"Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us." Christensen -Reflection-

In the text "Unlearning the Myths that Bind Us," Linda Christensen explains how different forms of media start to instill myths about gender roles, race roles and even size roles in children's minds from a young age.  She mentioned that several children's shows portray everyone who isn't a physically-fit, white male as inferior.  The women traditionally cooked and cleaned the house while the men went to work.  African Americans and overweight people were seen as complete idiots.  Native Americans were shown to only communicate in short, simple sentences and smoke signals.  Females in cartoons as well as other forms of media are portrayed with a slim waist and large breasts.  They usually have blond hair but from time to time a redheaded woman would be shown.  Christensen goes on to explain that media that children are exposed to often teaches them what sort of role that they can play in society depending on their gender, race, and body type. 

I feel as though, while cartoons have gotten better with portraying people of different sizes and races in a better light, cartoons today have started in ingrain slightly worse ideas into children's minds.  I have a sister who is ten years younger than me and she is often watching the Disney Channel.  Many of the shows that my sister watches place a high importance on romantic relationships.  One of the shows, "Good Luck Charlie," features a sixteen year old girl who is always pining over her boyfriend and how she needs a boyfriend to be happy.  There was one episode of "Good Luck Charlie," where Teddy finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her and in the end she gets back with him.  That particular episode shows to young children that it is okay to go back to a person who has hurt you in the past because they apologized.  Not a good lesson to teach a child. 

Another show, "Austin and Ally" the main female, Ally, gave up her dream to go to a prestigious music school for the lead male in the show.  In the show, Ally is shown doing whatever the boy in the show wants her to do.  She will put her own life on hold for the sake of the male character and it's really not a good thing to be displaying for young children.  It almost goes back to what Christensen said about the passive Popeye character Olive, who, from what I gathered in the text, is willing to do whatever Popeye wants her to. 

-Things to Consider-
Most cartoons today are seem to be teaching young girls that as they enter high school, they need a boyfriend to be happy.  Take the some of the Disney Princesses for example.  Most of them end up with a prince at the end of the story.  One of the few exceptions was Merida from "Brave."  She was one of the few  who wanted nothing to do with the suitors her parents arranged for her to meet and is the only Disney Princess who doesn't end up in a relationship.  I think there needs to be more shows geared towards young girls that do not focus on romantic relationships.