The scenario went like this - the main character of this commercial was a girl, probably a pre-, or young teen. She was participating in a spelling bee. This character, this young girl, was a stereotypical caricature of a geek. Everything about her was geeky. Her glasses, clothing, mannerisms, the way her hair was styled, everything about her was geeky. And that is what made me angry.
It is a known fact, based on many years of scientific study, that girls dumb themselves down in the middle school years to appear less smart as compared to their peers, especially as compared to boys of the same age. This dumbing down is frequently seen in mathematics and science. It is also a known fact that women are a minority in the fields of math and science and in fact, there is a great need in those disciplines for more women. Middle school girls want to fit in, be liked and popular...have boyfriends even. Being considered, or referred to as geek doesn't help to accomplish these goals.
I personally know of a few highly intelligent teens who admit to dumbing down. I know of grown women who claim to have dumbed themselves down to better fit in while in middle and high school. Some mothers still do this to some degree, unwittingly setting an example for their children. Being considered too smart is very un-cool for some, especially if being intelligent can land you with the brand of geek.
Intelligent females look and act like everyone else. Intelligent girls and women look just like the girl next door. These girls and women ARE the girl next door. I've yet to meet one who was the stereotypical geeky looking caricature intelligent girls are made out to be.
This commercial particularly bothers me because I am the mother of two highly ambitious, intelligent young women, who at points in their lives have dumbed themselves down to fit in. One of our daughters told us she just wanted friends, to fit in and be like everyone else, not be smarter than. In our family we discuss issues like these and explore, through conversation, the ramifications that can happen to personal self-worth, future educational and employment opportunities and self identity when dumbing down happens. It is never a good idea to deny who we are - ever.
Today, I am going to ask each of you reading this to put your own face in this frame. Put your daughters face in this frame, share the frame and ask other women, young and old to do the same. Actually see, with your eyes, what an intelligent woman looks like. Accepting who we are, with all the talents we have is important and caricatures of our intelligence should not be tolerated.
On a final note, I will tell you that when I see that commercial again I'll be paying attention to the name of the company. I will be calling the president of that company and letting him or her know they are contributing to a great dis-service with our girls who subconsciously, or consciously close open windows and doors to future opportunities. And I will be asking them stop the caricature of intelligence. Our future is in our youth owning who they are, with all their gifts and talents. Our future is in accepting who we are, as women and individuals. We usually look just like the girl next door. We are the girl next door, notwithstanding caricatures.
