In our time, the thing that holds the most power all over the world is the media. No one lives through one day, where they haven’t had some connection to the Internet, television, newspaper, billboards or anything else that has been made to advertise a specific product.
However, what we don’t realise, is the negative effect the media holds. We haven’t yet mastered control over the media.
The effect the media has on viewers is outstanding. If the media is the most influential thing in the world, then shouldn’t it be sending out positive messages? Messages that would create a better world? Ideally, you’d think that was the purpose of the media. You’d think that since we are exposed to the media from such a young age, it should have a positive impact, not a negative one.
Miss Universe, Beauty and the Geek, Two and a Half Men, The Real Housewives. What do all of these television programs have in common? They are all degrading to women, are yet incredibly popular shows. I’m sure when you watch such programs as these you probably don’t watch it with a critical view — they’re purely for entertainment, and it’s all fake – it’s just made that way for television, so it’s funny. No harm done, right?
Wrong. The effects of the media go unnoticed which is what makes it all the more harmful. The most dominant effect the media has is on women’s rights and how women are viewed. You hardly ever see strong, independent, smart, happy women as the lead role of a television program. Instead, you see sexualised, dumb, “love-stricken” and hopeless women, as though that’s the only way a woman can be.
Children start watching television from the time they are born; sure, they might not understand what they are watching – but eventually they will succumb to its messages. When they are at the age where they can understand what they are watching, it just gets all the more worse.
Miss Representation is a documentary about the controversial misrepresentation of women in the media.
Miss Representation documentary cover (Source: Miss Representation)
I am an avid watcher of television, and this documentary just helped open my eyes to what I already knew. I was always one of those people who would watch a show, or read an article and know, deep down, that I knew something was wrong with it — but nonetheless I continued watching or reading, because after all – it’s on a highly publicised form of media.
However, this documentary draws light to the fact that just because some things are seen as the “norm,” doesn’t mean it’s right. It proves just how much of a negative influence the media has on women and how we need to help raise awareness of the negative effects it brings.
Women learn from a young age that it’s all about how we look, and that constitutes the way men view us. The media creates unhealthy cycles that continually draw attention to the patriarchal domination of the world we live in.
Women are statistically the most prominent viewers of television, yet the programs we watch are most notably made to suit men’s interest and satisfaction. Stereotypes about women are created through these programs, making women feel as if we need to fit into these stereotypes of women that we see.
Women are put up against an impossible standard in the media and this leaves women with the feelings of not being good enough. This alone can lead to serious mental and physical health issues among women, particularly teenage girls. Over the years, there has been a rise in eating disorders, depression, self-harm and other forms of mental disorders in female adolescents. Most always, the cause of this is the constant pressure of the media.
There are many forms of magazines that are aimed toward women, and just with a quick Google search a whole list of them will show up. Much to my dismay, some of the titles consist of Good Housekeeping and Home Monthly. Now, why would these magazines be considered “American women’s magazines”?
I know I certainly wouldn’t want to read about “Good Housekeeping” or what it means to have the “American Home.” And how come, when I search for a list of American men’s magazines, none of those “home” magazines show up? Surely men should also know about “Good Housekeeping,” or am I wrong because women’s rightful place is in the home? These magazines re-inforce the idea that only women need to know how to cook, clean, and look after children; in short, only women need to know how to have the “ideal American family.”
I’m sorry if my bleak sarcasm is seen as too much, but I just don’t see the logic in having magazines that further degrade the power that women hold.
The most common magazines for young women and girls are titles such as Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Seventeen, all of which emphasize negative messages toward women. All of these magazines teach young women and girls to have an “amazing body,” or to “get the perfect guy,” and wear the “10 hottest fashion trends.”
None of these magazines bring awareness to the courageous, talented, and smart women in the world who have accomplished amazing things. Instead, they draw attention to models that have an impossible figure to obtain, to performers who roam around in skimpy body suits and dance submissively with men, and to getting “guys to notice you.” How can this have a positive impact on young women and girls?
Ms. Magazine Cover – 40th Anniversary Edition.
(source: http://www.msmagazine.com/ )
There is one magazine, however, that has achieved greatness, and is using media as a platform for building awareness and knowledge. Ms. Magazine is a women’s (and men’s) magazine focusing on women’s issues around the world. It’s informative and draws attention to things that are important and to people who deserve attention.
The issues they write about aren’t “light” and “fluffy” but are hard-hitting and informative. One particular article that was written in the 40th anniversary issue titled, “Behind Closed Doors,” is about domestic violence in China. Written by Elyse Ribbons, the article starts with the shocking line: “Wives – if you go three days without hitting them, you’ll go crazy.”
Ribbons discusses the lack of knowledge that surrounds domestic violence in China and how, “when asked, many rural women say they’ve never been victims of domestic violence, but yes, of course, their husbands hit them now and then.”
Another article in the Spring/Summer edition of Ms. Magazine focuses on women’s reproductive rights, titled “Fighting the War on Women” by Beth Baker. The article goes into detail about how the healthcare system belittles and humiliates women who seek an abortion. It also explores women’s simple need for contraceptives.
These articles are informative and most importantly, not degrading to women.
The success of Ms. Magazine is most notable due to its founder: Gloria Steinem. Steinem is an amazing feminist activist who has brought attention to many issues regarding women’s rights. However, mainstream media knows her for her “good looks” and she knows this too, and it annoys her. Why is it that when a woman is seen with power, she is always reduced to her appearance?
When a man is seen in power we don’t judge the suit he decides to wear, or whether he is married or not. We don’t care because he’s doing something important such as being a political leader, so why isn’t it the same for women?
As stated in the documentary Miss Representation, two successful women are always pitted against each other, whereas the same doesn’t happen to men. The more power women gain, the more backlash there is. A woman who is strong and powerful is seen as a “bitch.”
The media has the potential to have so much positive influence in the world, but in the words of Carol Jenkins:“We are a nation of teenage boys,” and until we can overcome such a thing, women will continue to be depicted in juvenile and degrading ways.
In a film about Gloria Steinem, Gloria: In Her Own Words, I learned that ”women are 51% of the world’s population, making women the oppressed majority.” We have the numbers, so all we need is for women to start taking control and gaining more power in the government and in the entertainment and media industry. If women can have an influence in these arenas, we will surely be on the right path toward having women’s equality become a reality.
It won’t be easy — but when has anything been easy regarding women’s equality?
