Don't get me wrong; kids today are definitely in need of manners. And I'm talking basics, like "please" and "thank you" type stuff. And helping kids understand the need for making good conversation, respecting elders, table manners, and I'll even give you good posture (i.e. walking like you don't have a bag of sand down the back of your pants), is great. Of course these are lessons that should be taught by parents, but that's a whole 'nutha story. The things that bother me about Make Over Camp are:
1) The name. In my mind (which granted is a little twisted but I've learned to use it to my benefit) "Make Over " is synonymous with "you're not good enough the way you are." Sending that message to 10-year-olds? I no likey.
2) Make Over Camp is for girls only. This part bothers me a bit more than the name. All kids need these lessons, not just girls. Teaching girls how to dress, wear make up, talk nice and set a table is fine, but what the hell are the boys learning? Creating and marketing this program for girls makes it into more of a what some people are calling a "wife camp".
Teaching niceties to girls alone makes sociologist Marc Lafrance irate. “It might as well be called Wife Camp! Is Betty Draper happy on Mad Men? No! She’s miserable! Things like makeover camp send the message that a girl’s value lies in being entertaining, ornamental, totally innocuous, accommodating and polite,” said the assistant professor of sociology at Concordia University. -- Macleans.ca
I have to agree with the professor on this one. What about you?
Posts
6 comments:
Seriously, folks! How about Let's Focus on the Real Issues at Hand Camp, or Spend More Time Talking with Parents than Sexting or Chatting on MySpace Camp? I'm all for manners, --my 3 and 5 year olds say "pardon me" and I'm well, thank you, and old school stuff like that -- but Make Over Camp for young girls???? Can we say "wrong message"!
Thanks for sharing.
Agreed. With the media that this camp is getting, it seems like they had a really good opportunity to do something positive for all kids... beyond teaching girls how to be little Stepford Wives.
Sure, there are times when I still get confused about which side the fork goes on, but seriously... I'm more pissed that I never learned the basics of car maintenance... or got more than a "put money in your savings account" lesson on personal finances. THAT's some camp stuff I could use.
How to make relevant conversation with a diplomat? Not so much.
The REALLY ironic thing is these 'camps' are making bucks! Check the $$ fees of this tween 'junior cotillion' that targeted me awhile back: http://www.polite.com
I know of uber-parents at the middle school who shelled out for it (yah, the ones whose kids will be in therapy later in life from helicoptering and throwbacks to the debutante era) it's all a bit surreal to me.
I say we counter-market by hosting house parties of "Mona Lisa Smile" with Julia Roberts to 'teach our children well' what life was like in a not so retro flashback to days of yore.
Bigger media maven fear factor? That this 'trend' could be perceived as a 'market correction' to the coarseness of culture; egad, this is NOT the way to do it people. bleh.
Way too caste system and Stepford wife-ish to be 'Packaging Girlhood' that way imho. Just think of what we could DO with those kinds of funds, eh Felicia? sigh.
www.ShapingYouth.org
Wow, those Polite people are raking it in. I guess parents are concerned. You may be right about them responding to this type of program as a result of the current raunch culture. I'm still wondering though, how are they stretching this out into a multi-year program.
I sent my girl to the camp and realize that she learnt so much. It is not to teach girls to be trite, and to be subservient to men. Rather, the program helped my girl to become more instrospective, and conscious of others' needs. She also developed an understanding of her likes and dislikes, and what is appropriate for her age. She also taught me about skin care and table settings, which I never properly learnt myself.
The teachers are amazing, and I am just happy that I enroled my child for the camp this summer.
I think the controversy will prevail until we try it for ourselves...
Thanks so much for stopping in Anonymous. It's great to hear the other side of this debate.
I can honestly see girls gaining self-esteem from a program like this, but I worry when so much emphasis is put on looking a certain way and conforming to a beauty/domestic standard.
I worry that the self-esteem may be coming with the stipulation that says "As long as I look great and fit the mold, I'm fine." and also about what happens to that self-esteem when the girls realize that the beauty standard they're trying to live up to is not a standard that everyone fits or that after years of taking care of others that they've completely forgotten about their own individuality.
In other words...it worries me.
Post a Comment