Filters to Normalization of Hyperreal Versions of Self

This article reviews research on how social media beauty filters affect adolescent girls’ body image and further their psychological well-being. Filters that specifically smooth skin, make eyes bigger, slim faces, and other attributes, combined with other filters that modify bodies to create a slim waist, are popular among girls who are concerned with their appearance. …

Barbies to Stereotypes

This author talks about how certain toys and advertisements can communicate specific gendered messages to the children playing with them. Barbie dolls as an example, teach young girls what femininity is “supposed” to look like, and they are trained from a young age to appeal to those definitions. These toys don’t just reflect societal norms …