Anything to Make a Buck?  

News flash: Sex is sold to young girls!
by Tracy Clark-Flory, June 24, 2008  

Hold on to your hats, Quebec 's Council on the Status of Women has some news for you:  The media hypersexualizes young girls. (No! What ever could they mean?) The council's 100-page report argues that the media is selling sex to younger and younger female audiences and teenagers spend several hours a day watching media that "convey the conception of a sexuality based on inequality, stereotypes and the objectification of women." For instance, a highly popular site among Quebec teens is www.ma-bimbo.com, where the aim is to create an avatar that is "the hottest, coolest, most famous bimbo in the whole world" by buying her breast implants and snagging her a rich boyfriend. And, what do you know, as a result of digesting this cultural cotton candy, young girls are adhering "to the ideology of seduction," says the report. Council President Christiane Pelchat told Montreal 's Gazette, "It becomes their role model for behaviour, and we've noticed young people -- both girls and boys -- mimicking what they see." ... http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/06/24/quebec/index.html  

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2008 by a local nonprofit organization. 

1. What is the point of the news from Quebec?

(a) Girls are being exploited.

(b) Behavior is being manipulated through advertising.  

2. Should we be concerned about what is happening?

(a) No, because “sexuality based on inequality, stereotypes and the objectification of women” is part of the human condition.

(b) Yes, because “sexuality based on inequality, stereotypes and the objectification of women” handicaps a girl from reaching her potential. 

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2008 by a local nonprofit organization. 

 1. What happened to the son of assassinated President John F. Kennedy?

(a) The son, John Kennedy, Jr., died in an airplane accident.

(b) The plane which Kennedy was piloting exploded from a planted bomb. 

2. How does we verify or deny claims about an alleged assassination?

(a) We see to it that people outside of government have complete authority and the ability to investigate and publicize findings.

(b) We surf the Web and read all the “verify” Web sites and all the “deny” Web sites to see which side is persuasive.

August 14, 2008