Amy Lang, MA: November 2008 Archives

I just want to let all three of you who read this know that I have had my best year yet! I am on target to double my revenues from last year.

While the numbers aren’t huge, I am so proud and excited about the future.

And I couldn’t have done it without you. Seriously.

Word of mouth is my biggest marketing tool and this means YOU!

Thank you SO much!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Tyra Banks, supermodel and talk show hostess has been doing some research and oh boy, are the results scary.

She had an anonymous survey on her website this summer and over 10,000 teenage girls and young women responded.

I don’t think this was a particularly scientific study – I can’t find a copy of the actual study – and the respondents were all viewers of her show. I am not sure of the demographics, but I do know that her show is watched by women aged 18 to 34.

Regardless, it’s pretty shocking, what these girls are up to in terms of their sexual activity – like having sex at 15 and at school!

If you go to the link below, you can read some of the comments from some of the girls.

http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/2008/11/sex_drugs_and_violence_what_ar.php

And here’s a recap of an interview with Tyra on the TODAY show.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/27706917/?GT1=43001

Pick up a copy of this month’s Family Circle Magazine because they have a fabulous article about the impact of our media, clothes, toys, and music on young girls.

You guessed it – more about the sexualization of young girls.

I don’t think we can write, think or talk about this enough – and I don’t even have a girl!

It is our responsibility, not our children’s, to make decisions about what clothes they wear, the shows they watch, the toys they play with and the music they listen to.

If you let your five year old wear provocative clothing and watch “Hannah Montana” “because she likes it” you are doing her a disservice.

This is like letting her eat candy for breakfast, cookies for lunch and cake for dinner “because she likes it.” I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t let this happen in your house – ever.

Why would you let your five year old dress in a sexual manner and watch TV shows about the life of a person who’s only commonality is the fact that they are both female?

And please don’t try to tell me that high heels are cute on a little girl or that your seven year old needs a frilly bra because her best friend has one. These are articles of clothing for older girls and women. Not little girls.

Little girls don’t have breasts and they definitely don’t need their legs looking sexy.

Focusing on how our girls look rather than the content of their character is unfair, short sighted and I think leads to eating disorders, early sexual activity and struggles with self esteem.

Okay, I’m done. Sorry if I’ve stepped on anyone’s toes, but maybe I’ve made you think before you plop your kid in front of a TV show aimed at teenagers.

This just in – it looks like kids who watch TV with a lot of sexual content are two to three times more likely to have a teen pregnancy (or impregnate someone) than those who don’t.

The researchers think these shows, like “Sex in the City” highlight the fun of having sex and don’t discuss the risks and consequences. Teens then start think they don’t need to use precautions and don’t take steps to protect themselves.

There could be some other things at play here, like the kids watch shows that reflect their interests – sex – and surprise, surprise, they happen to do it and get pregnant.

I don’t think watching these kinds of shows without discussing them is a good idea. Parents can watch these shows with their kids and talk about how realistic they are.

You could ask questions like “Does Carrie really have all that sex and never get an STD or pregnant? What’s she doing to prevent that from happening?” This might get them thinking.

You could also find other programming that’s more appropriate for them to watch – not that you can control them all the time, but you can have some influence.

Media. It’s powerful.

Parenting. It’s more powerful. Just do it.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103084042.htm