What we see; what we do
September 6, 2009
by Monica Jean Alaniz
|Several years ago I had a painting on display at a gallery. As an artist I like to hang back and listen to what people have to say about my artwork without having their opinions “tainted” by knowing that the artist is listening to what they say. One thing that I have always found particularly interesting is how a number of people can see the same image and interpret it as being or meaning a million different things. In the end, what I, as the artist, intended to portray is only part of a much larger equation.
All of us are the product of our backgrounds: personal, academic, work, etc. The environments that we grow up in frame how we see the world around us.
Now, I’m not getting into a debate here about nature vs. nurture; that is something completely different. What I am trying to get at is that viewpoints can change, and while I believe that individuals are entitled to their own opinions, sometimes individuals do need to be better informed so they can start to view the world in a way that makes it a better place.
We see examples of this all the time on The New Agenda blog. How many times do we look at advertisements, television shows, news segments, etc. without questioning how the things they depict are shaping our culture’s over-all consciousness and affecting the way in which young girls and women are seen in our society?
Coming into consciousness about issues affecting women is not an easy thing. It takes work. It’s far easier to ignore the sexualization of young girls in print and video media than it is to speak out and say it’s not ok. It involves more than telling our daughters that they can’t buy the skimpy outfit that they saw some pop star wear. It means explaining to them why it’s inappropriate. It also means letting manufactures and various industries that market sexuality to young girls that it’s not ok to depict young girls in this way.
It is easier to ignore the way that women politicians are held to a different standard than their male counterparts. We need to speak up and contact various media outlets or individuals in the political arena to let them know that this is not acceptable.
Coming into consciousness means that we cannot ignore issues, but that is only the first step, acting on the things you see is even harder.
So what can we do? One voice can make a difference. Talking to your children, spouses, friends, and others does make a difference, but it is also important to remember that while one voice can be heard by a few, a thousand voices joining together can be heard by many. The New Agenda affords us the opportunity to join our voices together and make a difference on a larger scale.
Take action – great thoughts Monica! You go girl!!!
Nice article Monica. I hope The New Agenda becomes a place where women can speak out about being women. But be careful when talking to daughters about sexualized clothing. It is important to impress them with the idea that men do not define sex in our world even though they do in media and media do not reflect the world we live in they reflect only what a group of old men see. So it is very possible for women to own their sexuality with out conforming to the porno definition set by straight men or the self starving uncomfortable vision set by gay men. We don’t need female sexuality defined by men or men’s institutions. Real female sexuality owned and defined by women is great.
Monica, thanks for your article. this is such a difficult and important topic.
I have come across a website “campaign for a commercial free childhood(CCFC)”. They have a slide show on their site which is eye opening and how the industry is targeting younger and younger children. their section on sexualization of girls is very important and I have sent it around to my friends. CCFC quotes a study by American psychologists from the 90ies. the american association of psychologists is still trying since then (over a decade) to get their message out to teachers and into a scholastic text for teachers.
we need to be prepared that there is much objection to seeing the dangers of sexualization of girls. the adversaries will say “girls will be girls. and if there is no need no one buys it”. but look at the site and see who these marketiers develop that market. they go after little girls to nag their parents until these finally recognize what their children apparently want. and you as mom will get cornered being the not fun loving mom.
so we need to know what the dangers for our kids are such as early objectification, learning that your looks are the most important thing, early eating disorders, low self esteem and shortening of childhood. we need to get us prepared.
marile, Thanks for the web site. Here is one thing I have never understood. It has been shown that women and girls feel bad about themselves after reading “women’s content” from corporate media. Do you think men feel bad about themselves after reading corporate “men’s content”? I seriously doubt it. So why does corporate media take the downer route only with women? We need several things and one of them is a non corporate media where women’s content can be anything we want it to be because if women were given a choice there is no way they would buy this downer corporate crap. The internet presents a cheap way to start a new womens media free from corporate influence. Also women need to participate in the cultural definition of sex and we need to be the only ones to define female sexuality. What we have with corporate media is a definition of sex that men have created then they hire non thinking women to maintain it. So mens mags show how men can enjoy sex as they have defined it and women’s content shows women how they can better conform to men’s definitions of female sexuality. Of course we are treated to both the straight men’s porno definition of sex and the gay mens fashion conformity definition of sex but in both cases women are behaving unnaturally and always seeking male approval. The concept of women sitting on their average sweat panted bums and checking out hot men but NOT seeking male approval is strictly taboo. So while the male definition of sex our culture clings to is WRONG feminists need to be careful while stating this so they do not look like they are opposed to female sexuality or sex in general. That has happened in the past and it gave opponents of feminisms important concepts the chance to paint feminists as asexual hags who want every one else to be asexual. Like it or not that hurts the cause. Feminists need to give young women the voice and the support to define sex for themselves and little girls need a place to go where they are not harped at or sexualized.
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