Lammily to the Rescue
Media is a major influence on children and the development of social norms. This media is very influential on children because during adolescence, children develop their self-esteem, body image, and social ideals. Children decide what is considered beautiful and what is socially acceptable. One main category of media that remains constant throughout generations of childhoods is the use of toys. “For children, a major representation of the body are dolls, which are socially acceptable, intensively advertised, …and have the immediacy of a tactile presence.” (Norton, 1996, p. 288) Therefore, dolls depicting unattainable proportions (i.e. Barbie) can be harmful to a child’s self-esteem, but there is a possible heroine …show more content…
One study states that girls “under the age of 7.5 are still developing a self-concept and therefore use Barbie actively as a reference norm whereas girls older than 7.5 years have already internalized the thin ideal as a cognitive self-concept structure” (Anschutz, p.622) During this age, girls develop a sense of body image. Body image is defined by how person asses his/her body and compares it to an ideal that they have established. (Smolak, p. 16) “The function of women’s bodies, then, is to be attractive, to be sexually pleasing to men. Girls learn this lesson early with messages coming from media, peers, and parents.” (Smolak, p. 22) Researchers “found that roughly 25% of late elementary school girls read “fashion” magazines at least twice a week, a number that rises at least through middle school.” (Smolak, p. 23) Similarly, “media influences and parental comments appear to affect body image by late elementary school.” (Smolak, p. 20) As a result, it is fairly common to find that 40% to 60% of elementary school girls are dissatisfied with their bodies. (Smolak, p. 19) However, it is “reported that elementary school girls who actively reject the sexualized thin-ideal media image of women have higher body esteem”. (Smolak, p. 21) Because of this “elementary school may be a particularly appropriate time for universal programs aimed at preventing body image and eating problems.” …show more content…
Would children’s self-esteem be greatly improved? Dolls with accurate proportions have been around for a long time before Lammily. Emme was a larger doll, in height and body measurements. Her measurements were based on a full figure model named Emme. Emme represented an American women’s size 16 where Barbie would represent a women’s size 2. (Anschutz, 2010, p.623) Emme was used in a study along with Barbie to measure the effects of short-term play with these different types of dolls. The results showed that girls rated body image no different than they did before playing with each doll. The only interesting “finding was that girls who played with the average sized doll ate significantly more [during a taste test] than girls who played with a thin doll.” (Anschutz, 2010, p.627) This can lead readers to believe that playing with a thin figured doll does not negatively influence self-esteem. According to the results of this single experiment, this may be true, but as stated by the experimenters themselves this did not measure the effects over long term use. (Anschutz,
Media is a major influence on children and the development of social norms. This media is very influential on children because during adolescence, children develop their self-esteem, body image, and social ideals. Children decide what is considered beautiful and what is socially acceptable. One main category of media that remains constant throughout generations of childhoods is the use of toys. “For children, a major representation of the body are dolls, which are socially acceptable, intensively advertised, …and have the immediacy of a tactile presence.” (Norton, 1996, p. 288) Therefore, dolls depicting unattainable proportions (i.e. Barbie) can be harmful to a child’s self-esteem, but there is a possible heroine …show more content…
One study states that girls “under the age of 7.5 are still developing a self-concept and therefore use Barbie actively as a reference norm whereas girls older than 7.5 years have already internalized the thin ideal as a cognitive self-concept structure” (Anschutz, p.622) During this age, girls develop a sense of body image. Body image is defined by how person asses his/her body and compares it to an ideal that they have established. (Smolak, p. 16) “The function of women’s bodies, then, is to be attractive, to be sexually pleasing to men. Girls learn this lesson early with messages coming from media, peers, and parents.” (Smolak, p. 22) Researchers “found that roughly 25% of late elementary school girls read “fashion” magazines at least twice a week, a number that rises at least through middle school.” (Smolak, p. 23) Similarly, “media influences and parental comments appear to affect body image by late elementary school.” (Smolak, p. 20) As a result, it is fairly common to find that 40% to 60% of elementary school girls are dissatisfied with their bodies. (Smolak, p. 19) However, it is “reported that elementary school girls who actively reject the sexualized thin-ideal media image of women have higher body esteem”. (Smolak, p. 21) Because of this “elementary school may be a particularly appropriate time for universal programs aimed at preventing body image and eating problems.” …show more content…
Would children’s self-esteem be greatly improved? Dolls with accurate proportions have been around for a long time before Lammily. Emme was a larger doll, in height and body measurements. Her measurements were based on a full figure model named Emme. Emme represented an American women’s size 16 where Barbie would represent a women’s size 2. (Anschutz, 2010, p.623) Emme was used in a study along with Barbie to measure the effects of short-term play with these different types of dolls. The results showed that girls rated body image no different than they did before playing with each doll. The only interesting “finding was that girls who played with the average sized doll ate significantly more [during a taste test] than girls who played with a thin doll.” (Anschutz, 2010, p.627) This can lead readers to believe that playing with a thin figured doll does not negatively influence self-esteem. According to the results of this single experiment, this may be true, but as stated by the experimenters themselves this did not measure the effects over long term use. (Anschutz,