Raising Girls Stinks

Ignite Detroit 2012 presentation.

Transcript

1. Raising Girls Stinks Nathan Hughes @ndh313
2. Emerson & Averie
3. Kidhood was moving along great.
4. Then my 8 year old asked me if she looked fat.
5. What’s going on? * Dove Campaign for Real Beauty 70% of girls feel that their looks, school, or relationships do not measure up. 53% of 13 year old American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.
6. The role of girls as commonly portrayed by mass media is grim. Brainy friendless freaks. Boy crazy accessories. Jobless trophies. Sluts.
7. “Freaky Flaw: Plucking and shaving is definitely a full time job but that’s a small price to pay for being scarily fabulous.” “Favorite Activity: Shopping and flirting with the boys!” Monster High “Be Yourself, Be Unique, Be a Monster!” Belt Up High Heel Leather Boots Thigh High Stockings Upper Thigh Miniskirt Show me some belly Dog collar necklace “Least Favorite Subject: Gym. It’s only because they won’t let me participate in my platform heels.”
11. “We as women are trained to see ourselves as cheap imitations of fashion photographs, rather than seeing fashion photographs as cheap imitations of women.” – Naomi Wolf I want to do better. Four actions to take while you still can.
12. Cancel the Comcast. Cable kids’ shows are designed to make selling to kids, and thus you, easier. Kill the Catalogs. Don’t allow crap in your house that sabotages your kid’s ability to discover their own personality. 1. Control Incoming Media
13. Kids have to be savvy, because they are big marketing targets. “Company X wants you afraid of Y so you’ll buy Z.” 2. Give Kids Marketing Smarts
14. What do you like? What do you want? That’s great. That’s your choice. That’s your right. You’re allowed. You can say yes. You can say no. 3. Teach Power & Choice & Control
15. Good ones are hard to find. (that’s part of the problem) 4. And, role models. Seek out and help your kids “discover” pop culture role models that speak to your kid’s personality.
16. Scully (X-Files) Ripley (Alien) Anne Frank Pippi Longstocking Buffy & Willow Coraline (Neil Gaiman) Capt. Janeway (Voyager) Princess Leia Laura Ingalls Death (Sandman) Hermione Kate (Mysterious Benedict Society)
17. There is a limited time window where a parent can both control the messaging and provide the tools that help kids combat the media they will be blasted with for the rest of their lives.
18. Oh, One More Thing. MEN. Be aware. Be vocal. Push back. Be part of the conversation. Your kids need to catch you on THEIR side of this issue.
19. These things may cramp your lifestyle. Don’t worry. It’ll be out of your hands in no time. Why not do the best good while you have a chance?
20. Good Luck. Nathan Hughes @ndh313