Response to "The Merchants of Cool"

I was very surprised about what "The Merchant of Cool" program brought to the surface.  I'm not sure why I was so surprised because I know how sexualized media is, but it was different to see it from so many different angles and in so many different mediums. 

The Midriff was one of the most interesting parts of the segment.  The idea of sexuality is so ingrained in our culture, it's hard to step away from it in order to see through a critical lens.  Sex and sexual references are so common that it is not thought of, for me anyways, as a technique anymore; it's simply the way it is.  That statement, as a parent of a young girl, is terrifying.  I never want her to think of her body as an asset or a commodity that can be bought, sold, or traded.  It actually makes me feel ill.  

The information and image of Barbara was really unsettling to me.  She's only 13 years old!!  Who would let their daughter sell herself like that in such an organized and structured environment?  The parent(s) had to support the modeling/acting talent search because of the cost of the program (can we call it a program??).  It doesn't seem ethical or parental to me; instead of protecting their children they are purposely drawing a target on their foreheads, or in this case, their midriffs. The target screams, "Come and exploit, manipulate, and decrease my daughter's self-esteem!"  Self esteem should be an internal, personal commitment to the self, not a meter connected and dependent on how others see you.  

I always thought I was conscious and aware of exactly what media I wanted to expose my daughter to and what I did not; however, this class has shown me that I am failing miserably even though I am conscious of the risks of exposure, which I think is one step above where many parents are.  Uhhhgggg!!