Is Facebook Turning Girls Into Porn Stars?
Or, what's so bad about looking slutty online?
There's a question that's been plaguing a lot of people lately, particularly mothers, feminists, accomplished professionals, and roughly half the world's women over the age of thirty. It goes a little something like this: What is it about Facebook that makes tween, teen, and twenty-something girls want to come across to the world as porn stars?
More specifically: Is there something inherent in the social networking site – which exploded in popularity primarily due to its photo-sharing capabilities – that makes girls want to look at a camera with the pursed-up lips and half open eyes of a blow-up doll? Does the idea of having their photos seen by everyone they know compel girls without hesitation to stick their tongues in each other's ears and give each other lap dances? Is simulating fellatio equivalent to a peace sign in Facebook land?
A piece on yesterday's Open Salon by Mary T. Kelly, entitled "Facebook: Home to Wannabe Porn Stars," has many of these same questions at its heart. In it, Kelly examines hundreds of photos that are posted in the Facebook albums of her daughter's friends (yes, that's right, her daughter's friends "friended" her, knowing she'd be able to see all their trampy pictures). She then identifies some of the popular porn-like poses: the breast grab, the bump and grind, and of course, the infamous and perplexing tongue between the "V sign" fingers. Finally, she expresses exasperation ("I’m no spring chicken, and I’m pretty sure I know what the V sign is, pretty sure, but WHY?").
The article – which is primarily focused on Kelly's confusion and frustration rather than the sociological nature of exhibitionism, media, and female sexuality – suggests that the photos these girls post aren't merely unflattering, embarrassing to future generations, and a potential obstacle to prospective employment, but an affront to "all the mothers who burned their bras in protest to the sexualization of women" and evidence of a "drop in expectations and core values."
To quote Kelly: "Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem are rolling over in their graves and they're not even dead."
Is she right? Are these girls "degrading" themselves and women in general? Or are they merely celebrating, exploring, and poking fun at their burgeoning sexual identities in a socially acceptable forum?
Discussion
I can relate in the sense of seeing teen porn and how awful it makes me feel, you think-"really?! shouldn't you be playing basketball or practicing the drums?! enjoy being a child!"
I could rant and give good sources, but I am going to just say these few things:
It is all about how you raise your children, whether you be a biological or guardian. It is how we teach them, if you don't break down this society, our culture, to them they will get swept up in the disgusting cycles that aren't really what life is.
Have a girl? Know one? Visit: www.hghw.org
K.
I've been asking myself the same question! Why are young women making this choice that will reap consequences later on in life?
Are the parents sticking their heads in the sand? Are the kids so demanding, and the parents too tired from working that they give in, and just dont check on what their kids are doing anymore?
If that is just normal sexual identity rearing its head, then someone please explain to me why.....those same young women, in middle school are giving oral sex at school to boys, several times a day! And what about the lipstick parties? And since when did "sex buddies" and "friends with benefits" become so normal?
I can think of a lot of consequences for their choices, but one day they will have to go through them, and I feel sad about that. Why do we allow this sort of thing? Why does Facebook allow nudity at all? They are technically advanced and their is software that flags stuff not suitable. But, the kids civil liberties are being jeopardized, if we dont allow them freedom of expression. Rubbish!!
Some people are making a killing in dollars and cents off of our kids! and I mean that all of us adults, need to step in and help one another, this world is too busy to even keep a close eye on our own kids.
Its a sad thing that kids lives, have come to this. They are losing out on so much, by growing up too fast and also losing out on the fun stuff that teens and young women should be experiencing! Its not all about sex and guys, at least not 100 percent....lol at myself.....its always been about Boys, right? lol again. But its not even wearing suggestive clothing, its showing everything to everyone, forever!!!
ugghhhhh, grammalove
