Plastic surgery, weight loss diets, eating disorders, cosmetics, exercise videos, exercise equipment, posh shopping. Those are just a few things that are becoming more prevalent amongst women in the United States. In the present time, women are being portrayed in the media as thin, beautiful, sexy, and essentially, perfect. Every woman wants that perfect body and the media plays a large role in revealing exactly what this perfection is supposed to be.
Think about the messages that MTV, video games, and advertisements are exemplifying. The media depicts women as sexual objects and in standpoint of powerlessness. On MTV, women are always climbing on or around men and the women are usually half-dressed, if that, while the men are usually fully clothed. Did you know that most videos on MTV are male-directed? The physical image that MTV creates is the ideal woman. This creates body image issues amongst young women. This is where the increase in weight loss regimens, eating disorders, and cosmetic surgery comes from.
Also, video games typically display women in tight clothing, lots of makeup, and as having unrealistic bodies. For example, Grand Theft Auto is a prime example. Prostitutes walk the streets with large breasts and revealing clothing. The player can abuse the prostitute and exchange money for sex. This game is objectifying women to the utmost extent and illustrating to its viewers that this is an accepted notion.
Advertisements are just the same as the rest of the negative portrayals in the media. Women are either portrayed as sexual figures (such as in bikinis, lingerie, etc) or as housewives (subservient to men); they are never portrayed as powerful. Essentially, these ads demonstrate what the ideal woman is supposed to be like. While the media is allowed their freedom, why do they think this message is acceptable? Is this increasing the (negative) problem we seem to already have with gender stereotypes?
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I absolutely agree. The way that women are portrayed in the media is not only offensive, but also disrespectful. I find that this vision of the ideal woman sets an impossible standard that many women try to meet. Pursuing plastic surgery and resorting to extreme diets and even eating disorders are examples of the ways women try to become “perfect". Today, these examples of transformation are far too common. Society’s definition of beauty is skewed in such a way, that perfection is the only key to gain satisfaction with one’s self. What we don’t realize is imperfection is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWould we expect men to change their bodies so radically? Granted, men have standards to live up to, but the pressure to pursue sleek abs and enlarged biceps is less intense than the powerful urge women feel to be thin and subservient to men. The way women are portrayed as sex objects on television and in video games teaches young men that treating women as if they are inferior is acceptable. As deplorable as it seems, new video games with the same messages come out every year and are named best sellers. What does this say about our society? Whatever it says I’m not sure I like it.
I do agree that women are being potrayed as perfect. But, as everyone knows no women is the exact same way as another women in this world. Women come in all size and shapes and i believe they should be happy of how they look, and not try to be someone else that they see on tv.
ReplyDelete"Women are either portrayed as sexual figures (such as in bikinis, lingerie, etc) or as housewives (subservient to men); they are never portrayed as powerful." I have to disagree with this statement because their are channels on tv that do put the women in power and one of those channels is LifeTime. Women are always the nice one's while the guys are the killers or something else that is not good.
Every women should just be herself and not worry of how others look and be happy with her self.
I definitely agree with this post. Women are constantly expected to look and be perfect, while society is a little more lenient with men. Even today, men are more likely to be hired for a job simply because they are men and are expected to be more intelligent. Society has done this to us and unfortunately, it will take a very long time to break these stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteVideo games, TV shows, and music videos all present females who wear very little clothing and are stick thin. Even dolls made for young girls are now dressed in less clothing than when we were kids. The media makes it seem like every woman should look the same and those who do not should be penalized for it.
I agree that Lifetime shows women in a positive light, however how many men actually watch that channel? It is a channel made for women because there are very few other channels that present powerful, intelligent women. Most men would never dream of watching that channel. Something definitely needs to be done to change this stereotype because women are hurting from it.
I do agree that a lot of the time, women in the media are being portrayed as sexual objects and "bimbos." However, the reason this image and stereotype came about is because women strive to fit into it. We can decide how we dress, if we want plastic surgery, and how much weight we want to lose. As long as women keep making the decision to look this way, the stereotype will stick around. Yes it is shoved in our face that women should look a certain way, but we are the ones who follow this "rule." It's not right and its not fair, but we bring it upon ourselves. I couldn't agree more that it is disgraceful to see young women strive to look this way and fit into this "gender role", but we can't just sit around waiting for it to disappear. If we as women don't want to see other ladies "depicted" this way, we need to take it into our own hands, stop portraying ourselves like this, and show other women it is ok not to conform.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that our generation of women today find themselves under alot of pressure. According to the media the ideal woman either has to have the perfect body, or show alot of sex appeal, and look the most beutiful. Even though it is difficult i believe women around the world(especially in the United States) should take a stand for themselves and not conform to what the media today portrays as to what is a the ideal woman. I believe that most media today are wrong on what a real woman is. They look only towards the physical but neglect what the woman is on the inside, what they go through, and that they really have great qualities other than the physical attributes.
ReplyDeleteFor these reasons are why men disrespect women, and do not consider them at all, other than a sexual object.
The media believes this is acceptable because it gives them more popularity and it makes them money. Just like cigarretes in the U.S, they harm people but people just cant stop buying it. This is increasing the problem that women seem to have with gender stereotypes, women like men love to follow what media does..and with a new generation of women coming up, they will just see it as normal. All it takes is one woman to stand up, and changes will occur.
I agree as well. Senior year in high school, I took a religion class called "Faith and Values in the Media," in which we discussed the way women and men were portrayed in the media. Men in advertisements are often larger, higher up in view, and in complete control of the situation. Women are more passive, allowing the man to use her in any way he wishes. Women are also lower on the page, which may indicate lower status or power. Whether the public realizes it or not, these messages being sent are intentional. They create the idea that men are superior and more powerful than women, and women have to be stick-skinny in order to be in any sort of relationship. This, however, is not reality. The body image conveyed by supermodels is unrealistic, and nearly unhealthy. Studies show that the average size of women in America today actually ranges from 8-12, rather than the zero that most people see on television. Women need to avoid succumbing to the pressure the media puts on them, making them think they need to be a tiny size or have large breasts or get plastic surgery in order to be happy. They need to find the will power and confidence that will enable them to be happy in their skin, no matter what the size.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that the media does not accurately depict the average woman in American society. I like to believe that most memebers of society are more intelligent than to believe that the women shown in magazines or television is not how women truely are. Though most people are aware of this fact, many women obsess over trying to look like that. There is so much advertisement and promotion for anything self-enhancing.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to say that the media should advestise the true, average, and healthy woman. It would be very difficult to completley erradicate the stereotyped woman we see on television. I believe it is good for women to have a goal of being healthy and being in shape. There is no problem with a woman, or man for that matter, trying to look their best. It is dangerous when that goal becomes an absolute obsession. I do believe it is dangerous when young girls see these images of girls. Because they are so young and impressionable, their true perception can easily become skewed.
The idea of beauty is unique to each person, but I believe that the media has played a significant role in molding the idea of beauty. Magazines and commercials are not the only sources to be blamed. Even our news stations add to this stereotypical perception of women. Generally, the women news anchors are younger than the men. It is rare that you see an over-weight or unfortunate looking anchor. I am aware that that sounds harsh and rude but it is true. People like to look at something (or in this case someone) who is asthetically appealing.
I could not in good conscience say that I think everyone should be happy with themselves no matter what size. I personally am self-conscious about my body to a degree. People say "it's what's on the inside that counts," while that maybe true people don't get to see "what's on the inside" at first. I believe appearance does matter and people should have goals, primarily for health reasons. The problem that we have in American society is that that goal is constantly drilled into our heads and it is deemed as the norm and striving to reach that "norm" becomes an absolute and extremely unhealthy obsession for many.
I really appreciate this post because the sexualized and subservient depiction of women saturates the media. Some people try to argue that its just the media and people don’t have to listen to or believe it, but the truth is that media has a huge influence on society and the way people think. Right now, in my politics class we are studying the role of media in the views of its audience, and its influence is dramatic.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, thankfully, we can address the issue of these disgusting video games! If women aren’t being abused or degraded, they’re shoved into impossibly scanty clothing with breast to waist ratios that would leave us falling over backwards. Who approved the distribution of a video game that allows you to beat or sell a woman? Words can’t express how truly wrong and morally void that is! It quite literally makes me nauseous. There have been confirmed reports of men re-enacting acts performed in the video game Grand Theft Auto in reality. If you think Grand Theft Auto is bad, there is something infinitely worse on the perverse video game horizon. I decided I’d see just how many people were re-enacting these disgusting acts from Grand Theft Auto and came across an article comparing GTA to a new Japanese videogame called, shockingly enough, RapeLay.
http://www.slate.com/id/2213073/
After reading this article I was shocked! The Japanese government actually allowed a videogame that’s entire premise is raping women, to be sold in their country. This videogame has been recently under question in the U.S., although software pirates have made it available online. I feel so sorry for the women of Japan that their government is this crass and unfeeling towards their sex. I am absolutely disgusted by this. The most unfortunate part of this is that it is just another example of the sexual depiction and degradation of women in the media, and will not be terminated.
Women definitely are portrayed in the media as “sex objects” and shown to be thin, therefore encouraging them to go to extremes to reach those standards. The problem I have with this argument however is that the people in MTV videos offending women are women. Many females get offended that the women get treated in that way or are dressed a certain way, but they willingly do it. They sign contracts and get paid to act in these manners. They know that they will be scantily clothed and will be dancing on poles or males, but they gave their consent. Another hypocritical action I have noticed with the “thin” figure and it being realistic is how many females played with Barbie’s throughout their life, therefore supporting it. You have surrounded yourselves with the “perfect” image and have supported it by buying items such as Barbie. There have even been studies shown that if Barbie were to be a real person, she would not be able to live due to her body dimensions. She would not be able to support herself. So why complain if you do not take actions against it? Many women know they don’t have to look a certain ay but try anyways. For who? Be yourself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of what is being said. Some of what is shown in tv, movies, video games, and newspapers is pretty degrading towards both genders, but especially women. It is pretty clear that the media definitely plays off of gender stereotypes. Sometimes I'll be watching something and I'll be completely turned off by the way women are being displayed. On the other hand, there have been times where my friends and I will be watching television and we've openly said "I wish I had her body". We all do it. There are very very few people who are completely 100% satisfied with their bodies.
ReplyDeleteI believe that exercising and cosmetics are okay. I know that there are times when I feel like I'm getting out of shape and unhealthy. Going to the gym or doing exercise videos makes me feel better about myself and like I'm doing something good for my body. I think that wearing makeup is fine and even cosmetic surgery to a certain extent as well. If there is something that a person really doesn't like about themselves then they have a right to change it. A simple nose job? An increase in cup size? why not? Not everyone can accept their bodies and if a small change will make that person happy then that is their choice.
The fact about American society--society in general, but American society specifically--is that it takes sex /far/ too seriously. The popular psyche's obsession with sex is what leads to a lot of the negative pressure put on women today. It's not the universal cause of female stereotyping--much of that isn't sexual in nature, and that must be dealt with in its own way--but much stereotyping /is/ sexual. Everything we see and hear is constantly screaming at us about sex--sex is bad, sex is good, God hates it, it's beautiful, have lots, having lots makes you a skank, being sexy is the best thing to be. It affects guys, too, but not nearly so drastically or so detrimentally. A more open and accepting attitude about sex--the attitude that it's merely an fun activity that people can enjoy together, and not horrible and forbidden /or/ some kind of unattainable holy grail--would help things on both ends of the spectrum. Women would be treated less as sexual objects because the obsession with sex would be lessened, and a woman who /did/ want to be a sexual person could do so without being stigmatized or being defined by /only/ that. On the other hand, women who /didn't/ want gender or sex to be a part of their identity wouldn't be required to--with less intense feeling about the subject, there would be less pressure to fit the mold of the "sexy woman" or to be considered somehow wrong if they did not.
ReplyDeleteThe issue of women being portrayed as subservient to men is an entirely separate one. It's interesting to note that pop culture lags behind reality somewhat in this regard--the proportion of women in powerful positions on TV, especially in short-form media like commercials and pop songs, is much less than in real life or in media that (somewhat) more closely approximates real life, like TV shows. This unrealistic portrayal, however, feeds back into the popular consciousness and serves to hold women back in real life as well.