Last week I was watching TV one evening, and I saw a new commercial about peanut butter. The dad was generously giving of his time by building his 6 year old daughter a cool tree house. The problem was that the little girl was not helping (just being passive), and then, she goes in the house and comes out with a sandwich for him (make me a sandwich sexist slur). I’m all for being kind, but this commercial is straight out of 1962! When I was a little girl, I would have been actively helping the dad build the tree house (my father would have WANTED me to help). We would have taken a break for lunch (yes, my mom probably would have been the one making the sandwiches), but the point is that it is 2012-50 years later, and these commercials are STILL perpetuating the same tired stereotypes. Girls CAN build things. Their fathers LIKE to have them HELP building things-not just stand around! It might have been an ad for Jiff peanut butter…not sure, but if you see this commercial, tell the company that little girls need to be portrayed as ACTIVELY involved in building the tree house-not just bringing sandwiches to people!
Happy 2012!
January 6th, 2012 by Diane Bell-RettgerAs we begin the new year, it is important to think about the goals we want to achieve. I would like to have a community showing (fund-raiser) of the film, Miss Representation. It would be a thought-provoking conversation starter! It would increase awareness of the narrow stereotypes that females are portrayed as in the media. The film also pints out how often females are disrespected in the media. I wonder if parents really care enough to actually talk to their children about what they are watching? It will take a lot of work, but maybe if area PTA’s, and the American Association of University Women are sponsors of the event, it will be a success!
Arthur Christmas is a Must-See
December 30th, 2011 by Diane Bell-RettgerFans of funny movies with some action and kindness thrown in for variety will love Arthur Christmas! Try to see it more than once so that company will keep turning out terrific movies! The NAAFP cannot understand why people would want to see horror-type movies at Christmastime (or anytime). Why would you want to go see Rooney Mara sexually tortured? I guess people in the USA want to pay $12 per ticket for what people in the Congo and Somalia, etc. get to see for free. Go figure. Apparently Rooney Mara is an heiress in real life like Paris Hilton, only she had to pay an agent to get her a starring role in a sex tape and Paris cut out the middleman and made her sex tape for free! Who is the real business woman? Unfortunately for today’s girls, they have few role models on screen that are not exploited as sex objects. Go see Arthur Christmas instead and leave the theatre feeling great!
Fired for Doing the Right Thing
December 17th, 2011 by Diane Bell-RettgerThe NAAFP says thank God there are men like Warren Glover around. An article in the New York Times on 12/16/11 described how the National Basketball Association ignored sexual harassment claims by women working in the office, and when Mr. Glover brought their claims to people in authority, he was fired for trying to help the women who were being discriminated against. Too few men speak out to try to help women who are enduring all types of harassment and discrimination and even violence. Warren Glover should be a role model to boys and young men. It is the honorable thing to do-speak out when you see women being unfairly treated in the workplace or school or in the home!
Declining Culture=Declining Exceptionalism
November 21st, 2011 by Diane Bell-RettgerIn his New York Times Op-Ed piece called Decline of American Exceptionalism, Charles M. Blow discusses how surveys in the USA reveal that the majority of Americans 18-49 years old feel that American culture is no longer superior. According to a survey taken earlier this month by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, our nation is at “the start of a longer-term decline where the US is no longer the leading country in the world.” Our culture has been going down the drain for the past 15-20 years. Girls and women have been constantly disrespected by rappers like Eminem, Lil’ Wayne and hundreds of others (including female rappers), movies are geared to 14 year-old boys, and TV has 900 channels, but most of the time it’s crime shows where women are in peril or victims. There are very few shows on that elevate the human spirit with honor, respect, and civility. Our politicians are looking out for themselves-not the vast majority of Americans. They constantly bicker like children. No wonder many young people are frustrated about our culture. Where are their role models???
We should turn off reality TV and stop buying tabloid magazines and newspapers. Support the arts that are culturally positive and uplifting-or that tell stories about how human beings helped others who were less fortunate. We could still have comedies, but have the comedy be more sophisticated-not just jokes about sex or bodily functions. “Born Yesterday” and “Tootsie” are hilarious and also make positive statements about society. They are movies that display civility. Let’s support that type of culture so America can be exceptional!
Women Speak Out
November 12th, 2011 by Diane Bell-RettgerI hope women will not be silenced and will continue to speak out against sexual harassment. It has been 20 years since Anita Hill was brave enough to testify against Clarence Thomas, and since then many more male politicians have been caught in numerous compromising situations. The latest is presidential candidate Herman Cain. Several women have made their claims against Cain public-several more have kept their stories out of the public’s eye. What was really creepy is that Cain’s lawyer in a press conference told women they’d better “think twice” before accusing his client of sexual advances. What kind of a threat is that? Would he tell his daughter or wife to “think twice” about speaking out if their boss was harassing them? Women SHOULD speak out, and give these bullies what they deserve-large fines, dismissal from their jobs and a healthy dose of public humiliation.
Media Should Not Portray Girls as Enemies
September 24th, 2011 by Diane Bell-RettgerThank goodness others are noticing how the media often portrays girls as enemies and not supportive of eachother. Common Sense Media is a very informative website for parents wanting info anout TV shows, music and movies their children want to buy. Their most recent email talked about shows that depict female relationships in a very negative light. Parents, don’t allow your children to watch this drek! Check out Common Sense Media and turn off harmful TV, music and movies!