My group and I visited The Paley Center For Media where we met Rebekah Fitz and participated in a Women in the Media class. Rebekah told us facts about how many girls suffer from eating disorders or how many girls struggle with the way they look.
I learned that 80% of ten-year old girls are scared of becoming fat, and it scared me because girls that age aren’t even teenagers. They aren’t even pre-teens.
She told us that 60% of girls compare themselves to models in magazines. I do admit that for years I have compared myself to models in magazines, but when Rebekah told us about models being fake, photoshopped, face filled with makeup and lots of plastic surgery, I realized that I should stop trying to be something that isn’t even possible since it is all fake and basically an illusion.
Rebekah showed us old and current day movie clips that showed how women and girls are seen as a weak figure and as an object. I have noticed that even Katniss Everdeen, the warrior that killed many people to save herself and keep her family alive, has to choose what guy she wants to be with. That super heroes like superman and the Hulk kill villains to save the townspeople but heroes like Wonder Woman only defends herself and doesn’t use all her strength show us how we think.
It struck me when I saw some commercials that I have seen a lot. I saw how much Lego has changed since I was little. A couple years ago, there was the typical yellow block Lego characters for girls and boys. But now they are making tiny barbie-like Legos with a small figure and breasts! These toys are made for little 6,7,8 year olds while the dolls look like 15,16,17 year olds.
Rebekah also pointed out that it was a sexist act for the Lego designers to make everything pink with cupcakes and fairies for the girls and the batman cave for the boys not even meaning to do that. Also, I realized that the Lego friends toy has only one black girl, while the rest are white. The company is saying they are “diverse” by doing that, which I disagree with. I learned a lot about how women have been treated and stereotyped through tv shows and commercials. I thought it was very interesting and I am willing to learn more about it!
