Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us

Unlearning the Myths That Bind Us

Linda Christensen

In Unlearning the Myths that bind us, the author speaks of a secret education embedded in childrens' literature, television shows and movies. The author goes on to speak of the ways in which stereotypes are perpetuated. The author states “We are not only taught certain styles of violence, the latest fashions and sex roles by TV, movies, magazines and comic strips; we are also taught how to succeed, how to love, how to buy, how to conquer, how to forget the past and suppress the future.”

The way in which our society perpetuates these ideologies is through a concept called the Ideological State Apparatus conceived by Louis Althusser (1970). Ideologies are perpetuated through governmental institutions such as churches and school where they instill ideas in people since birth, and through out our lifetime these ideologies become internalized and we inevitable accept them since it’s reinforced by the mainstream media.

In this article the author also discusses minority groups such as those who are female, and different socioeconomic groups such as those who are poor. Christensen states that in the movie Cinderella “Those who aren’t white begin to feel left out and ugly because they never get to play the princess.” . In our society we see examples of this through systemic discrimination; this is the process by which those groups that appear to be less than white, male and wealthy are suppressed by those who are already in power—white Anglo-Saxon males. Although this stereotype is progressively changing, it still remains that the majority of those in power are white men.

Some ideologies that I don’t understand is the idea that women need to obtain happiness as a means to marriage, or beauty. The article stats that some ways happiness can be attained is through materialistic things such as a new hair cut, or new clothing. Latest fashions are hegemonic, developed by those who own empires which develop mainstream fashions.

For many females, their entire being is based on all that is materialistic & the superficial, it consumes them. Many don't feel like their lives begin until they're married, or found a "winner". It's when we come to question thoughts and ideas developed by others, yet instilled in us that we come to find true meaning in our own lives. Our reality should not be determined by others, but rather determined by ourselves.