‘Girl Culture’ – Serious Business
Some time after the new year, my wife and I will bring a little girl home. As we prepare to expand our family, advice comes from all corners. This week it came unexpectedly from a photography lecture.
The Austin Center for Photography has brought several big names to town for its Icons of Photography series. I’ve enjoyed all of them, and this week was no exception.
Lauren Greenfield has made name for herself as a professional photographer and is best known for her work examining the world of young people and most especially girls. As far as the advice she gave, it’s fair to call it more of a warning, a sign of what it means to grow up in these times in America.
Her book Girl Culture (the cover of which is shown in the above thumbnail) explores the way the body is the primary vehicle for expression in our society. Honestly, just go look at the pictures; they speak more eloquently than I do. (Some images NSFW.)
Women are reaching higher and higher levels of achievement in our society, yet still feel compelled to conform to culture that is sick in so many ways. Having a daughter navigate this jungle is going to be hell.
i’m right there with you….but i think our girls will have an advantage in the wonderful parents they’ll have…
There you go. We’ll be the saviors, right?
well….i wouldn’t go that far…i never see parents as being saviors….but we can certianly do our best to equip them with the tools to combat all of those negative messages, and let them know that best way to express yourself is with your voice, your words, and your art!
And more than us, having good mom role models will be key. I think we’ve got that going on, too.