fem-blog:
Am I Pretty?
While watching Jenna Marbles videos on YouTube I came across a video entitled, “Am I Pretty? :)” I clicked on it, hoping that it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. Sure enough my spidey senses were right—this video was made by a young girl looking for YouTuber’s opinions on whether she was pretty or ugly. What’s worse is that the suggestion column revealed to me that there are a ton of other videos like this. Looking at the thumbnails, a lot of the girls who make these videos are 15 and younger. Horrified yet curious, I clicked on another video. It was a girl who couldn’t be any older than 9 years old, wearing a spaghetti strapped tank top, sitting in a chair smiling and waving. Her video was entitled, “am i pretty i want to know plz”.
The comments are horrendous. While you and I know that these are people just trolling around saying horrible things because of their anonymity, a lot of young girls don’t know any better. These comments certainly must bruise their fragile egos.
WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE IN THESE GIRL’S LIVES THAT SHOULD BE TELLING THEM THAT THEIR WORTH IS NOT IN THEIR LOOKS?
THAT THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER TO THE WORLD?
THAT SHOULD BE TEACHING THEM SELF-RESPECT AND SELF-EFFICACY?
THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTING THEM FROM LEARNING HOW TO SELF-OBJECTIFY?
THAT SHOULD TELL THEM THAT IT’S OK TO BE A KID AND THAT THEY SHOULD HOLD ONTO THEIR CHILDHOOD FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY WILL SPEND THE REMAINING 90% OF THEIR LIVES AS ADULTS?
DO THEY EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR INSECURITY-RIDDEN DAUGHTERS ARE POSTING THESE VIDEOS?