Talking Point Two (Reflection) Christensen

While reading this piece I couldn't help but relate it back to a piece I had read with Dr. Bogad last semester (Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein).  The two pieces were so similar and raised similar points; it was interesting to see a few of the same concepts come up again in Christensen's piece.

Christensen's section on Cinderella and the variations of it is what really made me stop and say to myself MIND BLOWN.  Cinderella is my favorite Disney movie, fairy tale, story etc. Why? Up until about seven years ago it was because it was the story of a girl who was thrown into an unfortunate situation--forced to live with an evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters.  This poor girl cooked for them, cleaned for them and had nothing for herself but yet never once felt sorry--that was what I loved about Cinderella.  Now Cinderella is exactly what Christensen and her students said it is: a story that implies happiness means you must first transform yourself (your clothes and your physical appearance) and get the man.  Cinderella couldn't even go to the ball without changing her clothes first...she had to get a beautiful gown first.

Cinderella & the Cindy Ellie version sends the message to young females that in order to "win" and get the man you must be beautiful.  This message/concept now puts young females in competition with their peers which leads me to Christensen's other point of sexual stereotyping and adoration of beauty in children's cartoons and movies.

Christensen and her students point out that these seemingly innocent stories teach us to look for our faults

So these seemingly innocent stories are turning this:

"as Tinkerbell inspects her tiny body in a mirror only to find that her miniature hips are simply too huge, she shows us how to turn the mirror into an enemy and this is scenario is repeated in girls locker rooms all over the world" 

INTO THIS:

AND THIS 

Body Image is a huge deal to me.  These seemingly innocent stories are not as innocent as they seem; they have a much bigger impact than people realize.  Young girls are striving to be what they see represented in the media and let's face it---it's not so easily attainable.  Speaking from personal experience, I've seen how the media can warp a young girl's mind; for seven years I've watched my sister dislike her body and hate herself everyday for it.  Is the media completely to blame?  Oh god of course not!  It's just another added component that drives and feeds into what's already there. 

"Because we can never look like Cinderella we begin to hate ourselves.  The Barbie Syndrome starts as we begin a lifelong search for the perfect body."  

What I think people sometimes tend to forget is that young women are not the only ones suffering from this Barbie Syndrome.  Young males are starting to have an unattainable standard set by the media as well.  Young men and women are growing up in a society where they are trying not to give in but sometimes don't even realize that they are.

Comments:

I realize my opinions may differ from everyone else's on this topic and that's okay.  The issue of body image and adoration of beauty in our society is so near and dear to me that whenever it comes up it just like...ignites this flame in me and I just like BOOM and go; I live it everyday.  I'm interested to see in class on Tuesday what this article represented to other people!