Dr. Rebecca Hains
Author, professor and speaker | Children's media culture, media literacy, and media criticism
Archives
NYU Bookstore pulls body-shaming “I hate my thighs” onesie hours after complaints begin
Yesterday, NYU employee Jason Y. Evans snapped this photo of an “I hate my thighs” onesie for infant girls in the NYU bookstore. He alerted several student and alumni groups, and they complained to the bookstore. In fewer than eight hours, the…
Read MoreUnlicensed “Frozen” app gives Anna C-section, perfect body
It’s the strangest thing I’ve seen in some time: In a new, unlicensed Frozen app, players deliver Anna and Kristoff’s baby via a magical C-section, with tools including magic ice and a glowing orb. According to Buzzfeed, the app called “Anna Giving Birth” by developer Oleg Vinogorodov…
Read MoreLISTEN: Rebecca Hains discusses #TruthInAds & body image on CBC Radio
The Brave Girls Alliance wants advertisers to stop extensively Photoshopping models’ bodies. The practice contributes to a public health crisis encompassing serious emotional, mental and physical health issues.
Read MoreGirls, strength, and the beauty ideal: A beach conversation
My five-year-old son befriended an eleven-year-old girl at the beach last week. As they worked together to create a sand castle, her dad and I chatted about my work as a media studies professor and his work as a high school art…
Read More“Six Summer Beauty Tips” by Rebecca Hains
Fashion magazines love telling women that our bodies aren’t fit to be seen in public, unless we buy and use the beauty products they’re hawking. And in the summer months, when rising temperatures lead us to shed more clothing, their scrutiny intensifies, picking…
Read MoreHomemade Disney Princess peg dolls: Tutorial and giveaway
Many little girls love playing with Disney Princess dolls. They make up stories with their dolls or reenact the films. They delight in dressing up the dolls and styling their hair. And sometimes, they just like to snuggle them. Faced with the Disney Princess…
Read MoreLoving Your Body for your Kids’ Sakes, Too: The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents [Giveaway]
At Valentine’s Day, we talk a lot about loving other people. But what about loving ourselves? As Marci Warhaft-Nadler, body image expert and the author of The Body Image Survival Guide for Parents: Helping Toddlers, Tweens and Teens Thrive, points out:…
Read MoreReview: Lottie Dolls are a Win For Kids
This holiday season, I will be doing a series of giveaways—all of brands I believe in—brands that seek to empower or support girls in some way. First up is “Lottie,” which I am happy to introduce to you today. Lottie is…
Read MoreModern Beauty Standards Imposed on Classic Art Show Narrowness of Today’s Ideal
Many of today’s teenagers believe the Venus de Milo is “fat,” so I digitally retouched a photo of the famous statue to explore the issue.
Read More
Dr. Rebecca Hains 
You must be logged in to post a comment.