self-esteem

A recent study from Indiana University finds that watching television can lead to decreased self-confidence for African-American boys and girls as well as white girls, but apparently not for white boys. Perhaps this is because white males are so often depicted in positions of power and control, whereas black males are frequently shown to be criminals, while women overall are sexualized: the prize rather than the winner of the prize. On the one hand, it’s nice that more evidence exists demonstrating that everyday imagery affects us; on the other hand, TV’s not going to change unless there’s a good (i.e. financial) reason for it to. Follow us on Twitter @mysexprofessor. Continue Reading →