1/12/07
I'm a TV junkie. The creation of Tivo definitely is God-blessed and has allowed me to intensify that characteristic more efficiently than ever (hence the "Wildcats" cheer "U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi- You ugly!" inspiring the title of this musing). It also enables me to seek out shows that might bring tangible examples into my discussions with students. For instance, one of the major battles that I join in with students involves self-image and the battle against "being perfectly beautiful."
ABC's show "Ugly Betty" had my hopes high. It's concept was to elevate the social debate on unattainable physical ideals by creating a character, socially defined as "ugly," and revolving a series around her successful experiences within the superficiality of the fashion world. Well done. Unfortunately, it has now fallen victim to that very battle. This show, constructed with so much promise in breaking down the stereotypes of beauty, has lost much of the ground gained in their first season. ABC recently unveiled their new advertizing strategy for the show: Be Ugly '07. Yep, you read that correctly. The main tagline from their website is this gem- "Be smart. Be kind. Be honest. Be true to yourself. Be ugly."
Huh?!? I was right there with them until that last one. When did we get to the point that all of those things (honesty, kindness, intelligence, and knowledge of self) could be even remotely defined as "ugly?" I read this and it broke my heart into pieces. How many times I've sat with young people (both men and women) and we've lamented together over the screwed up social "norms" that we are stuck in! A leading figure in the fight to refit the perpetuation of the "rail-thin" ideal and proponent of the ABC ad campaign stated that she "wished there would have been another way of saying it, but at least it will get the dialogue going" (USA Today, 12/21/06).
This is all that they could come up with? How much money has gone and will go into this campaign? How can you raise the level of dialogue when you cannot stop falling back into the rut of stereotypes and language? We say that we want to change the public opinon and then we label enviable qualities (not to mention Fruits of the Spirit) as "ugly." What can said to a student struggling with image and self-worth while being swallowed up in a world that not only encourages but perpetuates this? What can be done?
We need to stop giving such prevailant stereotypes so much credence and stop using the terms that we have allowed our world to hold as truth. Yes, God created us. Yes, we are beautiful. Yes, that is one of the most precious gifts and realizations we can live by. Let's stop making excuses for how each of us is and embrace that, without exception, without hesitation and then, only then, can we sit back and enjoy watching old Goldie Hawn movies on Tivo and chant right along to the ridiculousness of it all..
