Media 's Portrayal Of Women

I really enjoyed watching the documentary, Miss Representation. It was very informative and eye opening. The film explores the impact that the media has on society and the misrepresentation of women. While the media can be a place to learn and stay up to date, there is also an ugly side to it. Our generation spends a huge amount of our time on our phones, computers, and watching tv so I feel like we are affected by the media the most. The media influences people at a young age impacting their views on themselves and the world around them. Girls especially get the message that their value is on how they look. The way media portrays women in movies and television over sexualizes women and dehumanizes them. This type of media can lead women to

Miss Representation conveys that media is derogative to the most powerful women in the United States. People learn more from the media than any other source because it is the message and messenger. Americans devote about 10 hours and 39 minutes daily to consuming media (Howard). The media’s misrepresentation of women in movies, television shows, and advertisements negatively shapes politics, our national discourse, children’s inquisitive minds, and ultimately society. The danger behind these stereotyped images of women is that their effect is subconscious, meaning we slowly become accustomed to a sexist portrayal of women without even immediately realizing it. To cease our unrealistic, prejudiced expectations of women, a culture change is necessary.

The misrepresentation of women in the media has been at its highest. Reality shows such as Love and Hip Hop, have degraded and exploited women where they are only seen as objects who compete over men. They are not able to have a identity that is positive. I wanted to create a platform where you can see the true side of women. Having them tell their stories and accomplishments. Where they are seen past their physical features and given a voice. The issues discussed through the interviews are also expressed through my poetry. As women they are taking their identities back and showing who they really are, regardless of how they are depicted through the media.

Many women today struggle to be what society and the media deem perfect. Soft and shiny hair is what most women work so hard every day to obtain. Taking care of their hair is not a difficult task; but, when they compare it to the fake photographs in advertisements they have started an endless journey.

My depiction of women in some of the stories showed them as weak and powerless. The women only existed to please people. The characters in the stories portrayed women as tools to use for their own convenience. The stories portray women as sexualized and used by many people. The women never speak out against any rule or regulation; instead, they nod and agree with whatever someone says. Like puppets, the women in these stories only existed for someone to enjoy physically or for them to help someone else gain status or rewards. Many of the women become abused, mentally or physically in some scenarios. I will give some examples of how women get portrayed poorly.

In addition to the unbelievably high beauty standards women are expected to achieve as a result of the media’s portrayal of women, they are also expected to create and maintain a perfect household. Interior design is often perceived by contemporary society as a feminine interest. As a result, a majority of publications dedicated to home decoration are targeted towards women. Whether or not it is directly stated, a magazine’s attempt to target a particular sex can be identified through both the subject matter and visual content. Livingetc magazine is one of six home and style magazines produced by the British company House to Home. Livingetc is described on its website as “the homes magazine for modern living,” “perfect for design conscious homeowners with inspiring ideas.” Although the magazine does not claim to be gendered, its appearance and contents, which not only discuss interior design, but also include segments on women’s fashion, cooking and travelling, are undeniably geared towards female readers.

It is strange how one director can convey two entirely different depictions of women. Due to the time period in which Hitchcock filmed Vertigo and Psycho, women had limited capability in regards to what they could do in a film. Women could not be action heroes; in fact they were often depicted as damsels in distress. The easiest answer to this sort of prejudice is that it was a reflection of the culture of the 50s and 60s. Although this is partially true, it does not excuse the fact that male directors made misogynistic choices that could have been remedied without being considered radical or societally unacceptable. The inconsistencies in Hitchcock’s portrayal of women reveals this much, as shown by a study in the narrative, mise-en-scėne, and cinematography of Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960).

In Visual media, women are commonly portrayed as sexual objects, victims, and in stereotypical gender roles. In visual media has been criticized for presenting a non realistic view of women and their actual roles in society, as it generally uses stereotypical gender roles. Women are moving their way up in society. Women have earned advanced degrees and have infiltrated careers traditionally dominated by men, because of this society has demanded that women become servants to popular images of beauty and sexuality. There is criticism against women’s increasing power in society that may serve as an explanation for the sexualization of women in media.

Nowadays the world without media is unimaginable; the media have controlled the population and it is more likely to get worse. Since children and adolescents are particularly more vulnerable to messages and images, they have been the easiest and the most affected targets. Girls are more likely to do so because of their natural instinct of vanity, Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women (“anorexia nervosa”). According to surveys, around 83% of adolescent girls read fashion magazines for an average of 4.3 hours per week, and this number is growing abruptly (Spettigue, Wendy, and Katherine A. Henderson). Magazine articles present in the society, mainly to young people, what they consider beauty and requirements to

All media, including children’s media, is telling of society’s attitudes at the time. The attitudes towards gender that manifest through female villains in children’s cartoons are what will be examined in this analysis. In text A, the trope of the female villain (Sedusa) as a lying ‘seductress’ is explored. Text B shows how the female villain Femme Fatale is portrayed as confrontational, aggressive and ‘man-hating’. Text C concerns the teenage villain Camille Leon, who is depicted as a spoiled, shallow and materialistic ‘Valley Girl’ stereotype. All of these villains are represented as having unfavourable attributes that have been unfairly ascribed to women, or attributes that are considered ‘undesirable’ in a woman– dishonest, deceitful, fake,

Media in today’s society is constantly degrading women and sending negative messages about the ways in which women should be treated; women are becoming objectified in the sense that they are seen as objects with little value. The media, which seems to endlessly show women as sexual objects, limits their potential and damages their sense of self worth.

Language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing. It is considered as an art because when used it able to help a person develop or create a certain picture in the mind. Language being an artifact of culture means that it is an interesting thing that is created by the people. It is an aspect of their way of life of the people. It also helps in development of the people as writers and intellects. As a culture it is a people’s way of life and therefore the impact it has to human beings cannot be under looked.

Gender is the psychological characteristics and social categories that are created by human culture. Doing gender is the concept that humans express their gender when they interact with one another. Messages about how a male or female is supposed to act come from many different places. Schools, parents, and friends can influence a person. Another major factor that influences millions of impressionable females and males is television. Not only does the television teach each sex how to act, it also shows how one sex should expect the other sex to act. In the current television broadcasting, stereotypical behavior goes from programming for the very small to adult audiences. In this broadcasting range,

Gender is the psychological characteristics and social categories that are created by human culture. Doing gender is the concept that humans express their gender when they interact with one another. Messages about how a male or female is supposed to act come from many different places. Schools, parents, and friends can influence a person. Another major factor that influences millions of impressionable females and males is television. Not only does the television teach each sex how to act, it also shows how one sex should expect the other sex to act. In the current television broadcasting, stereotypical behavior goes from programming for the very small to adult audiences. In this broadcasting range,

Sheryl Sandberg, an activist, once said “We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work towards a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents, and interests.” Media is easily accessible to many and is where millions look for role models. Through the media, high standards are set for women, men, and children all more than likely unattainable. Body types are knit picked along the side of what people wear. TV programs will speak about their political views, opinions, and beliefs and at this age, it’s hard to understand what all of it truly means.