Toddlers And Tiaras Research Paper

Ellie Marcus

Ms. Schackman

Gender and Sexuality

15 January 16

Big Girls Don’t___

The objectification of women in shows from I Love Lucy to Toddlers and Tiaras lead many to believe that they must live up to society’s expectations. As the media becomes stronger, social media targets the younger generation of women in our society with various media that are demeaning to women. Nowadays, everyone is connected to various social media platforms. Through social media, messages, which cause many young women to question their bodies and overall self-image, are delivered daily. Media sells the idea that; “girls’ and women’s value lies in their youth, beauty, and sexuality and not in their capacity as leaders” (Miss Representation). Through advertisements,

The most concerning aspects of this show is that, at such a young age, children are being taught to live up to the “perfect” status. Airing this show on TV is merely an effort to teach the viewer how to be a successful girl, rather than a successful person. It is consistently seen through every episode, breakdowns of young girls who are not achieving the judge’s “perfect” look. TLC released an episode containing a 3-year-old dressing up as a prostitute from the movie Pretty Women (Henson). If the media is advertising these concepts and parents are supporting them, it only further influences women to act this way, since they were led to believe that it was the norm. If women are being uneducated by the truth then they will not perform to the best of their ability in the real

They were asked to do specific actions contributing to common stereotypes. The director asks both the young girls and the women to exemplify the actions, “throw like a girl, “run like a girl” and “fight like a girl” (Like a Girl). When the young age group was asked these questions they immediately put forth a great effort. On the other hand, the older age group portrayed each of those actions with a weak effort; confirming the stereotypical idea that women are considered weak. Unfortunately, girls even at a young age, are starting to realize that, “like a girl” sounds like an insult. When asked if the phrase “like a girl”, sounded like a good thing, the young girl explained, “I don’t really know if it’s a bad thing or a good thing. It sounds like a bad thing. It sounds like your trying to humiliate someone…it shows you’re not as good as them” (Like a Girl). As girls are trying to figure themselves out, they are vulnerable to constant phrases and stereotypes that drop their confidence levels even before they begin to obtain them (Like a