But will there be a rose ceremony? “Mean Girls” goes reality TV.
By: Lara on June 24, 2008
Under: aggression, peer status
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I like reality TV as much as the next person. But I can’t decide if I love this or hate this: It’s a “reality with morality” show (their words, not mine) called Queen Bees. The premise is that “mean girls”—young women in their late teens who have been nominated by friends or family—vie for the title of “most reformed mean girl” in a presumably life-changing eight-episode experience. The girls are coached by a psychologist; the contestant who shows the most improvement wins $25,000.
The reality-TV-lover in me can’t wait to set the DVR. The aggression researcher in me is less enthusiastic. Are we really to believe that these young women, who have been using mean behaviors effectively for years (everything from self-centeredness to downright nastiness, according to the press release), will suddenly see the damage they’re doing and vow to redeem themselves? Will any change we see be real change, or clever positioning for the cash? Are the producers truly shining a light on meanness in the hopes that viewers will reconsider their bad behaviors, or are they celebrating it by featuring attractive, socially prominent women who may have gotten that way to begin with by being, well, mean?
Can true change even happen for these girls, or are their behaviors too deeply ingrained? Many of the behaviors we think of as “mean girl” behavior peak in adolescence, middle school in particular. Such behaviors don’t disappear, of course, and occur regularly even among adult women, as most people can tell you. But for most young women, there is a decrease in these behaviors across adolescence and into adulthood. (The film “Mean Girls” – which I really liked, by the way – depicts high school aggression among girls who don’t show the typical trajectory. Well, that or they were “Really Mean Girls” in middle school.) Given their levels of meanness and how long they’ve gotten away with it, I wonder how effective a short-term intervention would be, even one led by a famous TV psychologist. These girls have been getting their way for a long time.
Still, I’ll probably tune in, just to see.
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Very Non-Scientific Travel Post
By: Lara on June 3, 2008
Under: Uncategorized
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Please forgive my blog-related lazines over the last few weeks; the usual end-of-semester hullabaloo was followed by a lovely week in Mexico with my husband and daughter, and I am slowly catching up. As I ponder an interesting article sent to me by a friend (thanks, Sophie!) and consider my next post, I’m hoping you’ll accept a plug for a refreshingly baby-friendly hotel on the Riviera Maya.
The staff at the Azul Beach Hotel treated my family (including 10-month-old Lily) like we were their family. Two out of two parents chez Mayeux/Wyro agree: This is one great hotel for parents travelling with their children. The staff doted on our daughter and were so very friendly and warm. The hotel had cribs, pack-n-plays, radio monitors, sand toys, and even Gerber baby food. There’s an activity center for children 4 years and older, with lots of planned activities (bracelet making, anyone?) and experienced caregivers. You can even hire a private sitter for the evening.
With only 97 rooms, the hotel is quiet and intimate, and nothing is more than a few minutes’ walk from your room. Two of the three pools are less than 3 feet deep, and the surf is calm. We plunked Lily in the sand our first day there and enjoyed her giggles as the water gently chased her around the beach. Fun stuff we’ll always remember.
Two thumbs up for this peaceful, beautiful resort.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled child development-related blogging.
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