Thankfully, Lady Gaga's ripped pants "wardrobe malfunction" is right up there on the front page of magazines and websites (and Huffington Post), right next to Taylor Swift's (nonexistent) "malfunction", and that other mediocre thing that one celebrity did that, for reasons unbeknownst, the world must know about.
And speaking of Taylor Swift, give the girl a breather. Anyone who reads even the headlines of online newspapers or magazines has heard more unnecessary, ridiculous, 'urgent' news about her this month than Sandy Hook or blasts in Syria. She's a young adult navigating the dating world-- we've all been there and done that-- so what's with the magnifying glass? As a matter of fact, have there been enough critiques of the petty 'news' of those in the spotlight lately? A hair out of place? A stutter? A bad angle? Were those blown up big enough so that absolutely everyone could see?
Let's pause for a second and think about, not only the way the media may affect people who are in the spotlight (younger individuals especially), but also about the young people, the kids, tweens and adolescents who look up to these people or who read these critiques. Kids and teens are battling their own self esteem by the hour as it is. Their confidence and self image is already fragile. They already walk down the halls of their school contemplating potential ridicule or embarrassment they may face. It's the nature of the age, the school environments, and the breeding of what one could call 'career' bullies.
Not only is it being taught just how to ridicule, critique, and judge others.... it is being taught to expect these things, to be nervous or prepared for various possible humiliations. The media is already doing its share of damage to the psyches of individuals through tabloids and reality T.V, are we really going to let it sit as a model for bullying too?
According to the Huffington Post, it matters that Lady Gaga had a wardrobe issue. They even deemed it 'embarrassing'; Why not let her decide her level of embarrassment or care on the issue? That's what our kids are seeing-- that these things actually matter. That's the proud work of our culture. That it matters that someone could see Taylor Swift's bra. Or that so-and-so gained 10 pounds, or was seen without make-up. And that the whole world is watching and judging.
Whether we like it or not, we are educating our youth, shaping them with these decisions. We are telling them what to care about, what's important. We might just be telling ourselves, too.
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