"...moving beyond finger pointing"

then, its
1. technology
2. But we cannot blame the Internet alone... clearly, there are other things to blame, by er, not pointing the finger at them
3. reality TV
4. paris hilton
5. a society that makes our girls feel lonely... huh, society spares no one in this regard. Of course no one can make you feel anything, thats the burden of each human in their humanity.

Forget blame and the free licence of articles like this one that just end up doing it anyway.

Bite the bullet. Stand everyone in front of the mirror and have them point away.

Accountability and responsibility start at home and if you just keep excusing people by fuax empathy thru victimology, then YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

Good stuff Trade,

I agree with your sentiments re responsibility, but it's not necessarily playing the victim to show some insight to the influences in your life. It's a vital part of the process, but after that it's up to the individual to take control of their reactions to the world around them. It's like adults who blame their parents for their emotional problems are different from adults who recognise the reasons for their emotional problems, yet take ownership of them and aim to improve their outlook.

Bronwyn,

Parenting is a big ask, but that's the point isn't it? Giving your kids the means to decipher the world and how they fit in. Besides, like I said in another topic, morality is subjective, so whose morality is the government to censor to? How can you practically legislate on advertising and media to not encourage 'shallow' behaviour? It would be better to teach media studies in high school.

BTW:I love this attitude in society that if girls exhibit anti-social behaviour, it's the media's fault, or society's fault. If boys do the same, they are just being boys, and need to be punished. All this binge drinking, bullying, exhibitionism, sleeping around behaviour by girls these days is the natural progression of equality for women. To me it just seems we still cant see women the same as men in terms of negative behaviour, and not enough women are seeking equality in this area.

Good points US. I love that attitude too. Anyone with access to media or a brain will know it’s hard being a girl (neither of which is prerequisite, if you are a father of daughters).

She is selfless and self-obsessed, intelligent but gullible, resilient in a fragile sort of way, but equally superior – especially when it comes to that moral kind where she can effortlessly erect watertight justification for her bullying – they so deserve it. She must be allowed to make her own mistakes, for restricting her choices equates to patriarchal oppression (her mother may be liable to worse accusations, but disempowered as we are, generational bitch fights now fall into the let it slide category).

“Let’s not blame the victims here. After all, these are young girls - pushing boundaries, exploring and making mistakes. We shouldn’t fall into the easy trap of simply making these girls out to be uber bitches. Rather, they are a sad reflection of the times. We need to dig a little deeper and address the toxic messages our girls are fed and ensure these are countered with positive body image programs and messages of strength and resilience.”

What exactly are these sad times, and what is the nature of this societal toxicity? More programs to tell young girls they can do anything (and whatever) they want? Are not their mothers sufficient examples and role modes?

Maybe Bronwyn’s call to sensor female (or is it feminist) media is not so hypocritical after all. And if one of the elected Julias were to champion it, it may not appear so patriarchal. Alcopops tax too, could have had more streetcred.

As the mother of a teenage girl I generally read with interest articles regarding girls.

What I find frustrating is the habit of blaming society or the media for perceived problems teenagers have. It is more likely that poor parenting is to blame for some teenagers not being able to form their own opinions and just blindly accepting what others say.

I find myself in total agreement with Usual Suspect, which is a bit unusual! Can't add anything to your last two paragraphs.

My daughter has checked out the Indigo website and on first sight found it too childish, static and 'old-fashioned'. She actually directed me to the Dove website: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.au/dove%2Dself%2Desteem%2Dfund/

She especially thinks the little film 'Amy' is really cute.

She wonders if the website 'Bimbo' is a big joke. Especially because the graphics are so poor. It implies very little effort went into it.

Parents shouldn't fear the media, but know that they've educated their children to be skeptical and not trust everything they hear, read or see. If parents treat their children like idiots who need to be shielded from the media and have everything censored, how can they grow up to be independent, thinking adults? (This last paragraph was dictated to me by my daughter by the way!)