WHAT’S A GIRL (AND PARENTS) TO DO?

Our young girls (and our larger population) are bombarded with media images of sexualized feminine esthetics. You see it everywhere: in line at the grocery store, billboards on the highway, songs on the radio, commercials on television, books, games, videos … what’s a girl to do?

As a parent, you are the most powerful tool our girls have to teach them how to interpret our media’s projection of images that portray girls as sexual objects. The remedy to this assault is to support and teach them how to value their own inner beauty and strengths.

It’s equally important for our young boys to be taught to respect and value the roles girls play in our society, as sisters, mothers, friends and teachers, rather than being brainwashed into the sexual objectification our media flashes before them.

The APA & Librarians’ Internet Index (LII) have listed the following resources parents and teachers may find useful in their own edification of media literacy, along with tools and resources to help teach their children:

How to Teach Media Literacy
Media literacy connects the curriculum of the classroom with the curriculum of the living room. Making these connections requires an educationally sound framework and structure — while leaving room for open-ended inquiry and the excitement of discovery.

The Center for Young Women’s Health
Boston Children’s Hospital offers “health information, clinical care, and a variety of programs and services designed to educate and empower girls and young women ages 12-22” in both English and Spanish. It covers cancer, sexuality, eating disorders and nutrition, gynecology, smoking, and scoliosis. It also offers information about mental health and a guide to lesbian health. Searchable.

Media Portrayals of Girls and Women
This site “provides a snapshot of the issues around the media’s portrayal of women and girls — from effects on body image and self-identity to ramifications in sports and politics. It looks at the economic interests behind the objectification and eroticization of females by the media as well as efforts to counter negative stereotyping.” Also includes links to material about media portrayal of minorities, men, and gays and lesbians. From the Media Awareness Network.

SmartGirl
“SmartGirl is devoted to promoting media either designed for or made by girls and women. … SmartGirl membership is all-female, although anyone may visit, enjoy, and submit reviews to SmartGirl.” Users can post original poetry, love letters, and stories; contribute to polls; and suggest content. Includes a monthly newsletter. An excellent collection of links to sites on many topics appears under “Library of Information” in the resources section. Searchable.

Body Image
This annotated list of fiction and nonfiction books for middle and high school students focuses on themes related to body image, such as weight, body shape and size, eating disorders, food addiction, physical deformities, skin conditions, piercing and tattoos, and self-acceptance. Includes titles for and about both girls and boys. Compiled by library media teacher Mary R. Hofmann. From School Library Journal.

About-Face
A “San Francisco-based non-profit group, About-Face combats negative and distorted images of women in the media.” The website has resources and suggestions for actions that can be taken in support of this goal. It also features archived galleries of “offenders” and “winners,” featuring images of how women are portrayed in magazines, on billboards, on TV, and in newspapers.

Advocates for Youth
This organization “is dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.” The site features information about topics and issues (abstinence, dating violence, emergency contraception, HIV, and more), selected publications, information about programs in the United States and in developing countries, lesson plans, and links to related information. Searchable. Some material also in Spanish and French.

Dads and Daughters
“DADs provides tools to strengthen our relationships with our daughters and to transform the pervasive messages that value our daughters more for how they look than who they are.” DADs is a national, nonprofit organization focusing on a father’’s role in promoting a positive self-image for girls and advocating change in popular culture. Resources include articles, surveys, self-help ideas, links to related sites, and research information. DADs publishes Daughters: The Newsletter for Parents of Girls .

Fathers Are Power!ful
This site promotes the positive influence that fathers can have on their daughters’ lives. Features tips for communication and ideas for activities that fathers and daughters can share, including suggestions from girls on how they would spend the perfect day with dad. Provides links to other resources related to fatherhood.

Girls Inc.
The site for this “national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold” provides tips for parents, publications, lists of local chapters in the U.S., and advocacy information. A separate section for girls features a variety of self-exploration activities, biographical information about successful women, and women’s history.

Media Awareness Network (MNet)
A great site for information on media issues, with a Canadian slant. The issues include children and violence, ratings, cultural diversity, hate, and privacy. Searchable. From a Canadian organization which provides support and education for families and educators in the “fast-evolving media culture.” Also available in French.

Media Portrayals of Girls and Women
This site “provides a snapshot of the issues around the media’s portrayal of women and girls — from effects on body image and self-identity to ramifications in sports and politics. It looks at the economic interests behind the objectification and eroticization of females by the media as well as efforts to counter negative stereotyping.” Also includes links to material about media portrayal of minorities, men, and gays and lesbians. From the Media Awareness Network.

MediaWise Video Game Report Card
This annual report card “provides a snapshot of the interactive gaming industry with a focus on issues related to the welfare of children and teens.” Features ratings of video and computer games using the KidScore rating system, and surveys and grades the arcade industry, Internet gaming, retailer performance, and parental supervision. Includes legislative updates and an extensive bibliography. From the National Institute on Media and the Family, a research-based nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

Hilltown Families – Girl Power
Hilltown Families offers an additional list of local and national resources.

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