Just caught the NEWSWEEK article on Danica McKellar, the actress who played Winnie on "The Wonder Years". I always loved that character. She was an especially thoughtful and real girl and I knew that she had gone on for an advanced degree in math rather than partying, drinking, flashing pantiless, burning out, going to rehab, etc. --you know, the way of most teen stars? I guess she has a new book out and I haven't seen it but I'm applauding it already, even if, as the Newsweek article writes,
"Still, is it necessary to teach a girl about ratios, for instance, by asking her to figure out how much lip gloss she owns compared with her sister?"
UGH. But perhaps this is simply one of those marketing strategies we seem to be endlessly writing about -- even the really good stuff for girls has to be packaged to appeal to a stereotype of girls in order to even get out the door and onto the market.
"McKellar acknowledges that her "Pretty in Pink" approach might not work for everyone." But I'm willing to give it a chance... I mean even if it's pink and full of slumber party mentality and "girl talk", it's still math, and we know that being good at math leads to a host of other good things for girls.
Does this new post mean you're going to start posting more often?? I hope! I devoured your book and when I found out you had a blog, I was thrilled. I can't wait to read more!
Posted by: Her Grace | July 30, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Ironically, I'm speaking w/Danica's publicist right now about doing a feature for www.ShapingYouth.org as it fits right into our coverage of using the power of media for positive change.
I'm not wild about "lip gloss counting" either, but I think Danica's PURPOSELY being wry with tongue firmly in cheek, 'marketing to the pink posse' as a strategy for mainstream buy-in of middle schoolers...
She's far too aware of the problem NOT to be part of the solution in my estimation.
She even said in a Stanford speech that math needed 'sexied up' and I've got to agree that coke-bottle brainiac media stereotypes aren't cutting it for luring new female engineers and math mavens into the mix!
We need to promote the 'smart IS sexy' agenda in a more cerebral way...kind of the 'thinking man's alternative' to vapid objectification.
One of our media/reality show counter-marketing sessions for Shaping Youth is called "Idolized" riffing on American Idol to ask kids to come up with healthier role models...to me, Danica's one of them.
If any of your youth readers have ideas of who THEY would like to see positioned as positive picks, ping me on our blog at www.ShapingYouth.org
With pop culture's Paris Hiltonization of childhood, we've got nowhere to go but up!
Amy Jussel, founder, Shaping Youth
Posted by: Shaping Youth | August 06, 2007 at 02:44 PM
Quick update here: We chose Danica for our first People Shaping Youth profile, and look forward to any of your suggestions in terms of viable role models...
Here are the links to our profile piece on Danica, with a heads up to your readers to nominate fresh faces and get some meaningful media into the mix!
Danica as honoree: http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=613
Danica selling smarts: http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=560
Danica 'exponentially positive' http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=609
Posted by: Shaping Youth | September 09, 2007 at 10:55 AM
I am SO glad you got the message that girls can be smart and pretty. Hopefully other feminists have got the message.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 07, 2009 at 08:15 AM