8 . When we’ve got children, it’s typical of us to give careful thought to how much TV the children are watching and that they’re exposed to. Are we being overprotective about the effect reality TV is having on our child? The answer is “No”. Or rather, there’s increasing evidence that these programmes can have a profound influence on young people.
A recent research indicates that some reality TV shows can be every bit as damaging for teenage girls as too many cartoons are for kids — perhaps even worse. The truth is that reality TV is anything but reality — but that’s not necessarily what our children believe. A study for the Girl Scout Research Institute in the US found that eight out of ten girls aged between 11 and 17 who regularly watch reality shows believe these programmes describe real life. In fact, much of reality TV is a heavily manipulated view of what’s really happening, and the worst of it strengthens the sort of female stereotypes women have spent decades trying to remove.
Many of the women on reality TV shows are acting out lives as teenage mothers or drama queens. Strong, hard-working, purposeful young women with ambitions beyond their looks are rare in these programmes. There’s a widespread emphasis on the value of women being about how they look and dress, which gives young viewers the message that being a woman is all about style and appearance, not what you do or stand for.
Cultural critic and writer Jennifer Pozner describes reality TV as “the contemporary negative reaction against feminism”. Imran Siddiquee, Director of Social Media and Outreach, is concerned that these programmes show the worst stereotypes of womanhood and “normalize” them in what appear to be everyday settings. “ They offer such a limited view of what it is to be a woman, and all over the world young girls are addicted to it,” he says.
Siddiquee does recognize, however, that many girls themselves value reality TV. Some say it encourages them to think about situations different from their own. They also point out that some shows feature women running their own successful businesses. “It’s important to acknowledge that there are some useful elements in reality TV,” Siddiquee says. “But many girls need to be inspired to think more critically about some aspects of these shows so they’re not manipulated by them and so their behaviour doesn’t change because of them.”
We should encourage our children to be critical thinkers and help them develop their media literacy. Whether reality TV is changing our children’s views, or whether they are attracted to programmes that agree with their beliefs, it’s vital we recognize that their viewing habits could strengthen these unbalanced ideas.
1. This passage is most probably intended for
.
| A．Teenage girls. | B．Parents. | C．Media workers. | D．General public. |
2. What is the problem with a reality TV show?
| A．It is too true to life for audience to believe in. |
| B．Actors and directors lack a sense of innovation. |
| C．Its contents and views are rather artificial. |
| D．It has caused controversies among teenagers. |
3. According to the Imran Siddquee, what should reality TV shows present?
| A．Genuine accounts of females and their work. |
| B．Ways to gain more popularity among peers. |
| C．Distinction between true life and TV dramas. |
| D．Tips on how to become stylish young girls. |
4. What does the text mainly focus on?
| A．Situations where teenagers are attracted to certain TV programmes. |
| B．Reality TV shows’ impact on young girls and parent’s guidance. |
| C．The way to help children to have the habit of critical thinking. |
| D．The stereotypes of women on TV and audience’s reaction. |
