Packaging Girlhood:
Rescuing Daughters from Marketers' Schemes

Lyn Mikel Brown Ed.D spoke to a small group of parents and Educators at Laurel School on Thursday April 10,2008.

Ms. Brown currently teaches at Colby College in Maine. An author, she co-wrote her latest book with Sharon Lamb Ed.D. The book,Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes is a look at the effects, almost all negative, on a young girl's mind. In an effort to fit in, young girls tend to accept the standards set by marketing and PR firms, often to their own detriment.

Ms. Brown talked about the blurring of the line between childhood and adolescence and the pink effect, meaning the difference in toys, clothes, goals and attitudes. She believes girls are not presented with enough choices especially compared to the boys.

There was certainly an abundance of examples of media portrayal of stereotypical roles for girls and women.

Laurel Head of School Ann V. Klotz
introduces Lyn Mikel Brown

With the abundance of Shrek-themed dolls, toys, clothing and much more, there were no items produced with Fiona as anything but the beautiful princess. There are no Fiona, the Ogre dolls.

It would have been interesting, had there been more people in attendance, to hear more input from the mothers on the topic. Certainly, it is a topic that inspires great concern.

Most of those present were appalled by the clothes, hairdos and general styles the media is "forcing" on young girls in the examples shown.

Laurel Head of School Ann V. Klotz with
Author Lyn Mikel Brown Ed.D

One must then ask, is the problem with the media offering inappropriate things to young girls, or the young girl who wants these things or, is it with the parent who supplies the inappropriate items to their daughters?

Could it be that it is just as important for them that their daughters "fit in" and they are afraid of the results of saying "no"? Hopefully, that will be addressed in future lectures.