Media's Influence on Raising Kids: Moms Sound Off!

Why do we as women, as mothers allow this to continue? . . . Where are the strong women role models that our daughters so desperately need? . . . Why can't we give our girls someone to look up to, someone to aspire to be like, someone to inspire them in the entertainment industry? They are few and far between. And it makes me furious," says Sue from Maryland.

In May, NOW invited moms, as well as dads, caregivers, teachers and all those who care about kids to take our Moms on Media (MOM) Survey. The questionnaire allowed participants to give feedback on raising kids in our media-saturated, pop culture-fixated society.

Participants rated a number of media trends and practices--such as violent toys and video games, sexist stereotypes in kids' TV programs and movies, and a lack of racial diversity in media for kids--based on the challenge they present to raising feminist/progressive children.

NOW tallied responses from the almost two thousand participants, who were also encouraged to share their personal opinions on the media and point out additional concerns not covered in the survey. We received an enormous number of intelligent, thoughtful, funny, passionate comments, and it's just too bad we can't share them all.

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