In this blog, My partner Kendra Wright and I-LaToya Hentz will discuss how Media Disconnects and Connects with the youth in today's society. We will both give two separate examples of how Media actually helps and hurt today's youth.
PORTRAYALS OF PERFECTION
Some of the first images of cartoons and in coloring books feature "Barbie and Ken" and "The Disney Princesses". The media paints a picture of perfection that children start to notice at a very young age. This has been proven in numerous studies when young girls were presented with serveral dolls and each girl---no matter what race----chose BARBIE! So, apparently they view Barbie as being prettier than the other dolls. This is a huge problem for girls who dont look like Barbie. Many little girls grow up wanting to look like the Disney princesses or Barbie. And once they grow out of childhood, the media portrayals of Beyonce, Miss America, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry are the images that are connected with beauty. The facial features, skin tones, hair lengths, and body types are all similar and represent Beauty. Girls that are full figured and dark may take offense or wonder why they're not as pretty as those girls. And the journey begins, Girls strive for the media images of perfections on a daily basis. Adding hair extensions, trying to stay fit by exercising, plastic surgery, and diet supplements are just a few examples of the things females may do to try to change their look.
STAYING CONNECTED
Unlike our grandparents and parents, youth are able to interact with each other no matter where they are located. Social media has enabled the youth to stay connected through text, twitter, facebook, youtube, chatrooms and skype. No one is further than hands reach of the nearest computer or cell phone.
No comments:
Post a Comment