If there’s any question about the increased sexualization of girls and general pornification of the culture, check out the cover of The Maine Edge, a publication out of Bangor Maine that seems so desperate to be “fresh and edgy” that they’ll sell out your daughter and mine for viewers. The current issue’s cover has a young teen girl in a bikini straddling a milkshake. Everything is suggestive about this image — her body position, the location of the whipped cream and the straw, the red cherries, the “Milkshakes aren’t just for kids any more. Beat the heat with a grown up treat” title of the article, and the online sidebar “Inquisition Survey” that makes it all so clear: Does your milkshake bring all the boys to the yard? Possible answers? Yes. No. Um...what?
More like “Um...what are the editors at The Maine Edge thinking? Why does edgy have to mean sexing up young girls? How “fresh” is a lame reference to a dated and cheesy rap song (Kelis’ 2007 song “Milkshake”) about breasts? Want to be really creative? Try putting your heads together and coming up with something clever and smart that doesn’t make teen girls into sex objects. These days using pornified images of girls to sell products is as common and lazy as it is offensive.
Tell the Maine Edge to use their imagination!
yourviews@themaineedge.com
or contact:
Michael Fern
Publisher
Edge Media Group
PO Box 2639
Bangor, ME 04402-2639
Phone: 207.942.2901
Fax: 207.942.5602
And here I thought I was going to have a slow, rainy Friday afternoon. Nope, now I'll be firing off letter to the Maine Edge. Shameful. And posting this to Pigtail Pal's Facebook page riiiiight, now.
I hope more companies and journalists join me in fighting the sexualization of girls in the media. It is not okay, it is not appropriate. It is time to stand up and say, for our girls, "No More."
Posted by: Melissa Wardy | August 21, 2009 at 11:26 AM
How “fresh” is a lame reference to a dated and cheesy rap song (Kelis’ 2007 song “Milkshake”) about breasts?
Um...guys...the "Milkshake" song wasn't released in 2007...in was released in 2003.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 21, 2009 at 01:27 PM
This reminds me of every second issue of Psychology Today or even most of the photography magazines at the stand. is there anything that *can't* be illustrated with a half-naked teenager?
Posted by: Kiki | August 21, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Wanna see something even more disgusting?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uSlqI1AVUk
It's disgusting, but it's also funny. And true. And awesome. It shows how the media treats girl singers (though Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, the latter who is deceased, are mentioned) like paper dolls, making them innocent then sexy (a la Britney Spears) or letting them having their own image during their first CDs, THEN making them feminine (Avril Lavigne.)
Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce Knowles, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Micheal Jackson. They all appear in this video, all are pop-stars (even, sadly, Avril Lavigne,) and all, save for Jennifer Lopez, and Michael Jackson, sometimes by their last name, are mentioned in your book.
WARNING: 1:45-1:49 YOU WILL HAVE A SEIZURE (don't ask)
Posted by: Jennifer | August 22, 2009 at 06:00 AM
Thanks everyone.
2003...oops...point made tho, more dated than ever.
Yes, have seen the Nickelback parody on YouTube. Thanks for mentioning it.
Posted by: Lyn Mikel Brown | August 22, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Beyonce Knowles, Lindsay Lohan, and even Britney Spears all have suggested songs for the Girl Power CD, though.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 22, 2009 at 08:44 AM
The Edge is a further embarassment to our community with every issue. This is not even among the top ten stupidest covers they've ever had- and they've only been around for a few years.
Posted by: Claire | August 22, 2009 at 12:42 PM
When did you see the Popstar video? What happened when you watched 1:45-1:49?
Posted by: Jennifer | August 22, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Vomit inducing.
Posted by: Chris | August 22, 2009 at 03:43 PM
They appear to have taken the image down -- way to go!
Posted by: Her Grace | August 22, 2009 at 04:22 PM
It might not come as much of a surprise, but everything about the Maine Edge is terrible. It's 80% ads, their cover designs and stories are always completely uninspired, and they never, ever, ever have anything original to say.
It's totally embarrassing, considering this part of Maine has so many interesting and creative people. The Edge doesn't reflect us well at all. Meh.
Posted by: Lo | August 22, 2009 at 06:46 PM
I am a fan of the Maine Edge, however I too was shocked at the current cover photo. She does look young and a little under dressed for my taste. I am still a fan it's a much better paper than the Bangor Daily News. How come I didn't see a blog when the BDN put a dead body on the front page. Were you as outraged as I was over that cover picture? I don't want to see that and I'm sure those who are victims of violent crimes took that offensively. You can write a story and not have it pictured so graphically on the front page. Plus I see a post here about the Maine Edge being 80% ads - how much are you paying for the paper? Your no. It's a free publication. It's a fun, lighthearted, entertaining paper who's sole income is from advertising, so yes your going to see ads. I actually look forward to the ads, I have used several of their coupons. What is the BDN's excuse?
I hope that the Maine Edge makes better choices in the future, I do enjoy the paper and find it funny, uplifting and entertaining.
Posted by: Melissa LeClaire | August 23, 2009 at 06:26 AM
Did S.Lamb and/or L.Brown catch my movie idea yet and are still thinking it over? Or have they not caught it yet?
Posted by: Jennifer | August 23, 2009 at 06:31 AM
I received an apology from The Maine Edge and appreciate that they took the photo down from their online version. Will post the apology letter and my response. Thanks to everyone who wrote letters and emails!
Posted by: Lyn Mikel Brown | August 23, 2009 at 12:22 PM
I've posted it on at least three "boards", but you wouldn't listen!:(
Posted by: Jennifer | August 23, 2009 at 04:36 PM
Lame magazine cover..
Posted by: Pinay | January 15, 2010 at 07:46 AM
PS I negllected to mention that the horror doesn't stop at going from tomboy/innocent to girly/sexy. Also, they party all night, are stuck in inappropriate relationships, having drinking problems, and just plain go down a bad road. Just when they pick themselves back up, something bad in their lives.
Posted by: Jennifer | January 15, 2010 at 05:53 PM
I wanna be generic/Let the media lead me...
...with a picture of Avril Lavigne...NO LESS
*sigh*
Posted by: Jennifer | May 10, 2010 at 02:19 PM
???!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 02, 2010 at 12:07 PM
WTH???!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 03, 2010 at 04:33 PM
Whatever.
Posted by: Jennifer | November 08, 2010 at 03:13 PM
Do you agree that travel must one day revert to being a luxury
Posted by: Chanel J12 | February 10, 2011 at 11:49 PM
The text goes on with the useful information, that stork couples are mostly heterosexual (who would have thought?) and that there are 7 female storks at the zoo.
Posted by: office147 | May 05, 2011 at 12:37 AM
That looks absolutely hot for a teen.
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