In America, many of us are taught this idea that we are all equal, that we are all capable of doing what anyone else can do and that we're just as good as anyone; however, whether this teaching is truly implemented within our culture should be questioned. The media we consume portrays a very different perspective. Magazines and random articles on twitter do not hesitate to share naked photos of female celebrities and they're quick to criticize them for gainig weight or having stretch marks, things which are completely natural for humans. Media makes it seem as though women are not human. It is almost inevitable that a picture of a female celebrity is to be electronically edited in order to make them appear "more attractive." Women are wanted to show cleavage and be sexy for men, but simultaneously, shouldnt be showy or else they're a "slut." A woman must be highly intelligent, but when it comes to serious political discussion she is subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, pushed aside by the male-majority and told to waste her intellecuality on minor tasks such as house work.
Why is it that females in movies are constantly portrayed as sex-objects and only serve the purpose of obsessing over a male? Are girls/women not capable of living without one? I believe that love and companionship are beautiful things. I think that to have someone love you with all of their being is priceless. But this idea can be expressed without females being depicted as obsessive freaks that cannot function with a male counterpart.
The list of disadvantages that females face when compared to males is endless. To proceed would not be necessary, for the inequalities are apparent and they stretch far as well as wide. However, are women not the ones in movies and media that agree to participate in degrading films or pictures? Women are not forced to sign contracts to star in movies that depict them as objects, they are not forced to take photos or star in commercials that show them in a distasteful light. But then again, it is likely that the consumptiom of this very media is what perpetuates the cycle that continues to mold some females to fill these stereotypical, powerless, and objectified roles.
The way to defeat these portrayals is simple. The sooner we recognize the horrible ways in which the media portrays the majority of females, the sooner this stereotypical classification of them will cease to be prevalent. It's important to expose this issue, to teach small daughters, neices, cousins, sisters, etc. to not fall into the traps that some will set in attempt to keep them voiceless and dehumanized. And this is not simply a fight for the females, but males should also join and begin to hold other males accountable for enforcing the simple classifications of women. Hopefully this issue of gender inequality is one of the many issues that we as humans will eventually overcome.
Addressing your topic of how women are not "forced" to sign contracts and fill these roles of sexy and ditzy characters in film- that is very true, people do not hold a pen in a women's hand and force a signature, but you are right when you said that it is the media's fault. Just think, if the women today decided not to sign any more contracts playing these roles, what would entertain you? The messed up thing is, unless you play these roles and sign the contracts, you do not have a role or a job. So, I am not disagreeing with you, I guess I am just adding.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure what goes on in Hollywood, so I can't say if women voluntarily signed up for those kind of roles because they find them fun or empowering, or if they couldn't get any other kind of job because of the sexualization from the media. I definitely think that a lot of women want to look good and feel powerful and confident when they look good, and that's fine. I also think that there are a lot of women that feel they should focus on academics and accomplishments and feel empowered by their achievements, and that's also fine. The problem is when the media make sit seem like only one is acceptable. Right now, there is a huge importance on looks, but if in the future, somehow what was important in a woman was her brains I'm curious if anyone would complain that there's too much of an importance on the unattainable standards for brilliance. So what I guess what I'm saying is everything in moderation. It's fine if girls want to strive to look better and feel empowered by their bodies as long as they keep in mind there's a lot more qualities to a woman than her looks.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your idea that there is no way to please everyone. Either you're a prude for not showing some skin, or you're a slut for showing too much. I find it upsetting that a majority of the standards created within the media, whether it's attractiveness, intelligence, or even equality, are created by men with entirely male perspectives. What is to say that they are to be the judge of women?
ReplyDeleteWith your comment about females not being forced into signing contracts that will ultimately turn them into sex objects, I agree with Bailey. While there is no one forcing them to sign, there is the threat of not having a job or any influence in Hollywood that is forcing them to sign that paper.
I agree with your comment regarding the need to address this now rather than later, if we want a change. There needs to be a change in the messages we're sending younger generations so that they don't enter the cycle that we are in now. The cycle of judging women on appearance and hypersexualizing as well as introducing heavy violence into the media.
I definitely agree with your views on this topic. I believe that women are degraded and disrespected in our society, and that all genders have a responsibility to stop it. I agree with your point that women are not forced to enter these situations where they are not respected or are exposed. This leads me to believe that many women place the blam on men for the fact that they are not respected, when in reality, stopping this sexist epidemic is a dual gender responsibility. If women feel that they are being exploited, then they should not participate in the movie, show, shoot, or other media related activity. We need to realize that taking pictures naked and allowing others to alter our bodies digitally is not helping our cause. On the other hand, men should give women the respect that they deserve and treat them as equals in the workforce. Very good job on you blog post.
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