Children, the media, and stereotypes!!!

[smile_on_a_rainyday]

heya! this is partly for research, partly out of general interest....

children are constantly affected by the world they live in, their surroundings, the people in their lives, and now a growing number are affected by the media.

there is a growing debate as to whether children are picking up too many bad qualities and mannerisms as a result of this, particularly when it comes to TELEVISION!!!!

do you think childrens television uses stereotypes? if so can you think of any examples and the impression they may give? are stereotypes good or bad? or does it depend on the context?

another issue is gender roles. they cannot be avoided, however politically correct people try to be, but what affect do you think this could have on a childs perception? are they essential for identifying people? or do they actually take away their identity?

would be eternally grateful for any replies!!!

thanks! xxxx

 

[Oxygen]

Children absorb things like sponges. If they see bad behavior on TV or in real life, they may look to a parent or parent figure for a response. If the response is negative, the child may get the idea that "that's not good". If the response is positive, "Ha ha! That kid sure is sassy!", then the message conveyed is "that's good". If the response is neutral, the child will probably try out the behavior in person to see what kind of reaction it gets, or because, without an imprint from the parental figure, decides for him or her self whether or not it's good or bad.

Example: The scene, whether on TV or in real life, is a restaurant. The waiter is slow getting the food to the table. The children at the table start banging their utensils on the table chanting "We want food! We want food!"

Parent A views the scene and says "If those were my kids I'd take them out of the restaurant right then and there."

Parent B views the scene and laughs "Boy, those kids sure are hungry!"

Parent C views the scene and goes back to the menu to make his selection.

What might a child think in these three situations? Small children normally seek parental approval. Parent A is obviously disapproving, but Parent B seems amused, a positive response. "Mommy thinks it's funny to act that way." Parent C doesn't seem to mind it one way or the other. No news being good news, the child may decide to imitate the behavior just because it's fun to make noise.

Gender roles are useful for general identification, but allowances should always be made for exceptions to the rule, and in no way should they be enforced. If a little girl likes dolls and stuffed animals, don't push her into the "Little Miss Executive Corporate Bitch Queen Playset". If she likes to help mommy with the dishes, don't insist she accompany her brothers on a rock-crawling race. But if she'd rather be running around with a plastic gun shooting her playmates in a make-believe war, don't insist on dressing her up in ribbons and lace and making her "act like a little lady". If a boy doesn't care for sports, it's unfair to the child to make him feel like a wuss or a queer just because he'd rather read than run a post-pattern. And if your boy's got all the makings for a linebacker or a bill-collector, don't expect him take to being Mr. Sensitive.

I think that ultimately the best thing to do for a kid to encourage "good" behavior and allow them to grow into whatever roles they will take on is through parental involvement. Don't let the TV baby-sit for them. The decision to become a parent is a hell of a responsibility, and kids don't raise themselves very well. They need role-models, and guess where they're going to look first? Amazingly, it isn't the TV.