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Consuming Kids February 21, 2006
No, it's not an hors d'oeuvre cookbook for cannibals. Consuming Kids is a book about the multi-bajillion dollar industry of marketing all kinds of things --clothes, hair care, food, violence, lifestyles-- to kids and teens. Now that my own daughter is old enough that I'm reasonably sure she's not going to die of SIDS or get carried off by a hyena, I'm starting to worry about these things.
While Consuming Kids deals with an inherantly interesting, even sensational topic, the presentation is actually pretty tame and almost academic. The author, Susan Linn, devotes each chapter to a specific topic like violence, food, smokes and alcohol, marketing in school, and so on, always dealing with how marketers try to get at kids and the parents who control their money. While I appreciate her restraint and thoughtful presentation of the topics, Linn could have punched things up a little with more narratives and more entertaining descriptions of the situations and absurdities inherent in treating children like little adult consumers. The most entertaining and snappy chapter of the book is the first one, where Linn describes her experiences infiltrating a conference for marketers specializing in children. The rest of the book kind of bogs down in statistics and dry expositions that probably belie the author's true outrage.
Still, if you read through them, all those statistics and expositions are convicing and thought provoking. I found myself periodically looking up from this book to reflect on my own experiences being marketed to and what I plan on doing to insulate Samantha from it. In short, I came away from reading this book with some solid and well defined intentions that I've already started putting into place. Things like limiting television time and content (thank God for TiVo, which lets you skip commercials), limiting brands and movie/TV tie-ins when possible (this means you, Elmo), and even resolving to make our house soda-free to set a good example.
In a way, this kind of sucks. For example, I was just talking with someone the other day about how much I'd like to show Samantha classic Disney movies like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White --movies that are really magnificent in terms of film making and animation. I also want to take Sam to Disney World, which is within driving distance for us and which I think she'll soon be old enough to enjoy. The problem is that I fear unleashing the marketing juggernaut that Disney has linked to all these classics. I want to watch Alladin with my daughter, but I don't want her to throw a screaming hissy fit when I won't buy her ten thousand and one pieces of Disney Princesses junk.
Parenting is just going to get harder, I know. Baby-snatching hyenas I can deal with; nobody's spending billions of dollars a year to convince Sam that she needs to be dragged off by carrion eaters. Fatty foods, alcohol, and skank-tastic clothes for pre-teens? That's another story, one that's told pretty convincingly in this book.
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Tags: Book Review, Nonfiction, Samantha
Comments
Posted by Ger on February 21, 2006 8:15 PM:
Yes, I was at Macy's the other day and can you believe J. Lo has a line of girls' clothes? And there's little difference between those clothes and the ones found in the Juniors department. Scary.
Posted by Marla on February 22, 2006 9:30 PM:
It is hard. Emma already knows so many brands and what they represent (and they are mostly mommies favorites). I don't think knowing is bad though, it's how you teach them to deal with their knowledge that's the hard part. Disneyland is about marketing, but if you don't fall victim to its schemes, Sammy will be better off. Usually when we go, the only things we purchase are food. We avoid the clothes and collectibles, so for now, there is no questioning. Food chains are another stretch. You eat there, but its the frequency that really matters in influence. And really, with all the temptations it still gets down to us parents being resolute and setting examples to live by.
Posted by Marla on February 22, 2006 9:34 PM:
You'll get over the carbonated beverages with no problem. Once you've gotten them out of your system, its amazing how they'll make you feel when you have one. Too full and bloated. You'll be so happy you gave them up!
Posted by Jamie on February 26, 2006 2:18 PM:
Woah, who said anything about quitting carbonated beverages? :) I just want to limit them by not having them easily at hand at home. I spend 9 hours a day at work, I can't be expected to go that whole time without a Diet Coke or two.
Posted by Marla on February 27, 2006 2:24 PM:
LOL! Todd said you live on Diet Coke. Funny, I didn't believe him...guess I should have. Smile!