about Respect Rx

Hey all! I'm Courtney Macavinta, co-author of the best-selling book for teen girls RESPECT and founder of Respect Rx, which is devoted to empowering girls, women and their advocates to boost self-respect, sisterhood and social change in their lives—and our world.
Join the Newsletter




latest posts get it deal with it reading list

<< Previous: Risky Business | Next:How Do You Define Respect? >>

respectrx
Media

Boys Dis Dissing Girls

When we talk about "respect for girls" some people think we're talking about the "battle of the sexes." No way! We started our fight for respect with girls, because of what we'd seen on the frontlines as, well, girls. But the fight for respect for girls is really the fight for respect for all. Because we're all the same (ONE LOVE, people!). And when one person is hurt or degraded or treated like less-than-equal--i.e. disrespected--it's a hit on all of us.

That's why I did a double-take when I saw this tidbit in the recent LA Times special report/poll, Underwhelmed by it All, about 12- to 24-year-olds' POV about media:

When it comes to the content of their entertainment, those surveyed tended to be quite tolerant of violence, gross-out humor and swearing in movies.

Yet a surprisingly high number of teenage boys (58%) and even more teenage girls (74%) said they were offended by material they felt disrespected women and girls.

The report went on to say that only 40% of guys ages 18 to 24 are offended by material that disrespects women (hey!). Still that a large number of teen boys dissed the practice of dissing girls reinforces that this respect business is a two-way street. I know it sounds all group-huggish, but we can't truly respect ourselves if we don't think everyone on our block and planet deserves the same. So go boys-who-fight-for-respect-girls-and-vice-versa!

Speaking of which: Want to take back your media? Check out the MEDIA section. Plus, find tons of tools to question what you're ingesting and to change your media diet inRESPECT, Chapter 4.

 

email this entry to a friend

Email this entry to:


Your email:


A friendly message (optional):


 

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?


 

<< Previous: Risky Business | Next:How Do You Define Respect? >>