Comments on: Mama Bear’s Panties are in a Wad Again

By: Heather Kephart

Heather Kephart — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:22:33 +0000

Yes Margo, yes! I’m terrified for my daughter. The messages sent to young girls are inexcusable.

1) We’re moving to Texas where beauty pageants seem to be big, and that scares me. I don’t want Lily to get that doll girl mentality.
2) I saw a girl walking down the street with her Mom yesterday. Must have been less than ten. She had on gold high heels, a short skirt, a t-shirt and a short fuzzy red jacket. I swear to God she looked like a hooker. WHY do people do this?!?!?!? She should be running around in overalls with her hair tucked behind her ears and a flower in her hands!

By: The Mayor

The Mayor — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:39:35 +0000

Gossip Girls is just a retarded show. I’ve lived through three teenagers so far, have got three now and I am under no misconception that my teens won’t see this stuff. They are quite devious when they want to be.

I remember years ago standing in the middle of the Gap in outrage at the 8 foot photos of anorexic models for our girls to mimic. 14 years later and we have the glorification of the Gossip Girls with over-sexualized “teens” modeling ridiculous behaviors devoid of any real character.

We have NOT come a long way baby, despite having females in powerful positions in every industry.

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:59:24 +0000

*applause*

Well said, missy. My hat is off to you for so many reasons, but first and foremost, your being a MOM is second to none.

I host a yearly Mommy’s Day Getaway her in Laguna Beach for all my mommy friends (I’m a fantastic Aunt!). Consider yourself invited always. =)

By: Honey Mommy

Honey Mommy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:23:59 +0000

I completely agree with you! It is apalling the things that they show on TV now! I think my grandparents would die of shock… and I certainly don’t want my kids to see stuff like that!

By: Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth

Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:19:44 +0000

Brilliantly said. You oughta be a writer. heh.

By: Margo

Margo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:32:33 +0000

I’ve been thinking about the “bait for shock” business. If an older demographic (the 18 – 34 whom CW claims to be solely marketing to) is all, “well see what you did? Now me and every other person in America wants to watch it,” I feel like saying, “so what? Go ahead.” (and throw in a snarky comment about the state of their priorities:) I think the benefit of waking up parents to the marketing tactic in general, and to raise awareness of this specific episode is really the only choice. I’m certainly glad I heard about it. And the condescending tone taken towards groups of parents who react and speak out as being nothing more than a right wing fringe element has got to be gnawing at somebody else besides you and me.

By: Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth

Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:36 +0000

Oh, and Margo, I’ll add to your readers that say their girls don’t watch the show, to ask about an open-ended question about one of the characters and see how she responds. (I’ve found in the various teens we work with that don’t Tivo, or are not allowed to watch it, they ’see what the fuss is about’ at a friend’s house or online where all the episodes replay ‘whenevah’ …it’s ‘cultural currency’ to be ‘up to date’ on the absurd antics of some of this swill…and THAT m’dears is the mind pollution that’s leaking and stinking big time…CW knows this teen motivator of ‘the more you ban it/admonish it/censor it’ the more appeal it has to teens. Look at their ad campaign. Built for provocative ‘parental outrage’ and sadly the teens play right into their hands. (we teach this in our media literacy/branding counter-marketing sessions; the teens need to lift the veil and see how they’re being used in order to create their OWN backlash at the absurdity…our hands are tied to do it for ‘em)

A part of me wants to crosspost this excellent piece on S.Y. and advise parents of the CW ratings ploys and the other side wants to ‘bury it’ by ignoring and not fanning the flames of controversy. Always a tough call with any bait for ’shock schlock’ as I call it…

Thx again, Margo…following you on Twitter now. I’m @ShapingYouth for any of your reader pals.

By: Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth

Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Excellent post Margo. Thrilled to find your site, and want to put you in the loop for a worldwide “girl-driven” initiative we’re involved with that I’ll be blogging soon to snuff out the massive hypersexualized crud being leaked upon girls like an unwashable stench. (mind pollution has its price (see this APA study on the quantifiable harm I wrote about Packaging Girlhood on Shaping Youth…we’ve been landing rebel yells for a couple years now: http://www.shapingyouth.org/?p=309)

It’s not enough for mama bears ‘mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore’ we’ve gotta get Goldilocks in the game to wake up and SEE the massive manipulation and profiteering that’s making cash registers go ‘ka-ching’ and kids’ psyches go ‘ka-boom’ as I’ve written before!

Anyway, with you all the way on this, as are MANY and MULTIPLE orgs teaming up for a big ol’ backlash abrewin’…I’ll send you the concept paper offline, as I’d like your voice d thoughts in the media mix on this girl revolution for certain.

Meanwhile, feel free to visit our ‘damaging drek’ category on Shaping Youth or ‘body image’ to debrief on the degree of toxic sludge…Then cleanse yourself with the ‘positive picks’ reminders that the power of media and marketing CAN be used for positive change…we just have to switch that track on a runaway train.

Let’s keep in touch. Best, Amy

http://www.ShapingYouth.org

By: cardiogirl

cardiogirl — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:55:48 +0000

Uhh… (mouth hangs open and three flies buzz in)

Whoa. That is s so crazy that it feels like you could be making this up. This is unbelievable.

These are the times I would love to be a fly on the wall at the meeting where this idea was pitched. Did ANYONE say, “You know, this might work on HBO with an adult show, but network television?”

Okay, let’s assume someone said that and they pooh-poohed her. Yeah, her. A mother would never go along with this idea.

What about the censors?!

This is really crazy and makes me wonder what will be on the air when my kids are teens — three girls who are 9, 6 and 4.

Oy vey.

By: Crabby Blogging Lady

Crabby Blogging Lady — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:54:57 +0000

SKANKWEAR!! What a great word!!! I’m going to HAVE to use that sometime.

I wish your outstanding post could be read on TV “in a threesome” by a group of concerned parents (yeah, us “right wingers”). Good God, this crap is getting not only ridiculous but SICKENINGLY dangerous.

Good post. I am gratified to see I’m not the only raging mom out there…. lol…