It struck me though, that before I realized whether he was an actual living being, I had noticed his skin colour, his hair colour, and his choice of fashion accessory.
I had gasped when I first read Safa’s article, “Selling out Girls.” I couldn’t get over the fact that nearly half of first through third grade girls want to lose weight. When I was in first grade, I spent my days eagerly awaiting the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the occasional pixie.
The horrors of objectification and sexualization, of both boys and girls, are apparent to see: in the media, in schools, in storybooks, and especially in our homes. But what’s less apparent is the small ways in which we play out these roles in our day-to-day lives.
We can start by learning how to recognize people for something other than their appearance, even if they’re just a stranger. Perhaps to look for a smile, a nod of acknowledgement, or some form of communication that might display a true inner feeling, rather than an untrue outward expression.
We can also start by admitting when we make these mistakes, rather than cloaking them with excuses.
I, for one, am extremely ashamed of not noticing a real person because I was blinded by the frills of a plastic one.
