Media, Advertisements and Women’s/Girls’ Issues
WP sessions 2010
Girls and current media
The first session in 2010 took place in February in Bat Yam, and was hosted by Esther Peron, vice mayor of Bat Yam. Linoi Bar Gefen (journalist) convened the discussion and the panelists were: Hanna Beit Halachmi (strategic coach); Racheli Zarif-Romano and Shani Kohen (high-school girls); Orna Nener (editor of La’isha).
“Kol Hayam”, A girls’ choir from Bat Yam, performed a few songs.
The speakers discussed the crucial impact of the media in shaping girls’ and women’s images. They emphasized the media’s powerful role in fostering stereotypes which humiliate and degrade young women. It was suggested that the media often presents women through deceiving presentations, which do not reflect the reality. These misleading images influence girls’ attitudes and behavior as in the case of adopting harmful diets. It was argued that the media hardly ever brings up women of professional excellence and with personal accomplishments, who can serve as worthy role models for young women. Internet sites offer young girls “a room of their own”, which provide social support but at the same time they serve mutual devastating criticism among girls and humiliation by boys.