The average American teenager is exposed to “ten hours and forty-five minutes of media consumption a day”; so, it is apparent the media strongly influences young minds (Newsom 2011). Media is an outlet used for people to gain access to information (Andersen 2016; Newsom 2011). Miss Representation is a documentary that shows that women are under-represented in the media in positions of power (Newsom 2011). However, we see that women are portrayed in roles such as the seductress (Andersen 2016; Newsom 2011). The media reflects that a women’s worth is strongly correlated to her beauty and not her intelligence (Newsom 2011). Regardless, of a woman’s achievement her value is still dependent on how she looks (Newsom 2011). Boys are taught at a very …show more content…
However, men are portrayed in a completely different light than women (Andersen 2016, Newsom 2011). Men are portrayed as powerful and dominant (Andersen 2016; Newsom 2011). The media obviously depicts strong gender roles and sends very powerful messages that can shape one’s thoughts regarding gender and as well as the perception of ideal body images (Andersen 2016; Kilbourne 2010; Newsom 2011). Also, media has made a tremendous impact in politics (Andersen 2016). The constant representation of women being weak and unfit has lead to discrimination essentially against electing women in powerful political positions (Andersen 2016; Dittmar 2016; Newsom 2011). “Women make up 51% of the population, however women compromise only 20% of Congress” (Newsom 2011). Gender dynamic have played a significant role in presidential outcome (Andersen 2016; Dittmar 2016). “The media is so limiting and derogatory to the most powerful women in the country” (Newsom 2011). If the media is showcasing these powerful women in a bad way, then it is apparent that the media will not take any women seriously (Newsom …show more content…
Overall, Miss Representation was an eye-opening documentary that included many facts about the consumption of media and how it impacts politics as well as ideologies. For example, the film introduced the topic and comparison of a face lift to the cost of education. This comparison should make the audience realize how much money women are willing to spend to maintain the standard beauty set by society. This documentary, however, does not focus on the impact that media has on men because there wasn’t one single fact given about men regarding their depression rates and such. However, I do think that this documentary is generally very important because it depicts that women’s voices should be heard and respected. Also, their knowledge and their achievements should be recognized. For instance, a famous scientist named Roaslind Franklin discovered that the DNA is a double helix. However, this female scientist was not acknowledged for this discovery. Instead, three male scientists received what was supposed to be her award. This is not the first female that was robbed of her recognition, however, we should be more proactive as a society to ensure other females are not stripped of theirs. Even though, Franklin was not acknowledged many professors that I have taken have explained that she was the one that discovered that DNA is a double
The documentary, “Miss Representation,” is a film about how women are perceived in the media. It is written, directed, and produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom. She is an actress and a film maker who advocates for women. In the beginning of the documentary, Newsom discusses her struggles as a young woman surrounded by the pressures of looking a certain way. This film is targeting mainly women of all age that has experienced her struggles. Jennifer Siebel Newsom effectively convinces the audience of “Miss Representation” that the media has molded women in a negative way through statistics, celebrities’ and younger generation’s testimonies, and clips from the media.
The media, through its many outlets, has a lasting effect on the values and social structure evident in modern day society. Television, in particular, has the ability to influence the social structure of society with its subjective content. As Dwight E. Brooks and Lisa P. Hébert write in their article, “GENDER, RACE, AND MEDIA REPRESENTATION”, the basis of our accepted social identities is heavily controlled by the media we consume. One of the social identities that is heavily influenced is gender: Brooks and Hébert conclude, “While sex differences are rooted in biology, how we come to understand and perform gender is based on culture” (Brooks, Hébert 297). With gender being shaped so profusely by our culture, it is important to be aware of how social identities, such as gender, are being constructed in the media.
Nettie Stevens was not credited very well for her discovery. Instead, someone else was given the credit even though Nettie had done all of the work.
Believe it or not, there are many instances in the field of science that people's work have been stolen by fellow scientists. When you hear the name Vera Rubin, what comes to mind? If the answer is nothing then that's understandable, seeing as she is one of many scientists that made significant breakthroughs, but never given the credit for. Just as Rosalind Franklin had been studying DNA structures for a portion of her life, and one of breakthrough discoveries was taken, and the credit given to men, while all she wanted was to share a fascination with her fellow scientists. The history shows that if it hadn’t been for Rosalind, then James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins might have never come to the conclusion that they did, or it would have taken them the additional number of weeks in order to discover it themselves. If it hadn’t been for women like Rosalind Franklin and Vera Rubin, science would not have been able to move forward in the ways that it did in their time.
“Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated” this seemingly simple statement is found in a letter written by Rosalind Franklin to her father. Over seventy years later an abundance of people know this to be true and plenty unknowingly use this statement to influence their education and life. During Rosalind Franklins life she underwent frequent trials and turbulence but, through further investigation into her generation it can be seen that her persistence made her the brilliant chemist that is still remembered. Franklins most recognized piece of work is her momentous contributions into understanding the structure of DNA, an impressive discovery considering she passed away at the young age of 37. When looking at the impact
Franklin does independent research and is doubted by others because of her gender, but Wilkins does not like this approach and is trying to get rid of her. Watson and Crick work together and are considered more credible.
Media is an important component of American culture, from the music people listen to the movies they watch, the media people consume can and does consistently affect their views of the world, other people, and themselves. Women can be hurt by the media, and closing in even more, women of color. Representation in media is still quite low, despite how far America has come in terms of equality. This leaves the levels of exposure to races other than white relatively low and when there is representation of other ethnicities, they are often caricatures of demeaning stereotypes. No matter if someone identifies as European American or as another ethnic identity, the European American ideals and norms affect everyone who is exposed to them (Iijima-Hall 1995:9). Consistent exposure to this style of media can be damaging to self-images of women of color and their personal perceptions of beauty, though it often manifests in different ways among different ethnic identities.
Miss Representation, a documentary film produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom released in 2011, presents a contemporary issue which is the misrepresentation of women’s portrayal in mass media. The media is powerful in shaping audience’s belief in how to be feminine. Women are expected to be beautiful, attractive, and even sexual on the media to attract audience’s attention. Also, the film points out the existence of social system in which men are considered more powerful and dominant than women. Finally, the film tries to increase the awareness of female real value including capability, educational achievement, and leadership. Consuming the media wisely to eliminate gendered stereotypes can help young women build their confidence and be successful.
Instead, women are being discriminated and treated as inferior due to the stereotypes that are portrayed in the media. The media creates and reproduces ways of seeing that at a minimum reflect and shape our culture. We can look at the media to understand more about a culture’s values and norms, if we realize the limitations of looking at the media. For example, one may ask, does the news based in the United Sates represent what the American culture is like, or only what stands out from everyday American culture? The answer to that is no. Instead, the media represents what it thinks it will be able to sell and is supported by advertisements. This includes violent acts, the sensationally and inappropriate. Jhally reminds us that “it is this male, heterosexual, pornographic imagination based on the degradation and control of women that has colonized commercial culture in general, although it is more clearly articulated in music videos” (Jhally 2007). Therefore, “media content is a symbolic rather than a literal representation of society and that to be represented in the media is in itself a form of power—social groups that are powerless can be relatively easily ignored, allowing the media to focus on the social groups that ‘really matter’” (Gerbner,
The documentary Miss Representation identifies the numerous ways women are misrepresented in the media, including in news, advertisements, movies, and television. The title Miss Representation emphasizes that the way we portray women in the media is a misrepresentation, as in it does not do women justice and oftentimes, has a negative impact on the perception of women. Frequently in the media, women lack leading roles and complexity, are held to an unrealistic standard of beauty, and are subject to objectification and beautification (Newsom, 2011). These misrepresentations lay the groundwork for gender socialization, and therefore, shape how women perceive themselves and are perceived by others.
“For my most recent book, What Will It Take to Make a Woman President?... ... middle of paper ... ... In summary, the media is using its powers to make life a bit more complex for women.
Women of power are treated very poorly. These women of power include politicians, doctors, lawyers and businesswomen. Arguably, female politicians receive the worst treatment of all. Everything they do is constantly under media scrutiny, like what they wear and what they say, much more so than their male counterparts. The difference in the number of men and women congress members is vast, almost 5 to 1. Many women shy away from the political light for these reasons. An article, “Women in Politics”, written by Kenneth Jost, he explains the feats of women in the past 100 years:
The Representation of Men and Women in the Media Men and women are both represented differently in the media these days. Then the sand was sunk. Ironically it was even represented differently in the title of this essay. Men came before women! I am writing an essay to explain how men and women are represented in the media.
An article by Christina N Baker, Images of Women’s Sexuality in Advertisements: A content Analysis of Black And White Oriented Women’s and Men’s Magazine emphasizes on how women’s are portrayed in media such as advertisements and Magazine. The author analyzes how media has a huge impact in our society today; as a result, it has an influence on race and gender role between men and women.
The media and television broadcasting of women is not all negative. But current culture is constantly taking the easy way out. It refuses to explore different ways in which women can be represented. That is why for years to come women will still be seen as motherly, passive and innocent, sex objects, or they are overlooked or seen as unimportant entities. Whether it’s motherly birds on kids TV shows or scantily clad dancers on Monday Night Football, the portrayal of women has yet to catch up with what real life women are like. There are single women, obese women, and smart women. Women who are single mom’s, lesbians, or don’t have any children at all. Women are able to do the same type of work as men without being manly. The day that women are treated as equals on television will whole new level of success for feminism.