Don't Believe The Hype

Marketing to teens like nevah before...

I'm in the middle of updating the presenation I give to parents at schools, conferences etc... and I just came across some interesting stats...And when I say interesting, I mean scary.

The Washington Post is running an article today called

Stuff 101: College-Bound Kids Want All the 'Essentials,' So They Cram for the Trip to Campus

and in it, they chronicle just how much stuff kids are taking to college these days.  For instance:

Zach Boleyn, an Ellicott City 18-year-old, is heading soon to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in his Dodge Durango. He's taking:

"A couple of swimsuits[because] I want to learn to surf. I play golf so I'm taking my golf bag, my irons and woods. I can't go without a hat, I've got five or six, my Titleist hat, a couple of Carolina hats, my Redskins hat and my Yankees hat and my sister gave me a Clemson hat so I guess I have to wear that when I visit her campus. I'm gonna bring PlayStation 2 to have the DVD player. How many DVDs? Oh God. I've got the first season of 'Entourage,' the movie 'Rounders.' 'American Beauty,' 'Fight Club' and 'Lord of the Rings,' all of them. 'The Wedding Crasher,' 'Old School,' 'Blow,' 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin.'..."

Well, I'm gonna try not to sit in judgement and be all like "When I went to college, we only brought books...and we walked up hill in the snow!  Both ways!  Kids today... sheesh."  But I gotta admit I feel a little like that.....

The real problem with this trend isn't so much the materialism  (or maybe it is... that's the part I am going to try not to judge...) but the fact that kids are trained from such a early age to want and acquire stuff.  That they are trained to be consumers.

The article also says: "According to generational consultants William Strauss and Neil Howe, $170 billion was spent on 12- to 19-year-olds in 2004, up from $153 billion five years earlier."  And that sites like Bed Bath & Beyond contain a college gift registry, designed like a wedding registry except that "wedding date" has been replaced by "move-in date."  (eww).  And apparenly the second page of the Target catalogue suggests six things a student should do over the last six weeks "before you load up the station wagon." Week 5 it's this: "Time to hit up emotional parents for a reloadable Target Giftcard. They load it. You spend it and call for more."

And the strategic: "Throw in an 'I'm gonna miss you' to score a few extra bucks."

I appreciate that companies need to make money, but I deplore them making a marketing event out of every NON event to make money... especially when they go after younger and younger audiences....

Katie Couric digitally slimmed down...

I feel like this is one of those things that "officials" are now "outraged" about, but that if no one caught it...well, no one would have caught it or cared.

Blow up this photo....

to see how CBS's art department digitally slimmed down an official promo shot of Katie Couric, who--as you probably know--is about to become the first woman to anchor an evening news program by herself.

FIRST OF ALL: the amount of scrutiny that she's getting as she's about to embrak on her cool new job is so tiresome.  It's the exact same crap that always happens.  Colin Powell become Secretary of State in the US, people comment on his experience.  Condolezza Rice becomes Secretary of State, people comment on her dress size (no joke) how short the hemlines of her skirts are, and that she also plays piano... .then they comment on her experience. I mean, if Matt Lauer moved over to CBS to anchor the news show, NONE of this would be an issue.....

So now we've got a report out where CBS News President Sean McManus saying  he was "obviously surprised and disappointed when I heard about [the enhanced photo]" and Katie saying "I liked the first picture better because there's more of me to love." (GOOD MOVE on her part to speak up and out...) and Gil Schwartz, executive vice president of communications for CBS Corp., said Wednesday the photo alteration was done by someone in the CBS photo department who "got a little zealous."

Um yeah, you could say that Gil.  But what I really want to know is who so zealously thought that the real Katie, and her amazing accomplishments weren't good enough to stand on their own.  I mean, which zealous guy or gal in the CBS art department has it in their head that the "American People" want to see a thinner Katie?  Does s/he think that then more people will want to watch?  Because the news anchor better fits today's defintion of female beauty and succes?

THESE are the kinds of examples of egregious altering that need to be pointed out and contextualized to young women everywhere.... because we should all be outraged that Katie as herself--along with her resume and accomplishments--isn't enough.

64% of Americans are overweight

Is that stat ASTOUNDING or what?

It's from a new report titled "F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing America" released by the Trust for America's Health.  And although I've never heard of the Trust, the figure is being reported in Forbes magazine, which is highly reputable... so I'm guessing their reporter checked it out.

From the Forbes article:

"According to official figures, the adult obesity rate rose from 15 percent in 1980 to 32 percent in 2004. Combine that with the number of Americans who are overweight but not obese, and the figure stands at 64 percent. And the childhood obesity rate more than tripled between 1980 and 2004, from 5 percent to 17 percent."

The report points fingers at poor nutrition and lack of physical activity...and when it comes to young people, the report notes that seventeen states plus Washington, D.C., have passed taxes on junk food or sodas.

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In my opinion, our culture's reality of being overweight and obsession with thinness aren't that far apart.   And as more and more people fall into the "obese" or "overweight" categories, I think that's going to make ultra thinness a la Nicole Ritchie etc even more desirable... because people who are able to achieve that look are going to be celebrated and held up even more as role models.

But this whole epidemic is really a tough issue... because as many of you know from reading my book All Made Up: A Girl's Guide to Seeing Through Celebrity Hype and Celebrating Real Beauty, my take on the topic of cultural beauty standards is that it's not our bodies that need to be fixed, changed (toned, waxed and plucked...) but that it's the standards  we hold our bodies to that need to be changed.....

THAT SAID, I don't think that gives us license to eat badly, not teach the importance of nutrition, cut Physical Education classes in schools, waste our lives away on the Web....and then when we're obese say "Well, that's just me.  I have to accept that I've never going to look like an actress or a model."

So I think the lesson we can take away from the new numbers in the report is that where we are with our feelings about our bodies and our ideals isn't working.  They are just too far apart...and perhaps if we reign them in a bit on both ends, we'll be in better shape.  (heh, heh.  <- get my joke?.  Okay.  Whatever. bye!)

Teens and Botox?

A few years ago, some really disturbing stats came out about how an increasing number of teens were getting breast implants as high school grad and sweet sixteen presents.

Well, now, thery're getting Botox.  To stay young.  While they are young.

According to Fox TV in San Diego, Last year alone, nearly 3 million women and men used Botox to smooth out or prevent wrinkles.  Alarming?  Perhaps.  But we knew that was going on already.  The scary part is 20something women saying that they got hooked on shooting their faces up at a young age:

"I'm 23 years old and started when I was 19," said Christine Dawn.  "Toward the end of senior year in high school, some friends talked about Botox, getting breasts done, fillers for lips. It definitely started in high school and definitely started that young."

"I think I'm just trying to halt that whole aging process. I hope to stay young forever," added Dawn.

Some background:  Injections of Botox average $300 each and typically last about four months. Plus a local doctor quoted in the piece said that she's seeing teens set aside money from part-time jobs, and some even get help paying for Botox from their parents.

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Troubling, no?  More importantly, what about the ethics of a doctor peforming this kind of treatment on teens?  I mean, I know it's probably not against any laws... but do you think they have trouble sleeping at night?  Or just think "Hey, it's a market... I'm providing a service.  Nothing wrong with that...."

Hmmm...

Hey Paris! I'm throwing the gauntlet down in a challenge....

I had this GREAT post all set to go earlier today ( I won't spoil what it's about in case I can make it happen tomorrow...) but my computer wouldn't behave.  So here is some other news:

In case you are playing at home, Britney posters ARE allowed on the Subway in Tokyo... but Paris's video for Stars are Blind is banned in India....  That doesn't surprise me much.. given that in Bollywood films, the characters aren't even permitted to kiss let alone dance around a beach mimicking moves from porn videos (the way Paris does)....

In my opinion, the most interesting part about the whole Paris video/song controversy (is it good?  is it just hype?) is that she didn't demand something MORE.  I mean, dancing ultra sexy on a beach?  So done before.  She's already solidified her vixen routine... and she knows she's got the power... why she no work with some people who would push the envelope and come up with something interesting--a cool part for her to play.  That had more power attached to it than just looking good.

Booring Paris.

The Demise of America's Next Top Model

From USA Today:

"NEW YORK — Star-struck high school grads are racing to New York City's runways, but their sights aren't set on the glamorous lives of fashion models. Instead, the hit TV reality show Project Runway has given birth to a new generation of wannabe designers."  (read the rest of the article HERE

Now I'm not a huge fan on Heidi Klum... I think she uses this show primarily to market herself and create a "That's Hot" (a la Paris) or "You're Fired!" (a la The Donald) tradmarked phrase... (but "Auf Wiedersehen" is just so lame. We get it: you're German.  You're always pregnant.  And you like pointing that out in sassy ways (" I would totally wear Santigo's creation, but you see, I am pregnant. So I cannot!").....

BUT that said -->  I'm SO HAPPY to hear that young women are dreaming of being fashion designers instead of fashion MODELS.  YES, Project Runway has made "stars" out of it' winners, so there is still that seductive element of fame involved.  But I am for anything that gets young women thinking about possibilities that don't capitialize on appearance. 

GO TO FASHION DESIGN SCHOOL GIRLS!  Learn the discipline and amazing skills it takes to be a designer.  Have those forever... long after a model is considered too old and has nothing because she spent her youth on the runway instead of in school.

Take that Tyra!

Emergency contraception pill approved by the FDA

I'm not going to proselytize too much here... but I DO want to post some of the email I got today from the National Organization for Women:

"Dear Audrey Brashich,

By now, I'm sure you've heard the news. Thanks to your determination the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it is releasing its hold on non-prescription emergency contraception (EC) for women 18 and over. Let's be clear--this is a success. The FDA's decision will allow millions of women easier access to this important form of contraception.

But that's only half the story. Women under 18 were left out! And EC will be kept behind the pharmacy counter to make it more difficult for all of us to get. You and I know that women and girls of all ages need easy access to contraception, and EC is no exception. It's time to let our state and national leaders know: this fight isn't over. 

The FDA decision says that people age 18 and over will have access to EC.  But who will really have access?

• What about the woman whose only local pharmacy is staffed by people who are more likely to give her lectures on morality than contraception?



• Or the 17-year-old who is afraid to talk to her parents and doesn't have her own physician to give her a prescription?



• Or a sexual assault victim who can't imagine having to be revictimized by the sneering pharmacy clerk who asks for her picture ID?

The FDA decision raises many concerns about how individual pharmacies will enforce the age restriction and it allows many barriers to access. NOW will continue to advocate for federal legislation that will end restrictions and increase access to EC for everyone...i"

Just in case that email wasn't in YOUR in box this morning... I wanted to circulate it.

"I'm not going to lie to myself: past a certain age, creams work on the texture of you skin but, in order to restore elasticity, all I can really count on is vitamin injections, Botox and collagen. I owe the quality of my skin to a cosmetic surgeon."

CIny Crawford to Gala Magazine, as reported online

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Well, I guess it's good that she's up front about it and all... but sure would be better if she a) didn't feel that way and b) raise the bar for women everywhere who want to make sure they look as good as celebrities, models and everyone else praised for being beautiful.....

This Just in!

Um.. NOW the Associated Press is saying that the  "Tokyo Metro Company's obscenity-screening team--and yes, such a thing actually exists--" is going to let the posters in their subway stations...."but only after blacking out Spears from the waist down."

But now, aparently, it's all good.

"Our earlier request to cover the waist down was because of nudity, not because we had anything against pregnant women," Metro spokesman Tatsuya Edakubo told the AP.

According to Edakubo, the officials concluded that blocking the photos would be inappropriate and made an exception to their rule after reaching an understanding with the magazine's publishers that the shoot's intention was to portray a happy expectant mother and not simply print salacious photos."

Funny... I don't really care all that much about this story... but it's interesting to see that a poster of a pop star can become a catalyst for a cross-cultural debate on decency, sex, women's bodies etc...

Pregnant Britney... "too stimulating"

File this under The World is SO Messed Up:

THIS photo of Britney has been banned in the Tokyo Metro.

From yahoo, which is reporting a Reuters story:

"The ban on Spears was put into effect in Tokyo, where the subway system refused to allow the publishers of Harper's Bazaar to display a poster advertising the singer's nude and pregnant photo spread, which will appear on the October cover of the magazine's Japanese edition.

The photo in question showed Spears posing in the buff, but with her arms over her breasts and her legs crossed at the knees. The publishers had hoped to post it in a station in a trendy area of Tokyo, but were denied permission.

"We thought some of our customers would find it to be overly stimulating," a Tokyo Metro official explained to Reuters."

Well, Tokyo.  I take issue with that.  Cause Britney is Big in Japan:

And I bet when she was all :

and

and

That there were no bans on those photos.  Granted they might not have been posters in the subway... but, still, my point is that if a pregnant woman is "too stimulating"--when that is a natural state--then WTF are we doing with all these kinds of images swirling around our pop culture?  I mean, why is it considered okay to view--on a daily basis.  on TV.  In magazines etc-- women in poses and outfits basically inspired by pornography, but yet a pretty chaste photo of a pregnant woman is not acceptable?  That's just not right.