Week 1: Part 2

For my second blog I decided to further talk about the article that I read for part 2 of the discussion. I read an article on foxnews.com that discussed Miley Cyrus' antics at the VMAs on Sunday night. I must say when I watched her performance, I thought about the younger girls in the audience and what Miley's parents would say about it. Then, I realized that it is partially the parents' fault for exposing their children to such crap. Growing up I was not allowed to watch MTV until I was about 16, if my dad caught me watching it he would yell "turn that garbage off and go find something better to do with your time!" Even today, at age 23, when I go over to my parents house, I never turn on MTV as I feel so uncomfortable doing so. I feel like parents today are not able to have the control over what their children are exposed to as mine did because of the many devices that can access the internet or television.

Back to the article, the author puts a link to the APA's article on the sexualization of girls. This article for me would seem more legitimate if the consequences of the sexualization of girls were not theories. The APA only suggests what could happen to girls, but generalizes it to all age groups of young girls. The APA lists 5 consequences: cognitive and emotional, mental and physical health, sexuality, attitudes and beliefs, and impact on others in society.

I definitely believe that the media as a huge effect on the younger generation or even my generation, but to say it has permanent developmental effects is not empirical.  Look at Jersey Shore, for example, a lot people my age seem to think the norm is to get so drunk that you do not remember the night and that "gym, tan, laundry" is a way of life, but they can grow out of that phase. The APA even states that the consequences are only theories and suggestions as to the damage the media can cause on young people.