to judge people by their clothes instead of this personality,” “It makes you get angry at the companies and say why can’t I look pretty on my own, why do I need something to help me.” Everything that the girls said was true. The media does try to make you feel like you need “things” to make you more popular, pretty, successful, liked, etc. It is constantly trying to make you feel like something is wrong with you but if you do these few simple things such as buying make-up products or losing weight, you can be the “picture perfect person.” It is unrealistic and gives young girls false hopes and dreams. There isn't any commercials that say “your beautiful you don’t need anything to make you better” or anything along those lines that I can think of, can you? 


Another interesting link I found about media and its effect on teens- Check it out and let me know if you agree with what it says! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzsYxR7Y9Pw&noredirect=1  

7 comments:

  1. I am happy to see that these teens were are aware with what is going on and how they portray teen girls to be in the media. I would love to see an updated video of these girls to see how they looked past these things. I'm so glad being popular and having these labels are the last things on my mind now a days. Its hard too keep up with all of that stuff lol

    great reflection and vids!

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  2. i agree, seeing an updated video of these girls would be awesome to see if their opinions have changed as they got older and had new experiences. And you are right, i cannot remember ever seeing an ad that was positively influencing teens to be themselves.

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  3. I cannot think of any films, commercials, advertisements, or any type of media that ever states that girls are beautiful the way they are. Unfortunately society and the media has to make teens feel like something is wrong with them in order to make money. sad

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  4. check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
    i watched it years ago on facebook and never forgot it. i think it is so powerful about how what we see in the media is altered and unrealistic

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  5. Good point about the message media tells teenagers: If you are rich, you will be able to dress nicer and be more accepted. It is sad for the pressure the teenagers face if they are poor and they cannot afford the luxuries that other kids have.

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  6. I love things that don't outrightly tell girls that they are beautiful because they don't make the case that a certain girl is "beautiful." My boyfriend just picked me up a cope of a comic called Lumberjanes and it's a bunch of girls at this awesome summer camp. They're quirky and different and have different body types. I would like to see more people of color, but it's still the first issue. You should check it out! It's such a refreshing example of media for young girls.

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  7. Thank You for that video! You make really good points about beauty ideals and standards being sent to teenage girls.

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