I'm scared....

I have a few moments this morning before I have to leave for a meeting out of town for a few days. I'm trying to wrap up my final paper for my class at UGA this semester. It has been a fascinating investigation of the media as a system of adult education. As a part of the class we have read material from a variety of sources that criticize the media industry worldwide - some say the media is too liberal while others proclaim it a tool of the political right. The major message that I can't get out of my mind is the way advertising influences the world's value systems and determines the self esteem of our children and youth. As a dad of an 8 year old daughter, with another daughter to be born in February, I'm really frightened for their futures. It is virtually impossible for a girl to grow up in this country with a healthy self image! We cut out television for our kids a few years ago (with the exception of an occasional movie or nature show). Despite this drastic move, the influence of the media is so pervasive that my daughter still says things that shock me about her body or her idea of normal body styles. A few years ago she told me she was getting fat (I've not seen many young girls as slender as she is). She discribes her friends that are normal size as heavy or big. Luckily, she has not fallen victum to the "prissy" image. She critiques many of the girls in her class as only interested in how they look. She's more interested in getting messay playing tackle or chase with the boys and tomboys during recess than standing around with the prissy girls talking about hair, make-up and clothes. However, I've read the statistics: the vast majority of girls hit puberty and develop low senses of self esteem. As I read magizines, stories in books, and watch movies, the messages of what is pretty and what is considered normative behavor is frightening. If one believes the messeages promoted in advertisements girls are supposed to look like supermodels, be dumb as dirt (or at least keep their opinions to themselves), dress like a ho, flirt without shame, be submissive to their husbands/boyfriends sexually, be professional, make lots of money, spend lots of money, do all of the housework, solely care for the children, have low expectations of their husbands, never look over 25, always be concerned about their looks above all else, do whatever it takes to make their man happy, do whatever it takes to look young and sexy, etc. Frankly, the prospect is mind numbing!

I pray every day that I will have the wisdom and the unnatural skill to be able to teach my daughter how God views her - as an amazing, unique, gifted, intellegent, creative individual who knows who she is and is not concerned what others think about her. I want her to, if she chooses to date or marry, find someone who treats her with respect and honor, who values who she is as a person, who tries to make her better in all respects, who submits to her needs and desires, and who wants her to be all that God is creating her to be.

I pray we as a Christian community will find a way to counter the negative and harmful media messages that are blown into our minds each day on TV, on billboards, in magazines, on the Internet, and the radio at every turn so that we can give our children and friends correct messages about who they are and who they should be! May God help us in this impossible quest!