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What was it like thinking about the pressures placed on the opposite gender? How do you think this will help you think about body image in the years ahead? Have changed your opinions about your own expectations? Have you gained any sympathy for men and women and the standards they attempt to live up to?
62 Comments
February 3, 2009 at 4:40 pm
It was really awkward thinking about the pressure placed on men by the media and society because i have never thought about that. I still think that society and the media put more pressure on girls about how they look. I think that this will make people realize that people are not perfect and they don’t have to be. This has not changed my own expectations. I have not gained any sympathy for both genders because it is their choise if they want look like the people in magazines.
February 3, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Okay, so the boys’ three things were:
1. Girls are interested in shopping (I don’t really remember exactly how it went)
2. Girls are pressured into having cell phones
3 .Girls are stereotyped to be unsupieror, letting boys control their lives.
I think the first one’s true enough for the typical girl teenager. Enough said there.
For the second one, I think girls are sometimes pressured into having cell phones, but only if their friends have them. The main use for cell phones with teenagers these days is just texting. Originally, our ‘claim’ was that girls are expected to be on the phone for a long time, and talk a lot on the phone. That one’s pretty true too, but some girls might not like it as much. Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t talk to girls on the phone very much.
For the last one, we talked with some of you girls, and many women actually want to prove that they are just as good, and they can do just as good as men. For guys, being beat by a girl is often embarrassing for them, but triumphant for the girl. Some guys could get mad at their girlfriend for not being feminine enough, or not acting girly. But I can understand this from the girl’s point of view, trying to shine, prove themselves, and stop sexist assumptions saying they’re not as good as boys. Which is pretty common, especially for kids. But some women like being the unsuperior side. When women were trying to earn the right to vote, some women didn’t help them because they simply didn’t want. Men have typically done most of the important things, a long time ago (no offense!), and it’s sort of a tradition thing. But this last century or so, women have been trying to earn every equal right they can have, and they deserve it. They’ve earned it all.
February 3, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Yeah, I agree with you, Beth. One of the main things the media influences on women is that their beauty are is very important. And it is, but at the same time, it’s not. On first impressions with girls (meaning boyfriend/girlfriend stuff), their looks are the first thing we think about. But once we actually get to know they girl, she could be not very pretty, but really nice, or whatever character trait that specific guy is looking for, and be a really great person. That’s something we forget too often.
February 3, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Elizabeth I agree that there is more pressure on girls because we feel our image is more important than boys do.
Chris wasn’t the first one that girls were supposed to have a carefree life with shopping, partying, and socializing.
Chris I agree with the whole cell phone thing. I don’t have one and I don’t feel pressured by the media to have one. Although I do want one because the media shows that they are cool, even though I don’t really need one. But I never feel pressured to have one.
I also agree that most girls do not like being showed as weaker than boys because some girls (Greta as an example) are just as good if not better than boys at some things even sports.
Lastly I agree that a while ago the most important people were men, but now there are just as many important girls as guys. Like Harriet T., Oprah W., Rosa P., Amelia E., and many more in about the last century.
February 3, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I find that even though I see that it is wrong to think that way I still do. I am sort of ashamed of it. Thats what the media makes us think and most people do.
February 3, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I agree with Casey now a days we are females are just as important as males we contribute as much as the males do in good ways and bad.
February 3, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I think that boys have less pressure than girls do but they are still pressured to be buff, be mature (facial hair), be better than girls at sports and other competitive activities, and wear cool clothes.
I think that this project will show me and others that perfect isn’t really perfect (bodies), and that both boys and girls are a bit insecure about their self image.
I think that my expectations of boys and girls are still about the same but I don’t think I will try as hard to reach a standard of beauty set by the media.
I believe that boys have some what hard of a time if they are really short or not very sporty and they may feel ashamed, and I feel like they may try too hard and should just be happy with who they are.
February 3, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Chris I don’t really agree girls may be into shopping and so can guys and were not the only ones with cell phones alot of guys do to.
February 3, 2009 at 5:14 pm
You’re probably right about what the first claim was, my group probably changed it or something.
I also agree with you on how there are important women in life now. Other then the obvious stuff, there isn’t much these days that exclude a certain gender.
February 3, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Girls aren’t the only steriotypes either.
February 3, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I was responding to Casey above
February 3, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Julia, I guess you are right about both genders having cell phones. But what do you mean when girls are the only stereotypes? I think I get what you’re saying, but not entirely.
February 3, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I would have felt complete pressure if I was a model (for example) because of the media. Say you were a female model and your manager asked you to loose 15 pounds, get a new hair cut, start on a new 8,000 calorie diet everyday for the rest of your life, and come up with 10 new poses all in 1 day! Men on the other hand might need to run 4 laps around 2 blocks, buy new hair products(MALE models are more “picky” about their hair products then women are), and shave any hairy part of their chest. What do all these problems have in common? They all involve the media! If a model doesn’t do anything the media asks for………. say good-bye to your money $$$.
February 3, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Chris- I completely agree with you on your last paragraph (mostly). It kind of make me curious what the other boys would say if they do a topic like yours.
February 3, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I agree with the girls who have posted- girls have higher expectations. Chris- I like your comments about cell phones and shopping. I think that that is more common when girls are older though.
I think that boys become more pressured about their looks when they are older, because when they are younger, they are kinda, whatever, in the sense that they sometimes have messy hair, and aren’t really concerned about their looks.
February 3, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Yeah, I agree with you, Ellie, about when boys get older, their looks are more important. In middle school, even, the boys don’t care as much. The feeling’s there, just not very strong.
February 3, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Back to what Chris and Casey were saying, I do think boys have a pressure to be stronger than boys, and expect girls to be feminine. The fact is, girls do enjoy beating the boys, and they do like to prove that girls are not only feminine. The girls in magazines really all show the feminine side of our gender with loads of makeup, perfect hair, and usually are super skinny. Most girls in the world are not actually like this even though the media puts pressure on them. If you were at a high school soccer game, girls don’t look perfect like they appear in movies, and usually, they are super sweaty, muscular, and their hair is entirely messed up.
I do understand the pressure on guys to be stronger than girls, because the media’s pressure makes them want to look strong, and losing to a girl could make
them look weak. Even though the guys want to look buff and want to seem stronger than the girls, the girls have spiked up their desire to win and as Chris said “prove themselves”.
Another pressure on guys that we were talking about is the loose, baggy clothing that many people wear. I’m not at all sure why this is a trend, but maybe people want to not look at all nerdy, and “cool”. I really have no idea why this is a trend, but in my opinion, a little big is okay, but most girls are grossed out by the SUPER big look.
About Ellie, Chris and Casey’s comments on cell phones, the media is pressuring girls to look cool and have cell phones, and thank goodness this is not to popular at our school. In other schools though, my friends have started texting twenty-four seven, even if I am with them. i think their friends view it as cool, and people feel pressured into using them by the media as well, because now in many adds, girls are holding cell phones.
Oh yeah- Case-thanks for the sport comment
February 3, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Ellie i agree with you i also think when guys are younger they dont care as much about their looks
February 3, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I agree also, speaking from experience (being a boy and all) I don’t strive to look good or pleasing, but I do have limitations. An example is that I won’t wear shorts unless I need to. Another example is to avoid embarrassment. Like today I spilled some hot chocolate all over myself, and instead of wearing gym shorts, like I hate to, I got a jacket and wore it a little low.
This story brings me to my second point, which is that boys and girls alike seem to avoid embarrassment. Rather than not doing anything and being embarrassed I tried to cover it up. So there you go, my take on things.
February 3, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Oh, by the way, if I miss any capital “s”s it isnt my fault, the shift button doesn’t seem to like the “s” button.
February 3, 2009 at 8:10 pm
This activity helped me realize what different pressures the media puts on different groups of people, gender in specific.
We talked about pressures the media puts on women besides looking perfect.
February 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Talking about Greta’s comment on the baggy clothing, it has something to do with looking cool, but also just trying to fit in. As I understand it as more and more people do something, people who don’t are shunned and made fun of. An example of this is back at my old school. There was this craze on Livestrong Arm Bands. There were all types and colors. We traded and collected them because they were “cool”, but I also remember how some kids didn’t have any and I remember some of the “cooler” kids making fun of them.
You see the influence of gender or anything else associated stuff doesn’t always come from the media, but does start there.
February 3, 2009 at 8:13 pm
David i have never noticed that but it seems to make sense. Now that i think about it i have done things like that, it’s like your mind takes subconscious action.
February 3, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Thank you Damon, if I only worked on the conscious level I would be a babbling idiot.
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed this but male models tend to have square jaws. What is the deal with that? Is it more attractive or something?
February 3, 2009 at 8:21 pm
David, remember in Science class, when we saw that video where the scientists tested women on features they wanted most in men? The guys with square jaws were popular, but honestly I have no idea why.
February 3, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Will a girl please confirm or (for lack of a better word) kill my suspicions that you find this more attractive for some odd reason?
February 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I don’t think the girls in our grade would really know either.
February 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Also, we need more open discussions like these, this is awesome. I have done more thinking here than I do on a good week.
February 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm
David, this is just a theory, maby it’s more attractive because it looks masculine.
February 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm
You can try, though.
February 3, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I agree with Damon.
February 3, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Dang It. Well anyway I think another stereotype is that blondes are dumb. I have no idea where this got started, but I am pretty sure that this isn’t true.
And while I’m on a roll, another is that women are bad drivers. Although the media doesn’t pressure girls to be stupid or bad drivers i think it affects them on the subconscious level at the least.
February 3, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Greta I agree that when movies show girls playing a sport the girls are usually wearing makeup with all their hair still in a perfect ponytail and that is not true in real life.
I also agree that the reason underwear is called underwear is because it is supposed to be worn UNDER the clothes. And the Super baggy, sagging, gangster look can be a bit gross!
Plus the cell phone comment is very true. Some kids from other schools went to a retreat with me and some others, and they were not allowed cell phones. You could hear how disappointed they were. Also I was in a class and some kids were texting WHILE the teacher was in the middle of a demonstration when cell phones were not even allowed in the gym. Cell phones have become a huge way to communicate and less and less people really “talk” now a days.
February 3, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Huh, I never really noticed anyone texting in class, but I’ll take your word for it. (No sarcasm intended).
February 3, 2009 at 8:32 pm
David i think at the least the driving one is wrong because I have seen very bad male drivers. Another driving stereotype is that old people are bad drivers. Another old people stereotype is that they smell wierd(not good, but also not bad).
February 3, 2009 at 8:34 pm
People text lots between clases, or after school.
February 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm
My grandparents house smells good.
February 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm
I actually agree with the smelling weird one. I figure because they are older their body doesn’t break down foods as well, so when it does try it messes up and some leak into the blood without being digested correctly. Then the body puts it on the skin and viola, funny smelling old people.
But yes this is a stereotype and until they prove me right we should go on the assumption that old people don’t smell funny. (No sarcasm intended).
February 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm
To what Casey said, at my old school some people had multiple phones(one girl I know had at least 3 probably more) and would send texts and photos during class.
February 3, 2009 at 8:36 pm
David I honestly don’t really have a preference as to square or curved jaws. They don’t really matter, it is more the personality that counts, but i suspect that some girls like to have a more muscular looking man because they fell more protected with him. Or maybe they are superficial and want to show off their manly-man.
February 3, 2009 at 8:38 pm
David on the bad driver thing I think some girls are awesome drivers.
Maybe better than men because men try to show off more.
My nanny is about 55 and has never gotten a ticket in her life!
February 3, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Why is it that I never notice these things? But on a related topic. I think I figured it out.
Girls are stereotyped to be stupid and carefree and stuff, so when T.V. put the stupid, carefree, and popular girls as blonds and the outcasts as other hair colors it was transferred to them more so then others. If you don’t know what I am talking about watch about any teenage drama show (just tune in to Nickolodeon for a while, you’ll come across one or two).
February 3, 2009 at 8:39 pm
My grandma smells good like perfume and peppermint.
February 3, 2009 at 8:40 pm
sorry if any offense was made, none was intended. It was just an observation.
February 3, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I agree that many popular girls are blond. But some have other hair colors and they just have long lushes hair. I think the dumb blond stereotype is totally false. (Although some of the jokes are funny).
February 3, 2009 at 8:42 pm
David i know what you are saying and it makes sense but I yet to see a real life example so clear as in all the shows and movies
February 3, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I applaud Casey. is able to completely disagree with a stereotype then laugh at some of the jokes based on the stereotype. If more people were like that it would be a better place.
February 3, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Also the media stereotypes that all popular girls are rich and their dads are really powerful and that is not always true. Though it often is. I think the reason it might be true is because with more money they can get cooler stuff and the cooler the stuff the more popular the person.
February 3, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Casey it’s like the circle of how to be popular
February 3, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Thank You David.
To Damon: Movies set a fake set. In a lot of schools there is not always a Super Popular crowd and the rest are loosers. There are a bunch of different varieties of people.
February 3, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I agree, yet again. But we must not forget the outcast type popular. someone who is “popular” but not with other “popular” people. He/she has enough friends to be considered popular but s/he is an al together different type of popular. Did I just make any sense?
February 3, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Also in books, movies, and shows the popular girl/boy is always mean. But in reality some popular kids are really nice.
February 3, 2009 at 8:48 pm
David you are right you may not be in the popular crowd but you may be popular with your friends or be connected through a friend to the A-list.
February 3, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The A-list means the ultra popular people, for those of you who didn’t understand that.
February 3, 2009 at 8:49 pm
David i think i under stand what you are saying. Has any one noticed How the popular people in TV shows always go to the losers for help with something.
February 3, 2009 at 8:49 pm
This person is usually the polar opposite of the “Popular popular” person.
s/he relies on charisma rather than money and power to become popular. Although the P Popular person can have this also, the main difference in the the O Popular person does not have money or power. This is a stereotype that i don’t disagree with.
February 3, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I think the populars go to the nonpopulars for help because they experience trouble more often and know what it feels like. But the populars are not used to a bad situation.
February 3, 2009 at 8:52 pm
I meant more for help but that also makes sense
February 3, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Bye ’till tomorrow!
February 3, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I am out. . .
February 3, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Yes, that makes sense. Has anyone noticed how the unpopular person want the popular person of the opposite sex to be his/her girl/boyfriend. But she never ascends to popularity but drags the other person down. (The one exeption to this is in the movie “10 thing i hate about you”. I am not recomending this movie because it was not made for young people, but have only brought it up because it is relative to the conversation).
February 3, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Good Night and Good Luck.