advocates & articles
Tune In to Worry-Free TV
Dear Dr. Dellasega,
The TV shows today are horrible. My nine-year-old, Tina, loves to have some downtime in front of the tube every night, but when I see the female competition shows over a man or the near nudity in music videos, it makes me switch the set right off. Even the clothes in commercials upset me. Tina thinks I’m being very unfair to deny her this little bit of fun.
Hannah
Dear Hannah,
Many moms agree with you! Finding shows that give daughters a positive message can be challenging, but for most girls, TV is a way of life. Tina is watching these shows with different eyes than you, not noticing themes such as the ones you’ve described.
Agree to sit down and watch TV with her for an evening, then discuss how women are portrayed differently than men in the shows you’ve seen. Have her make a list of her favorite shows, and then have her pick the top three, and with your approval, let her watch those shows. She must compromise by doing something you want her to do on the other nights.
Also, encourage her to use the TV for other purposes. Rent some DVDs from the library or explore educational programming she might normally pass by. Keep on discussing the messages you hear girls being given on TV, and when her friends are around, ask for their input too. Helping Tina to be a “critical consumer” of the media will position her to make good choices about purchases and activities she chooses throughout life.
What’s on your media blacklist?
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