Females and the Role of Media
Welcome |
Media Portrayal of Females |
If Values are Right, What's Left? |
Colliding Feminisms |
Conclusion |
Media Portrayal of Females
Media Awareness Network (2005)
Today’s media plays a large role in the portrayal of females. Issues facing women and girls daily include body image, self identity, and role in the workplace and athletics. The media has a large impact on image and beauty of females. They impose standards that center on the body type of a model. The media pushes for weight loss, plastic surgery because age is the enemy, and lead females to feel very insecure about their bodies. These insecurities lead females to purchase beauty products, new clothing and diet aids, feeding directly to the advertisers ad campaigns. The media creates a standard that they believe all females should strive for, but in reality remains unattainable.
Magazines, movies, television shows and ads today express messages on how to physically change your appearance. Advertisers believe that thin is in and that all females, no matter what age, should work to be thin and appealing to the opposite sex. These forms of ads are destroying the self image and self confidence of females around the world. Females learn to internalize these stereotypes and begin to compare themselves to other women and compete for attention. There is also profound pressure on females to be sexually attractive at all times. Advertisements center on provocative images of women. These ads are created to attract attention. These also set the idea that in order to attract attention you need to be physically attractive, sexually desirable and overall thin. The message is clear that you will only have a boyfriend or husband if you fall into this category.
The media also plays a large role with females in the workplace and athletics. Women remain under represented in news coverage. The press continues to focus on men as experts in the workplace and in sports. Women have to fight their way into the light to be recognized. In athletics females receive less attention and are usually photographed in sexual poses or used in ads and commercials. The media feels that it is necessary to sexualize them for men, rather than focus on their accomplishments.
Younger girls are also subject to these stereotypes. Girls watch television, read magazines and watch movies that express messages of what girls should be like. There are more positive role models for young girls than before. These role models come from television shows like the Magic School Bus and Canadian Geographic for Kids. These shows feature strong female characters. However the messages being sent to young girls are mixed. We want them to be themselves and respect everyone for their uniqueness but the media encourages them to all buy certain products to improve their appearance. Young girls are being attacked with images of sexuality and stereotypical images of females. The media is altering the way these girls think of themselves.
Overall the images that females face daily are full of stereotypical portrayals of women. Females need learn to accept themselves for who they are and not change for anyone.
Being a female I am aware of the pressures that the media presents. I feel that the media focuses too much on the physical aspect of a women rather that the mental aspect. The media looks to produce scenarios where women feel down about their appearance. These women look to change and begin by buying whatever is popular or present in ads. This is what the media looks to achieve. I feel that younger girls are getting caught up in self image and the need for beauty. They cast aside their personal independence and personality to fit the ‘norm’ and look like everyone else. I believe that the media has too much effect on the lives of females today.
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Today’s media plays a large role in the portrayal of females. Issues facing women and girls daily include body image, self identity, and role in the workplace and athletics. The media has a large impact on image and beauty of females. They impose standards that center on the body type of a model. The media pushes for weight loss, plastic surgery because age is the enemy, and lead females to feel very insecure about their bodies. These insecurities lead females to purchase beauty products, new clothing and diet aids, feeding directly to the advertisers ad campaigns. The media creates a standard that they believe all females should strive for, but in reality remains unattainable.
Magazines, movies, television shows and ads today express messages on how to physically change your appearance. Advertisers believe that thin is in and that all females, no matter what age, should work to be thin and appealing to the opposite sex. These forms of ads are destroying the self image and self confidence of females around the world. Females learn to internalize these stereotypes and begin to compare themselves to other women and compete for attention. There is also profound pressure on females to be sexually attractive at all times. Advertisements center on provocative images of women. These ads are created to attract attention. These also set the idea that in order to attract attention you need to be physically attractive, sexually desirable and overall thin. The message is clear that you will only have a boyfriend or husband if you fall into this category.
The media also plays a large role with females in the workplace and athletics. Women remain under represented in news coverage. The press continues to focus on men as experts in the workplace and in sports. Women have to fight their way into the light to be recognized. In athletics females receive less attention and are usually photographed in sexual poses or used in ads and commercials. The media feels that it is necessary to sexualize them for men, rather than focus on their accomplishments.
Younger girls are also subject to these stereotypes. Girls watch television, read magazines and watch movies that express messages of what girls should be like. There are more positive role models for young girls than before. These role models come from television shows like the Magic School Bus and Canadian Geographic for Kids. These shows feature strong female characters. However the messages being sent to young girls are mixed. We want them to be themselves and respect everyone for their uniqueness but the media encourages them to all buy certain products to improve their appearance. Young girls are being attacked with images of sexuality and stereotypical images of females. The media is altering the way these girls think of themselves.
Overall the images that females face daily are full of stereotypical portrayals of women. Females need learn to accept themselves for who they are and not change for anyone.
Being a female I am aware of the pressures that the media presents. I feel that the media focuses too much on the physical aspect of a women rather that the mental aspect. The media looks to produce scenarios where women feel down about their appearance. These women look to change and begin by buying whatever is popular or present in ads. This is what the media looks to achieve. I feel that younger girls are getting caught up in self image and the need for beauty. They cast aside their personal independence and personality to fit the ‘norm’ and look like everyone else. I believe that the media has too much effect on the lives of females today.
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