Thoughts: Miss Representation

I left class today with a pit in my stomach as a result of fear for my future children. I am worried for my daughters especially, but also for my sons. I have always known that my daughters would be especially vulnerable at a young age when it comes to body image and have prepared myself to deal with those issues when the time comes. But I never thought about how I need to prepare my sons as well to not only respect women, but recognize that women can do anything men can do. If I perpetuate the notion that men need to be strong, masculine, in control, and hard, they will be sure to run into problems in school where they feel like they don't measure up. I want my boys to know that they can show emotion and they can be involved in things that aren't always comply with gender stereotypes. I also want to teach my boys that they need to respect women just like they should respect everyone else. I feel like teaching my boys these things will help relieve some of the pressure my on my daughters and other girls their age.

This movie really made me realize just how responsible the media is for so much of the corruption in our society. I was even realizing ways I had been a victim of media pollution. Luckily, I was content enough with my body image growing up that I never had any type of major struggles outside the typical awkwardness that comes with being in a teenager body. But what I never realized until today was how my perception of women in leadership roles or political positions has probably been more affected by media than I realize. I grew up thinking that those types of roles were for men and that women just weren't good for public office or for major leadership positions. I have never reflected on why I have grown up with these stigmas until watching this movie. My parents didn't raise me on any such notions. In fact my mother was very involved in our city council and school board. The only other source I can trace is the media! I must have somehow adopted those views over the years being exposed to a lot of media.