Books, Magazines, Ads

Youth in any society is effected by media, including books, magazines, advertisements, film, and television. In Britain, young people from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood look to public figures to form their ideas of femininity and masculinity. This includes Prince William and his wife to be, Kate Middleton. London is currently overflowing with media, clothing, and souvenirs regarding the Royal Wedding and personal lives of these two people. In the picture above, the top and bottom shelf display books aimed towards young girls while the center shelf targets young adults. The books titled “You Can be Princess Catherine’s Bridesmaid” and ”Little Miss Princess” instill and reinforce the ultra-feminine qualities and desire of young girls to be princesses. With the term princess comes elegance, popularity, fancy clothing, and jewelry. This image is supposed to be the life that every little girl imagines. Every young British girl should want to grow up to marry a prince and be like Kate. Idolizing this one woman could affect elements of youth culture such as clothing, after school activities, and relationships. Reports and criticisms of Kate also effect young girls especially since they mainly concern body image. She has been called “too thin” and there has been talk of eating disorders. If Kate does desire to be thin then these girls may seek this as well.

            The image of the advertisement also addresses this issue of body image. It directly tries to target the critics of advertisements who believe that women of all body shapes and sizes should be represented to avoid distorted body image and eating disorders in women. That is why they feature three women with the subtitle: “We believe it’s about shape not size.” However, all three of these women are thin, sexualized, and of very similar shapes. This makes the ad contradictory and ineffective to a critic’s eye. But to young women this only defines “every shape” as the one that exemplifies thinness. This Ad along with the books pictured above directly effect the formation of British youth culture.