I’m glad I waited until today to write my weekly post about Glee. If I hadn’t, I would have missed out on the opportunity to put in my two cents about the pictures of Lea Michelle and Dianna Agron in GQ that were just released.
So, here’s my two cents: I’m sick of it. I’m sick of the skin, the bras, and the in-your-face sexuality. Why wasn’t it enough to watch these kids sing and dance in appropriate clothing – all while tackling some important and difficult issues? Is it the entertainment industry that pushes for the sexier-is-better mindset – or is it us, the viewers? Or both?
And what can we do in our homes to manage the onslaught of sexualized media images we see everyday? I have written about this topic on the Your Mind. Your Body. blog, but for today, I think the lesson is: talk about it. Rather than passively accepting these sexualized images, talk to your kids about them. And while you’re at it, talk to your spouse, your friends, your sister, and mom. How do they help their kids navigate the sexualized world in which we live – and how do they cope themselves? Because our kids’ body images aren’t the only ones susceptible to the images we see around us – ours are too.
I just read a book called “Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture” about the topic of sexualizing women in the guise of empowerment. Worth reading if interested in this topic, although its 5 years old and feels slightly dated because it is all about pop culture.
Debbie
Thanks for your comment. The book sounds fascinating! My hunch is that we have done nothing but get raunchier in the last 5 years.