Teach Media Literacy Actively in BC Schools!

  • by: Shey V.
  • recipient: Premier Christy Clark

This petition will be sent to Christy Clark after the deadline.

In this day and age, more and more youth have the technology and access to basically anything they can think of. Advertisements are all over the internet these days, and movies and TV shows are still popular, whether it be on an actual television or seen via the internet. Online magazines still have advertisements as well. It seems no matter what changes have been made, one of the things that hasn't changed much are the type of advertisements and themes in movies, video game characters, and TV shows, to name a few.

Aside from the issues such as strategic product placement and prying and peoples' insecurities and anxieties to sell products, more and more, youth are seeing things such as genderized portrayals of who they should be: what they should look like, how they should act. Low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression are just some of the potentially dangerous outcomes that have come from the narrow ideals that are portrayed on television and in the media in general, as the "average" person is not fitting these images/attitudes. In turn, it allows for the big issue of bullying to come about as well if somebody does not fit the perceived norm

These are only a few of the complications that come from the media's narrow range of variety. They allow stereotypes to be formed, and people even try to live up to these stereotypes, becoming someone they actually aren't. Ultimately, many people try to mask who they really are in order to be "normal": A huge issue with youth.

Unless we could somehow persuade Hollywood and others that have so much control over what we see everywhere from on paper to any type of electronic screen we own to stop doing things such as perpetuating gender roles, ethnic stereotypes, and only casting or editing "attractive" people (who have more often than not have either had some type of aesthetic surgeries or been edited beyond reality), then I feel it is hugely important that media literacy become a more active part of the school curriculum. This way, they can be more prepared to accept themselves, can prevent mental illness, and perhaps in the end once nobody is buying the falsities that are thrown in our faces day in and day out, the media might even change who they are choosing to display and in what type of role. Please stand up for the right of students to be able to think critically about what they are being shown, day in and day out, as they walk through the streets, browse the internet, read a magazine, etc. Allow them to discuss who the intended audience is, learn about product placement, recognize inaccurate stereotypes, learn about the editing of advertisements, and all things relevant.

Recognizing that there is some degree of media literacy in place currently in the BC school curriculum, I think students would benefit from a more apparent curriculum around said issues. Discrimination of others and the self is still a vast issue based on false portrayals.

It is not okay to still live in a society that claims to be so progressive and still have these types of issues. For the mental and physical well-being of our youth, allow us to move forward!

For more information on media literacy and its role in your province, visit Media Smarts.

Dear Christy Clark,

As has become apparent recently, our youth are struggling with issues of self-image, self-esteem, and bullying. Stereotypes and narrow ideals of who youth should be, as portrayed in the media, are playing a large role in this. Unfortunately, these views are internalized, leading others not only to discriminate against themselves, but others, potentially resulting in fatal consequences. At this point in time, where more and more young people have all the latest technology and are regularly bombarded with advertisements, or watching Hollywood movies or popular TV shows full of violence, stereotypes and genderized ideals, myself and the signers of my petition feel it is important to actively teach media literacy in BC schools. 

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