It has been said that I often take things further than necessary. In my case, that means getting up from my cozy spot on the couch — in Wisconsin, this involves shedding a warm blanket — and crossing the room in front of my three boys, all without uttering a word, to grab the remote and change the channel whenever a commercial undermines women.
We simply won’t watch it.
When the magazines we subscribe to arrive, my boys know I’ll be the first to look through them, scanning for any inappropriate representations of women. Sometimes, they barely have half the magazine left after I’m done.
We won’t allow it in our home.
If the radio plays lyrics that objectify women while we’re driving, I swiftly turn it off, as if attempting to eject it from the dashboard.
We won’t passively consume it.
My children are accustomed to this behavior; I have been doing this for as long as they can remember. It’s my way of demonstrating what is acceptable and what is not in our society’s portrayal of women. I often hear the narrative that “this is how society is; it cannot change.” The news reports are presented without questioning the harmful attitudes that permeate our culture.
While I can’t control everything in society or the media — the images of violence against women or the notion of their lesser worth — I can make a statement through my actions regarding what I think of these portrayals. I firmly believe that children learn more from our actions than our words, so I will persist in this approach.
Do I think I can shield my boys from all the messages they encounter at school or through their friends, especially with two of them heading to college soon? Of course not. They have been exposed to the same influences as I have. However, I am the first woman they have known, and they observe my responses; thus, I will continue my personal revolution at home.
A revolution is necessary. Even if I am told it doesn’t matter.
This revolution challenges the cultural norms that dictate what is right and wrong regarding the treatment of women. I will keep pushing boundaries, as people often say I do. Someday, when my boys are on their own, the memories of my actions will resonate with them, like a rubber band snapping against their conscience, reminding them of the times I stood up against the objectification of women.
Society may insist to my children, through their media consumption, that “this is how women are portrayed; accept it.” But in my small yet significant way, in front of three boys destined to become men, I will say, “No. We do not have to accept it.” For more insights into this topic, you can check out this post.
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In summary, it’s crucial to actively challenge societal norms regarding the portrayal of women. Through my actions, I strive to instill in my children a sense of respect and understanding that they can help foster change.