Sunday, October 26, 2014
Subliminal Messaging
While discussing the interesting and truthful perspective on how Barbie objectifies women, a sudden idea popped into my head. Not only do their "giant breasts and high-heeled feet"(Prager 354) objectify women and sexualize their appearance, but Barbies may also subliminally tell boys it's okay to mistreat women. As a child, my keenest memory of Barbie is mutilating the head. Due to fear of ridicule, little boys often feel the need to act manly, which often entails ripping the head off of Barbies ( a way of letting others know that they don't ever want to play with girl toys). This is just another example of how Barbies are not appropriate for children. However, on the subject of subliminal messages in childhood, a few months ago I heard on NPR that by telling first and second graders to circle the differences between two pictures or to find the odd one out of a pattern, it teaches kids that being different is bad. People often have the urge to fit in, and when you tell kids that things that are different should be pointed out, it subconsciously tells them different is bad. The only way to undo this subliminal brainwashing is simply awareness, and Emily Prager does an excellent job unmasking the toxicity towards the image of women Barbie emulates.
You're right, societal pressure always tells kids that being different is bad, whether its gender, race, or actions. Pretty much our whole person vs society unit is about going against this pressure and being unique.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really interesting thought; I never realized that the fragility of the Barbie doll actually subliminally told boys that it was OK to mistreat women. Also, your last picture was really deep, too.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the piece about the elementary school kids before and I agree completely. We teach our kids to alienate those who don't fit in. This breaks our society down and forms barriers that hurt us as we grow. This needs to be fixed
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement about subliminal messaging. Society forces age old ideals onto us from a very young age. The picture that was used (Burger King) also helped to convey your message.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your point about elementary school kids but we should also consider the fact that racism and discrimination is not new. It existed long before elementary schools, so in my opinion, subliminal messaging plays a small role in shaping children's mindsets about diversity.
ReplyDeleteWoah. I actually never thought about the fragility of barbies, or a Spot the Differences like that. Now that I think about it, it does make sense that they change our minds subconsciously. I usually treat something that is out of place with suspicious, or hostility, and I'm not sure if I was always like that, or if it should be that way. I also didn't realize that the Burger King logo was subliminally trying to advertise Burger King.
ReplyDeleteI like your while viewpoint on how boys are expected by to like Barbie and therefore show their dislike by mutilating or mistreating them. I had never looked at it that way. It's funny because even though Prager describes Barbje as masculine and almost threatening the dolls are still so fragile
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea you presented of mistreating woman as a result of the tough-guy approach to dolls. I have never thought of that; also, on topic with the different is bad piece, it seems that schools seem to encourage a cookie cutter student. P.S.-- I didn't know anyone else listened to NPR but me.
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