Youth Culture

From Carol

I chose Rose for this project. She is eight years old and loves Hannah Montana. She also thinks that Hannah Montana and Mylie Cryus are two different people. She likes to go around saying "Freaky freaky fresh" and "Don't be a Turkey, Turkey". She does not understand what she is saying even when we, her family, try to explain the slang. She thinks that what is on television is cool and that is how she is supposed to act. She likes to pose and be the center of attention. She is wearing nail polish and loves to have a dramatic look; she tries to act like an adult by her expressions that she displays adult expressions.The Hannah Montana film studio and guitar and the Bratz dolls show the glamour of the media. The portrayal of girls being cute and sassy is found in the toys as well as the clothes. The clothes have something that is shiny or silky. The boy's toys represent masculinity and athleticism. The baby-footed pajamas with balls on it are in "boy's colors" and good luck finding girl pajamas with a sport theme other than cheer-leading. The muscled wrestlers that represent being tough and masculine.The books represent the fantasies and the drama that girls create in their lives. I chose the yellow flowers as the background because yellow is a neutral color and the flowers represent a fresh beginning. The question I ask is "Where do the parents come into play?" Aren't they supposed to be responsible for what their children watch, say, wear, and play with? Why are the parents not doing their job and letting their children demand the hottest trends and styles? Genderization will never go away but the parents can slow the process down by actually being parents.