The media sells us a multitude of different things, some of which cost us money, others of which cost us more important things like self-esteem. The media sells values, images, and concepts about love, sex, romance, success and possibly the most destructive, normalcy. The media our society has created attempts to fit womanhood into a tiny box that can be tied up with a pretty pink bow. The problem is the message they are selling is full of contradictions. Women are to be innocent and sexy, virginal and experienced, opinionated and submissive. And as Jean Kilbourne says, "As all American women over the age of 5 have come to find out, this is tricky." All throughout video games, advertisements, movies, and television, women are shown caught in the middle of the "good girl/bad girl" fantasy.
The interesting thing about this message is that it is nothing new. Women have had to deal with this contradiction throughout history. What has come to be known as the binary ideology concerning women gained momentum during the Middle Ages when women were taught that they were carrying the legacy of both Eve, the "seductive temptress" responsible for the unrighteousness of man, and the Virgin Mary, who has "redeemed" women and all mankind through the virgin birth of Jesus. Both of these women were used to stereotype all women of medieval times. Women as early as the 8th century were completely confused as to who they were and who they were supposed to be.
Another major problem with this image, is that most modern women do not realize they have been contained within this contradiction because it has become so ingrained into our society. Realizing this fact makes the increasing rate of depression among women in America slightly more understandable. The feminine personality traits desired by our society are the same as those listed by doctors as symptoms of the major personality disorders.
This is the very condensed version of the research I have been doing. Here are something to think about concerning the topic.
How does this contradictory view of women affect both men and women in today's culture?
Is it possible that this theory of women has helped to increase the American divorce rate?
What could be done to rework these views on women into a healthier standard?
Who does the change need to start with? Women? Men? Media?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Hopefully it has been enlightening. If you wish to know more email me at mpfeifer@milligan.edu and I can provide more information.
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12 comments:
I really enjoyed your post. It's important for women of today to hear about what is degrading them and persistently being told is wrong with them. By simply becoming aware of how the media personifies women, we take one step in the direction of freeing our minds of the world's "stereotype" of how we should look, act, love, etc... We are each individuals of importance and need to realize this. It is the same with men and I respect that you don't condemn men only as the instigators of the demeaning of women. Women as well take part. They play the roles of seductive temptresses and desire to be loved for their appearance. Women do have a choice, especially in America, to step outside of the boundaries society has limited them to and become women of worth in aspects other than pleasure.
The problem I see with all of this is not the media it’s self, but the worth me place in it. thus if we simply realize that media is nothing more than a machine doing what it was made to do, sell things, we can realize that we are the ones that are allowing it shape out thoughts and dreams. Nothing it inherently evil, the things that man does with objects is what determines the morality. it is the equivalent of a loaded gun. The trigger has to be pulled for it to fire.
Hmm...well I agree with derek for sure.
And lydia said it well...
I think that a very good start would be for women to figure out who THEY are and who they want to be, they have a choice. They need to Some how forget about the media, and the veiw of women that it portrays, and about what or who they should look and be like. I think women need to find themselves, figure out who they really are and act that way no matter what anyone thinks.
I think that really can have an effect on divorce...if you act a certain way to pick up a guy...or girl (can go both ways) and you get to know them as that person and at the same time u arnt compleatley truthfull w them or yourself. At some point down the road they will see the real you and that could cause some differnces!!
I don't know that's interesting stuff kenz...I like it!!!
This post brings up a valid point, the media does make it confusing for young impressionable minds(even adult minds) on how to act, what to say, and what to look like, tight jeans, 6 pack abs, blonde hair, expensive shoes, none of these things matter 20 years, even 1 year, down the road.
I believe that this is a similar problem for men as well. I don’t know whether I would say it is worse for men or women but I believe it is a problem none-the-less for each sex. As far as whether or not this helped to increase the divorce rate, I personally would have to say it has. As a young man, seeing ads and whatever else showing these beautiful women I think as we grow as younger boys it becomes ingrained into our self-conscious to make us almost believe only that a good girl is a “hott” girl. Therefore, as we mature depending on what values we are brought up on by our parents some men will be very vocal about what women they like versus the ones they don’t. They might prefer a skinny girl versus a fat girl, but that is conceded and in fact gets us into a whole different situation entirely.
I think that society has gone to far to be able to rework anything they do. It is more so a problem for the younger generations. We have to teach ourselves and our kids “healthier standards” in hope to make them aware and grow to be less vain then the society we live in today. By far I believe the change will and can only start with ourselves and by applying a healthier view on us and women, as I said in my previous statement we need to be able to instill a healthy view of women to our kids and do our best to get them to understand that and believe it true.
This is a shorter a more condensed version of what I could say. I could go on and on and on and into more detail, lol but I lack time. Maybe ill add more later. But here ya go!!!
The view that has been expressed by both history and media about women has set women up specifically for self distruction. It definitely affects both men and women. Women expect to be the perfect 10, manage their homes, care for their children, be involved in their communities, and have a 40+ hour career job and keep their sanity. This expection has been brought on by women wanting to be able to handle it all and by the media causing them to expect them to handle it all. It is interesting to read in your research that it is not a problem that has just happened recently but one that has been unfolding for hundreds of years. As women are still trying to figure out their place in society and how to take on their personal lives by the horns. Men then are not sure what to expect from women either and then when their "ideal" woman figure does not exist they are not sure who or what exactly they are to look for especially when media portrays the "ideal" woman like Barbie who wears a super woman cape.
The divorce rate has increased because of this I believe because we are supposed to be happy always no matter who it hurts. Society says if it isn't working it wasn't ment to be. Not stick to it, and give and take, find a way to make it work.
A change could possibly come if by some way the "real" women could be seen for who they really are and what is happening to them because of this unachievible image. I also believe that the posibility of men, women, and media working together to make this change would be the most effective. It could be the perfect storm.
I enjoyed reading your research and it caused me to consider who or what is driving me. Why do I expect the things I do from myself?
Although your article is not really an equality argument, nonetheless, it reminded me of the bumper sticker "Women who strive for equality with men lack ambition." I often tell my daughters when watching TV that how females are commonly shown on TV are not always the attributes to strive for...
John
Kenzie,
Sterotypes exist in many areas, such as gender, race, careers, etc. In my opinion, because an estimated 90 percent of people do little or no research of thier own, the media is their major source of "facts". As we know, every article published or aired is biased by the writer's on background, education, and experiences. Therefore, the media, much more so than males or females individually or as a group, impact society's ideas of what should be typical.
I have struggled with these issues my whole adult life. I agree with many of the comments the other responders have made. The contradictions do exist and seem to be affecting more and more women, as well as men. And I don't think the blame can be placed on one thing, like the media. I think there is 'peer pressure' at all age levels that contributes to the problem.
As for the causes of higher rates of divorce, could that be not only because of the changing roles of women and men, but also the role models we see all the time on TV? The whole concept of committment has evolved into something quite different from what it was a few decades ago. I don't have any answers, but it seems like it has to start with educating children from the beginning to realize their own strengths and limitations and to be happy with who they are. It seems like if they learn early how to recognize stereotypes, they can also learn to break away from them. If they learn early about the influence and power of the media, they can make wiser judgements about what to do with the information they get from the media. Parents have to be educated too, so that they can work with the schools to reverse this problem.
This is a really interesting topic, Kenzie. I enjoyed your blog very much.
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So many women believe the falsehoods they have been fed re: image. It is shame. Reminds me of the a line i once read..."be yourself...you are the best one for the job. No one else can do it better." Forget the other crap that media feeds us.......it is a waste of a life to take it to heart that women must "measure up" to a commercial, to digitally removed wrinkles and lumps of models on magazine pages, and #10s.
I truly enjoyed reading your blog and still have not put my mind around how I am going to comment. It brings so many thoughts. The one I think of comes from the book Captivity by Stasi Elderage about how Satan wants to attack the beauty women gave, because he wants to be the only beautiful one. How women will forever be attack and preyed upon to destory the beauty God created. Satan uses the media, culture, men and other outside resources to do this. I believe the truth of how God sees women needs to be spoken more in the church and between women. To proclaim God's glory in His creation. I hope this makes sense. Thanks for asking me to participate! I absolutely love your blog and your honesty.
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