Media Muscle by Lisa Cox

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Media Muscle by Lisa Cox is a body image and media literacy book targeting tweens and teens.

Media literacy is an important skill that kids need to know. It is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending.  Common Sense Media have some great information about how you can start teaching it to your child.

Books like this are important as they help kids to work out what is and isn’t real, when watching TV, watching youtube or surfing the internet, in magazines and more.

Plus it lays down the foundations for future talks about pornography. Kids who already recognise fake advertising and unrealistic images are more likely to understand that pornography is not reflective of everyday sex.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 11 to 14 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Media Muscle by Lisa Cox from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. This is my YouTube channel where I upload videos because, let’s be honest, videos are a great way to chat and talk about stuff. On my channel, you’ll find lots of book reviews.

If you’re looking for a better way to talk to your kids about love, sex, relationships, and growing up, I highly recommend checking out the website sexatrisku.com. They have tons of information, tools, and resources to help you navigate those important conversations. Today, I want to talk about a book called Media Muscle: Body Image and the Media for Guys by Lisa Cox. It’s been around for a few years now, since 2012.

There’s also a version for girls called Does My Bum Look Big In This Ad. Both books are pretty similar, except the language used is tailored to either boys or girls. Let’s focus on Media Muscle for now. Media literacy is a conversation we absolutely need to have with our kids. It’s all about being aware of how the media influences us.

Let me share a personal experience. The other day, my daughter and I saw this mouthwatering burger on a TV ad. It looked huge and delicious, so we decided to give it a try. But guess what? When we got it, it was nothing like the picture. It was disappointing and we ended up throwing most of it away. That’s when I realized the power of media literacy. It’s about teaching our kids that what they see in ads isn’t always what they get in real life.

Media literacy is crucial, especially as our kids grow older and start watching shows where sexualized messages are common. By having early conversations about media literacy and how advertising can be misleading, we can help them navigate those trickier topics, like pornography, and make smart decisions.

Now, let’s dive into the book itself. It’s a quick read, only about 40 pages. It covers topics like body image, popular culture, airbrushing, and self-esteem. It even includes reflection points where you can jot down three things you like about yourself, and they don’t have to be physical attributes. It’s a great way to start building self-confidence.

The author, Lisa Cox, collaborated with psychologists and teachers to create this book, so you know it’s reliable and well-informed. It’s a fantastic resource for parents to read and discuss with their kids. You can read it together or use it as a starting point for important conversations. It could even be a valuable addition to a homeschool curriculum.

I hope this review helps you understand the importance of media literacy and how Media Muscle can be a helpful tool in navigating these conversations with your kids. Cheers!

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