7 Reasons for the Media Discrimination against Women ...

By Kelly

7 Reasons for the Media Discrimination against Women ...

As women achieve more and more as a whole, it becomes more apparent that the media has not yet caught up and there is still media discrimination against women. While the media, too, has made great strides in the past in its representation of women, there is still a lot of room for improvement. The images that we see in the media, as much as we don’t want to believe it, affect us. Once we combat these reasons for media discrimination against women, can we see accurate representations of us in the media.

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1

Behind the Scenes

It is no wonder there is so much media discrimination against women when the majority of executives behind our favorite movies and shows are men. They are the ones making the decisions on how women will be portrayed, so it is no wonder that they portray women in the way men want to view women. When more women will be the ones creating the characters we view, women in media will be given a new light and perspective that represents reality.

2

Photoshop

As sad as it is, advertisements are meant to sell a product, and sometimes they think they need a stick skinny model to do that. When you have tools like Photoshop to instantly create a flawless model, of course they are going to use it. As much as we all hate seeing our favorite celebrities Photoshopped into goddesses, if we keep buying into these advertisements, Photoshop will continue to be used.

3

Double Standards

If a man stands his ground, he is showing perseverance. When a woman stands her ground, she is a bitch. This is most evident when female politicians are labeled “bitches” “stubborn” and “crazy” just for supporting their opinions in the same manner as their male counterparts. We give no thought to the double standards that surround gender and how they can affect the way media portrays women. If a woman and a man act the same way, it can be perceived in two very different manners.

4

Sex Appeal

Sex appeal has been a huge part of media discrimination against women for years. You can even tell just by the women that are most featured in the media. It is always tall, beautiful, skinny women who show off their bodies. In almost every role a women has in the media, she is somehow connected to sex. Even the powerful women we look up to, they sometimes become either an object of desire or use sex as a means to get what they want. The media needs to start creating female roles where sex is not even an object in the story line.

5

Celebrities

With artists like Rihanna and Miley Cyrus half naked up on stage dancing like strippers, it is no wonder images like this are scattered across our media. Most of the country knows these celebrities and some even look up to them. The media gives us what we want and apparently what we want is girls who act trashy and dress half naked up on stage. If we start supporting women who act appropriately, we will start to see less and less of celebrities who want to shock their audience.

Famous Quotes

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

Albert Schweitzer
6

The Audience

When audience members give feedback about certain characters, TV shows, and movies, execs listen to that feedback. Characters like Skyler from Breaking Bad or Katniss from The Hunger Games were criticized on everything from their weight to their personality. When a studio gets backlash from creating depth to a character or casting a women who is not a size 0, they will refrain from it in the future to avoid the backlash.

7

Other Women

When did it become okay for women to start ganging up on other women? Even other women in the media have to comment on the weight, appearance, and personality of other women in the media. As a group, women need to stand up and support one another and stop bringing each other down. That is the number one way to end the media’s discrimination against women.

Women have made huge steps throughout history, but it is clear that the media does not accurately represent women across the nation. There is still much to be done to combat media discrimination against women, but knowing the reasons for it is the first step. What did you think of these reasons for media discrimination against women? What are some other reasons the media discriminates against women? Do you think the media has made improvements in its portrayal of women in the past few years?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

@kendra while I agree with everything you said, it's different for people who are considered role models especially for younger girls who will tend to imitate the people they look up to. I think miley Cyrus is just trying to break away from that Hannah Montana Disney channel girl and even though its her right to do that and be true to herself, when she has fans in such a young age group she still should think about her actions and show more self respect. It's not like she can't be happy without doing raunchy things on stage in order to make headlines.

I believe that until women do not become awake, they will still have fun when called hottie.. Men tries to reach the Mass media, and most of them are uneducated men that only perceives women as objects... We need gather intellectual women and find ways to awake other women in order to act together for gender equality and that is not only obtained by a mini dress ... But by Brains and Justice... We can do it...

For centuries women have been perceived as the start of all evil and negativity even before mass media. We see it in the Bible with Eve eating the forbidden fruit and starting the beginning of sin. We also see it in Greek mythology when Pandora opens the box and is responsible for releasing all of the evil into the world. Even in the Chinese culture, yin and yang where yin is feminine and symbolizes dark, cold, and passive- while yang is masculine and represents heaven, light and peace. As women, we should stick together and be strong to uplift one another. Afterall, it is our bodies that support life... it doesn't get anymore beautiful than that.

^I agree! Not to mention every photograph attached to these articles include a drop dead gorgeous super thin woman. I understand you guys are trying to promote a healthy lifestyle, but how about a picture of a girl who isnt so flawless... maybe even with a little more meat on her bones. You have a diverse audience. How about having a photos of women we can all relate to once in awhile.

this is exactly what I detest about the world!

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