About-Face.org

Review

Common Sense Media says

Smart site dissects sexism in the media.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that About-Face.org is a nonprofit site that calls out sexism and stereotyping in the media and encourages teen girls (and adults) to think critically about ads. That means that it shows some "sexy" ads, but they're accompanied by thoughtful analysis that discusses how they may be problematic. Some of the content is in on target for preteens (such as body image issues), while some blog posts and resources are more appropriate for teens and up.

  • Positive messages5
    The site empowers girls and women to think critically about the media, focusing on developing self-esteem and battling body image issues. Visitors can read up about the issues and learn how to take action.
  • Violence2
    The site critiques ads that depict violence against women, especially sexualized violence. Some blog posts and resources deal with rape and abuse.
  • Sex1
    The site critiques "sexy" ads from magazines and TV.
  • Language2
    The blog's comments don't seem to be moderated, but most users keep it clean. There's an occasional "damn" or "ass." One critique discusses the use of "balls" in ad copy.
  • Consumerism1
    The site is nonprofit and contains no advertising (aside from the content it's critiquing). There's a store where you can buy t-shirts and other merchandise related to the site's content.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Alcohol ads are among the content critiqued.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Aside from comments and a newsletter sign-up, there's no interactive content and no registration.
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Is it any good?

 

As the online arm of a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, ABOUT-FACE.ORG zooms in on sexist advertising and other media content, offering up its own staff's critiques and giving readers an opportunity to weigh in. The "Gallery of Offenders" is a good place to start, singling out ads and other media clips that sexualize young girls, objectify women, or reinforce stereotypes, and then proposing some "questions to consider" to get the discussion going. The site also offers extensive research and helpful resources for students, activists, parents, or anyone else who's interested in learning more about the issues.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about body image issues. What role does the media play in determining how girls and women view their bodies? How do teens on television look compared to real teens at your school or in your community?

  • Families can talk about how gender and racial stereotypes are often perpetuated in the media. What are some common stereotypes? Can you think of any TV shows or movies that fight against these stereotypes?

This review was written by Susan Yudt
Teen, 16 years old
January 1, 2012
AGE
11
 
Review
just visited the site. helps people become more media-literate.
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Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (6) | Read my mind (5)
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This review was written by Susan Yudt
Genre:Civic Engagement
This review was written by Susan Yudt

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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