I’ve seen some of the exhibit photos and I find this whole issue upsetting. In a recent discussion I’ve been having with other parents of baby girls, here are some of the things we said: ” so far we just mostly dress her in the clothes marketed to boys because the are cooler. Robots and dinosaurs and the like don’t seem to exist in the girl sections.” and “Don’t worry, I have tons of girls in my class that aren’t really girl thanks to awesome parenting ” and “I just found out I’m having a girl and I’m already worried about how to brainwash her into hating trashy things like Bratz dolls.” and “Our daughter wears a mix of girls and boys clothes, but the girls clothes are certainly not girly. I’m hoping that she won’t be into any trashy girl stuff either.” What does it mean for our society when parents (including myself)are worried about these issues beginning to affect their infant daughters?

I think you could have found a different picture to post here where ALL can see it. Thanks

Nancy, what is your objection to this image?

Lissa, I appreciate your conversations. My girlfriends with daughters have already expressed concern about social pressures and media influence and how prepared they are to fight against it. I don’t hear the same things from mothers of boys. It’s interesting how strong my friends are and how much I can sense their fear for their daughters— already fortifying themselves for the battle—like they know their strength will always be challenged/compromised when confronting the “girl culture machine”.

Thanks for commenting, Nancy.

I used this image as it is the cover of Girl Culture, Lauren Greenfield’s book. The same image also accompanies its status in the Library’s catalog.

I think this is a powerful show. If you take the time to read the narrative that goes along with the images you will get the whole story.

I also want to add that this is one of the best shows that the gallery has had. Very thought provoking. Thank you to the staff for bringing it in. Great Job!

This is in response to Lissa’a post. I completely agree that as parents in todays society we have to start thinking about the roles (mostly negative) that society place on our children even as infants. My husband and I recently had our 1st child and we didnt find out the sex for that very reason. I didn’t want gender stereotypes to plague them before they were even born. Now we had a son, but I believe challenges exist in raising males as well. We have to be aware of how much the “boys can’t cry” and you need to be “tough” attitudes affect our young sons, even as infants. Our challenge is in raising sons who grow up to be strong and respectful people who understand that both men and women are perfectly capable of doing and being anything they want to be and that as men they should encourage women and vice versa. I want my son to grow up acknowledging women as his equals so when he becomes a father he will be able to instill that in his daughters as well as his sons.

Thanks for coming in to see the exhibit, Michael.

We owe serious kudos to the Junior League of Topeka for recognizing the power and teaching potential this exhibit embodies.

When one of their members saw the show in Cleveland (?) last year, they immediately thought of bringing it to the Library. It is because of them that we were made aware of Lauren’s work and were able to afford this exhibit, as they covered the full cost.

And I agree 100% that the voices of these girls and women alongside Lauren’s touching and all-too-familiar images complete the picture.

Excellent points, Alicia. I am hoping to use this show as a way to reach out to boys about the very same issues and pressures they face. Women at least have the stereotype of being “emotional” and “social”, which makes talking about these issues much easier for us than for our equally pressured male population, in my opinion. It’s nearly impossible to be open about feeling badly when you’re constantly told to “man up”.

Thanks so much for commenting.

We hope this exhibit makes a powerful impact on the community. I’m glad to see so many comments already!

So, I’m in the gallery right now. I just looked at all of the photos in this quite comtemplative space and I am overwhelmed. The postcard project is also moving, especially since those experiences and thoughts are coming from women here in our community. Several times in the text accompanying Lauren’s photos, the idea of Cinderella comes up - feeling like Cinderella, wanting to be more independent than Cinderella. I know that Disney Princesses are a huge industry marketed to little girls, and I think that some of the effects of that phenomenon are hanging on the walls of the Gallery…

Lissa, what stood out in my mind was how mature the girls’ perspectives are who’ve suffered harassment for their weight/unconventional appearance vs. the restrictive, caustic perspective of the ones who fit the ideal. Several times the “in” girls reveal how toxic their relationships are with their mothers and peers, while the “other” girls, the ones who “don’t fit” are like, “yeah, it’s hard, but you know, this is me.”

I love that you wrote from the gallery. That means our computer plan works. Note to readers: you can respond immediately to the exhibit from the gallery—we have a computer set up to do so.

So what’s the big deal?  Why do people in the paper think this is pornographic?  I don’t think so.

Let me know if you figure it out.

I’m sure an “official” definition exists somewhere, but my layman’s answers are “I know porn when I see it” and “I think porn’s supposed to be arousing at the very least”.

I don’t see it in Lauren’s work and I’m hard-pressed to think of Girl Culture as remotely arousing.

Tomorrow is your last chance to see Girl Culture!

As facilitator of this exhibit, I’ve been thrilled to witness and engage in dialogue that has surfaced. Girl Culture has raised questions about our consumer driven society and has brought the community together in a new way. I will not forget our opening night reception. Families and young adults alike discussed/ participated in the exhibit’s hands-on activites. Powerful exhibits move people and in some cases influence positive change in a community. How will today’s girl culture impact tomorrow’s? My thanks goes out to all who have made this exhibit a success!