Dr. Rebecca Hains
Author, professor and speaker | Children's media culture, media literacy, and media criticism
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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 MoreLISTEN: Rebecca Hains on #NoGenderDecember – News Radio 610 WTVN
I recently chatted with Joel Riley of News Radio 610 in Columbus, Ohio about the “No Gender December” campaign. Here’s our conversation: LISTEN: Joel Riley interviews Rebecca Hains about #NoGenderDecember News Radio 610 WTVN, Columbus, OH TRANSCRIPT: Joel Riley: Let’s spend a…
Read MoreVIDEO: Rebecca Hains on #NoGenderDecember, FOX & Friends
Is ending the stereotype-filled gendered marketing of toys really such a bad idea? FOX and I disagree in a lively television debate.
Read MoreWhat’s the problem with pink and princess? The marketing, not the moms.
This week, New York and Slate published pieces asking why so many moms have a problem with pink and with princesses. “What’s the problem with pink, anyway?” griped Yael Kohen in New York. Then, building upon Kohen’s piece, Slate senior editor Allison Benedikt demanded: “What…
Read MoreWhy Representations of Women and Girls Can’t Be Slut-Shamed
Is it slut-shaming to dub Polly Pocket “Polly Prostitute“? No, it isn’t. But many commenters on the internet think otherwise. I’m here to tell you why they’re wrong. About Slut-Shaming In recent months, the term “slut-shaming” has gone mainstream. In…
Read More“Princess park rangers” and “Space princesses”: Because gender stereotypes are inescapable, even on vacation.
The school year is starting. Families are returning home from their vacation travels with souvenirs and many fond memories; children are eager to tell their classmates what they did on their summer vacations. But unfortunately, many families’ travels brought them…
Read MoreCampaign for Commercial-Free Childhood fights to save Tooth Fairy from corporate makeover
For children, losing one’s baby teeth is an important rite of passage. It marks a child’s departure from early childhood and entry into middle childhood–a time when, among other milestones, a child’s belief in magic begins to recede. Because of…
Read MoreBut… the Little Mermaid gave up her voice!
Ah, Ariel. I love many things about your movie, particularly the music. But as a character, you made such poor choices. Giving up your voice to get a man? That set a really poor example for girls. In a society…
Read MoreDisney Princess Prom Gowns and Cradle-to-Grave Marketing
Just a few months ago, I wrote about how Disney Princess-styled extravagance among toddlers reflects the extraordinary extravagance of today’s proms, which now cost families an average of $1,000 to $2,000. But until Mouse on the Mind brought it to…
Read MoreLifestyle branding and the Disney Princess megabrand
Did you know that Behr produces a line of Disney Princess interior paints? Here are some photos I took of Behr’s Disney Princess – Disney Color catalog. Introducing the Disney Princess bathroom: And, of course, the Disney Princess bedroom: While…
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Dr. Rebecca Hains 
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