Media Bias on Women’s Issues Detecting bias in news media is a challenge that every person who watches, reads, or listens to the news should accept. Subtle changes in the details of a story can change the entire focus of an event and affect all members of the audience. Applying the gender-based critique analysis process to the media coverage of the 2004 March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C. provides an excellent exercise in identifying news bias. The article, “Muting the Women’s March: Media Lose Focus When Women Protest in Washington” by Julie Hollar provides the background for the following information. Source of the Bias The source of the bias that has been identified in the news reporting at the time is sexism based on political and cultural norms that have been in place since before women earned the right to vote in the United States. Women who appear in the news and hold any power, whether real or imaginary, are denigrated and portrayed as unpleasant and potentially man-hating (Schnall, 2014). To that end, the male dominated news outlets reported many slightly altered “facts” regarding the march including ignoring the actual message of the march, the number of attendees, and playing up the celebrity attendees to distract audience members from the real facts of the story (Hollar, 2004). These tactics simply reflect a narrative in a misogynistic society regarding women and their issues (O’Neill, 2014). The March for Women’s Lives was effectively locked out of mainstream media news in any volume. Characteristics That Show Bias Identifying characteristics that show examples of the bias by news media towards the women’s march begin with the simple count of the number of attendees at the event. The downplaying of the e... ... middle of paper ... ...ples of a similar event illustrate the gender-based critique concept of bias and show that women still face discrimination in the media on issues that are critical to their wellbeing. Works Cited Hollar, J. (2004). Muting the women’s march: Media lose focus when women protest in Washington. Retrieved from fair.org/extra-online-articles/muting-the-womens-march/ McQuail, D. (2010). McQuail’s mass communication theory (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publishing, Inc. O’Neill, T. (2013). Sexist, racist attitudes entrenched in society erode women’s dignity, humanity and safety. Retrieved from now.org/issues/media/031413sexistracistculture.html Schnall, M. (2014). Controversial Hillary cover of TIME illuminates sexism in the media. Retrieved from www.huffingtonpost.com/mariann-schnall/controversial-hillary-cover-of-time-illuminates-sexism-in-the-media_b_4619691.html
As many of these issues are addressed daily, we have to take into consideration that a lot of these claims can be considered ethical in reasoning. In this instance, Jill Filipovic uses rational arguments to provide examples and studies to build a case that women are not just “playing the women card” but that there are real issues that they face simply because of their gender. Even though there are weaknesses within the evidence and claims being made, Filipovic does not violate any values or falsely misleads her audience. There are no signs of Filipovic attempting to prevent or silence the voices of the other side of the argument. Nor does Filipovic use her article to relay emotional stories of women being discriminated against causing her audience to be overwhelmed, causing them to loose sign in the true issue at hand. It seems that her purpose is to inform the readers in hopes that it will bring about change or awareness. Finally, Filipovic does not, in any way, attack any individuals or groups of people. She does dress the topic of discrimination between men and women but the topic is never addressed
Sexism is a highly talked about issue read about online, seen in the news, and experienced in the day to day lives of many. The importance of this issue can be found in many writings. Authors such as Sandra Cisneros, Linda Hasselstrom, and Judy Brady have all discussed the topic of sexism in writings and how they affected their lives. Although each writer addresses the issue of sexism, each author confronts a different type of sexism; the kind we are born into, the kind we learn growing up, and the kind that is accepted by society at the end of the day.
In Congress only 2 percent of members have been women in 1789. That is severely low number and part of the reason why this is so low is due to the media’s and society’s treatment of powerful women. The media is especially savage to women with their criticisms, but they are often criticism not of the policies but of their outfits and hair. The media teaches society that it is more important to focus on aa women’s pantsuit than her policies. The can be disparaging to any women wanting to run for politics. In the film they show many clips of newscasters or radio host taking about women; they comment on their outfits, their hair, their hormones, they call them sluts, and whores, they attack them. It was unbearable to watch these women who have worked so hard to become powerful women being torn down for their hair choice for the day. Its also hurts voter’s confidence in women in that “sexist media coverage results in drastic decrease of voter confidence in women candidates” (Larris, Maggio).
This project will use a feminist media analysis of mainstream newspapers to explore the discourse around the ideology of sexual assault and women protesting in public space. I argue that the coverage of sexual assaults during Occupy Wall Street used a “blame the victim” narrative to link the participation of women protesting in public space to gender based violence. Feminist researc...
Racism, national debt, sexism, and climate change are all issues the nation is facing without any luck at finding a solution or to minimize the situation. In everyday bases women face sexism in their workplace and in the educational system. In August 2, 2013; Melissa Nelson was fired because her boss found her very attractive and a threat to his marriage. Debrahlee Lorenzana in 2010 was suing Citibank because she too was fired for being too attractive after getting breast implants. This is outrageous that women get treated or even fired for simply being attractive; men aren’t getting fired for being too attractive and this is sexism. Sexism is an issue in our society influenced by media, likewise to the essay
...only accepted stereotypes are not based in reality at all, and that these stereotypes are harmful to everyone, not just the victims of being typecast. This conclusion is correct in all senses. Judy Mann’s book shows that the only real difference between men and women are their reproductive organs (24). Many professionals support this fact, but not society. Bernard Lefkowitz’s retelling of what happened to the young girl in Glen Ridge, New Jersey shows that believing that women are inferior can have terrifying repercussions. Society’s perception of people and the practice of labeling based on gender must be eliminated in order for women and men to live equally. These books simply help to make more people aware of the problem, which is only part of the solution.
Gender inequality is defined as “unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on their gender”. In our society there are a plethora of gender inequality related issues, and it is vastly important that these issues are brought to light, and ultimately resolved. In society today, the feminism movement is at an all-time high while lots of gender oriented issues are being questioned and analyzed. The portrayal of women in the media is a major issue in todays world. Various issues such as female athletes not being adequately compensated for their efforts, the media portraying a master image for all females to meet, as well as slut shaming are all vast issues in todays world that must be acknowledged. However, contrary to popular belief,
...me a Long Way, Baby? Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Sexism in 2008 Campaign Coverage.” Communication Studies. 2009. 60(4): 326-343.
Pesta, Abigail. "Men Rule Media Coverage of Women’s News." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 31 May 2012. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
In "Where the girls are: Growing Up Female With the Mass Media," Susan Douglas analyses the effects of mass media on women of the nineteen fifties, and more importantly on the teenage girls of the baby boom era. Douglas explains why women have been torn in conflicting directions and are still struggling today to identify themselves and their roles. Douglas recounts and dissects the ambiguous messages imprinted on the feminine psyche via the media. Douglas maintains that feminism is a direct result of the realization that mass media is a deliberate and calculated aggression against women. While the media seemingly begins to acknowledge the power of women, it purposely sets out to redefine women and the qualities by which they should define themselves. The contradictory messages received by women leave women not only in a love/hate relationship with the media, but also in a love/hate relationship with themselves.
Baran, Stanley & Davis, Dennis. (2009) Introduction to Mass Communication Theory: Critical Theory . Massachusetts: Cengage Learning
On a daily basis people are exposed to some sort of misrepresentation of gender; in the things individuals watch, and often the things that are purchased. Women are often the main target of this misrepresentation. “Women still experience actual prejudice and discrimination in terms of unequal treatment, unequal pay, and unequal value in real life, then so too do these themes continue to occur in media portraits.”(Byerly, Carolyn, Ross 35) The media has become so perverted, in especially the way it represents women, that a females can be handled and controlled by men, the individual man may not personally feel this way, but that is how men are characterized in American media. Some may say it doesn’t matter because media isn’t real life, but people are influenced by everything around them, surroundings that are part of daily routine start to change an individual’s perspective.
Gender stereotypes and biasses exist in media. In most situations, women are associated with more negative stereotypes and their portrayals can “undermine their presence by being “hyper-attractive” or “hyper-sexual” and/or passive” (Smith, 2008). In The Wolf of Wall Street women are objectified. They are treated
3) Joshi, S.T. In Her Place: A Documentary History of Prejudice against Women. Amherst: Prometheus Books. 2006.
Myers, Pamela E. Oliver & Daniel J. 1999. How Events Enterthe Public Sphere: Conflict, Location, and Sponsorship in Local Newspaper Coverage of Public Event. Illinois : The Universityu of Chicago, 1999.