Women In The Media

The responsibility of fame is overwhelming for women. Women in the media are in the position to empower women in terms of women's sexuality, discrimination and inequality. Today, feminist are still working towards certain issues such as dismantling the predisposition of being a "sex object" and unworthy of leadership positions. Fortunately,certain famous women are representing themselves and others like them in a fecund manner. However, there are women in media do not use their fame with purpose. They have a responsibility, the hidden package, to represent all women.

1. Did You Fall For The Magic Trick?

In "Women in/and Media Today", Jane Roscoe excerpt questions whether the relationship between feminism and media has really changed. Roscoe is disappointed; the young women in society today do not concern themselves with misrepresentation of women in media because they have fallen for the fallacy of gender balance created in the media. Certain representations of women have disrespectful subliminal messages. "And then you walk into a network boardroom, into a meeting where there are sixteen people around the board table -- and no females." Things have not changed. Women are still paid less than men. In an article on The New York Times, Claire Cain Miller writes about the "pay gap" between men and women. Ultimately, Roscoe forces one to open their eyes to reality, to decipher the illusion of the so called changes made for women in media. Seeing women in public positions create the illusion that there is a gender balance. Roscoe wants all the women in the media to realize that they have a responsibility to represent all women in a positive, empowering manner.

Murray, Simone, et al. "Women in/and Media Today." Hecate 28.2 (2002): 126-44. ProQuest. 1 Aug. 2014 .

http://search.proquest.com/docview/210916601/fulltextPDF?accountid=10920

2. Women And Politics Like Splitting Atoms?

The contention that women are unprepared for the political field is a close-minded assumption created by society. The research provided in "Associations between Femininity and Women's Political Behavior during Midlife" rationalize why there is a lack of women involved in politics. Elizabeth R. Cole and Natalie J. Sabik reveal that women view other women as "unfeminine" if they claim a political identity. Close-minded theories such as the role congruity theory suggest that people view political participation and femininity as being at odds. Therefore, women are judged as unsuited for leadership. Other women need to witness the presence of women in the media who are involved in politics because it will give proof that they can do it too. Women in media, in this era, who are actively involved in politics, refute prior research and theories that deny their abilities as leaders.

Cole, Elizabeth R., and Natalie J. Sabik. “Associations Between Femininity and Women's Political Behavior During Midlife" Copyright C 2010 Division 35, American Psychological Association. 0361-6843/10 (n.d.): n. pag. Web

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/cole.qsort/files/cole_sabik.pdf

3. Hillary Clinton For Office!

Karrin Vasby Anderson's feminist dissertation "Hillary Rodham Clinton as "Madonna": The Role of Metaphor and Oxymoron in Image Restoration" describes Hillary Clinton as both powerful and feminine. She took the tainted image created by her husband's scandal and produced a public image that allowed her to create her own political identity. Anderson proposes the idea that Clinton's chance at becoming the first female president is pertinent to the way she balances her desire for increased power and political agency for women. Hillary Clinton uses her position in the media with purpose; her speeches often send liberal feminist messages to her audience. For instance, she is noted for her speech at The United Nation's Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 where she exclaimed "women's rights are human rights". Hillary Clinton represents a generation of women who refuse to perish to rules set by patriarchy. Her presence in the media empowers women.

Anderson, Karrin Vasby. “Hillary Rodham Clinton as “Madonna”: the role of metaphor and oxymoron in image restoration.” Women’s Studies in Communication 25 no. 1 (2002): 1.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07491409.2002.10162439

4. Oprah As An Inspiration!

Latoya Peterson of The Guardian celebrates Oprah Winfrey. In her article, " Oprah - an American Icon", she poses a thoughtful question-" Is she [Oprah Winfrey] the personification of the American Dream...?". The obstacles that Oprah has had to overcome are remarkable. She grew up "in the newly desegregated south, without many hopes for a grand or illustrious future." Nonetheless, she is a female African American billionaire, businesswoman, humanitarian and philanthropist. She uses her position in the media with purpose; her television network empowers women. Additionally, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation has awarded grants to support the education and empowerment of women, children and families around the world. Oprah's existence counts for success for African American women all around the world. Peterson claims that Oprah Winfrey is truly an American icon. Through Oprah, African American women and girls have a goal.

Peterson, Latoya. "Oprah – an American Icon." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 20 May 2011. Web. 02 Aug. 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/20/oprah-winfrey-show-end

5. Women As ?Voluntary? Sex Objects!

Rosalind Gill's outstanding feminist piece "Empowerment/Sexism: Figuring Female Sexual Agency in Contemporary Advertising" she defines "midriff" as sensibility characterized by the specific constellation of attitudes towards the body, sexual expression and gender relations. Gill asserts that women in the media are presenting their bodies as their "key source of identity". Today, women in media seem to willingly objectifying themselves and prioritize a man's approval over self-respect. In addition, there is evidence that body-focused media leads to increase dissatisfaction among girls and women. Some women have unnecessary elective surgery to look like the women in media, supporting Gill's allegations. One is left to exam why women are causing self-objectification and wonder how much of an impact does self-objectification have on other women in the world.

Gill, Rosalind. "Empowerment/Sexism: Figuring Female Sexual Agency in Contemporary Advertising." Empowerment/Sexism: Figuring Female Sexual Agency in Contemporary Advertising. N.p., 5 Feb. 2008. Web. 02 Aug. 2014.

http://fap.sagepub.com/content/18/1/35.short?rss=1&ssource=mfr

6. Beyonce As The Prime Diva?

Beyoncé represents women's sexuality. In an article on WordPress, the writer of "Beyoncé and Feminism? I don’t think so" deems Beyoncé as just a "sex symbol". The problem is Beyoncé’s message; most of her lyrics centralize the importance of satisfying her male counterpart and being the proper eye candy. The writer makes a case that Beyoncé merely sells sex which is the point at issue for women in society today; her sexual empowerment is counterproductive towards feminine liberation. Being a girl is already a predisposition to being sexual object. There is a consensus that Beyoncé does not use her position as an African American woman and successful artist to empower other women. She never comments on key issues women face which is truly sad due to the fact that Beyoncé has such a grand vantage point for feminine controversy. Unfortunately, "Beyoncé, as an artist, is without depth."

"Beyoncé and Feminism? I Don't Think So." Sense of Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2014

http://parisianfeline.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/beyonce-and-feminism-i-dont-think-so/

7. Angelina Jolie In Action!

Angelina Jolie is a noted action actress. However, she is a prime example of a sex object in the media. Caitlin Gordon-King's unit "Why We Should Stay Away From Every Movie Angelina Jolie Has Ever Starred In" warns why we should Angelina Jolie's presence in the media is injurious to other women. She is normalizing self-objectification by acting in roles that simply display her sexiness. "There’s a high chance that self-objectification will lead to discontentment with our bodies, as we compare ourselves to Hollywood’s narrow-minded definition of ‘sexy’". Gordon-King delineates the Angelina Jolie position in the media is compelling young girls and other women to wear make-up and elect for enhancement surgeries. Furthermore, Angelina Jolie portrays the message that the only way to have power is to modify one's look to satisfy a man. Gordon-King implores, "So please, Angelina Jolie, stop killing guys with your sexy; kill them with your personality and abilities instead."

Gordon-King, Caitlin. "Why We Should Stay Away From Every Movie Angelina Jolie Has Ever Starred In | Film | Lip Magazine." Lip Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2014.

http://lipmag.com/opinion/why-we-should-stay-away-from-every-movie-angelina-jolie-has-ever-starred-in/

8. Sexuality With A Voice!

"Quare Studies, or (Almost) Everything I Know About Queer Studies I Learned from My Grandmother" by E. Patrick Johnson addresses the category of "queer" and "quare". These categories are umbrella terms for lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) of color. Queer is anybody who breaks the rules about sex and does not care about what others think; it is sexually behavior undefined. Quare is similar for people of color. LGBT women in media play on identity politics to impact other women. Johnson defines identity as being attracted to one group due to the similarities based on beliefs and sense of self. In this era, there are LGBT women in the media with ample opportunity to empower their sexuality.

Johnson, E. Patrick. "From Black Quare Studies or Almost Everything I Know about Queer Studies I Learned from My Grandmother." Callaloo 23.1, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender: Literature and Culture (2000): 120-21. Web.

https://lgbtqstudiesintro.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/quare_studies.pdf

9. Ellen DeGeneres As America's Favorite Lesbian!

Jennifer Reed's analysis of Ellen DeGeneres in "Public Lesbian Number One" carries a tone of admiration and stern empathy. Reed opens the door to Ellen DeGeneres, inviting the reader to understand why Ellen is a "likeable lesbian, [and] a relatively unique one in the politics of gay and lesbian representation." She clarifies that Ellen DeGeneres' sexuality is important due to the fact that her coming out initiated a shift in the lesbian and gay representational politics, identity and performance. Reed states that Ellen's strength is that lesbians, gays and queers admire her because she refutes any particular category; she operates as "unclassifiable". Ellen has made it clear that she is not lesbian and she is not straight. Therefore, foregrounding heterosexuality as a natural social institution. Reed thinks "the social contract and heterosexuality are two super-imposable notions." Reed's key point is that Ellen DeGeneres performs her gender without submitting to the social contract of heteronormativity, providing conversation for what it means to be a lesbian in the media.

Reed, Jennifer. "Ellen DeGeneres." Feminist Media Studies 5.1 (2005): 23-36. Web.

http://www.asu.edu/courses/fms490bh/total-readings/L-8%20Public%20Lesbian%20Number%20One.pdf

10. Laverne Cox As America's Favorite Transgender!

Jos Truitt discloses Laverne Cox's position as a transwoman of color in “Laverne Cox's actress Emmy nod puts trans people in bigots' living rooms”. In her article, she uses direct quotes from Cox which reveals her thoughts on the topic of being a role model and representing Trans woman. Laverne prefers the term "possibility model". She currently stars on Orange is the New Black, is the first transgender woman to be an Emmy nominee and the first transgender to be on the cover of Time Magazine which is a celebration for the trans community. With her position in the media, Cox has made the discrimination and violence towards the Trans community her focal point; she uses her position as a woman in the media with purpose. More specifically, Truitt clarifies that Cox represents women of color due to the fact that she feels trans women of color do not have a voice and deserve justice. She is a transwoman deeply committed to the fight for transgender liberation.

Truitt, Jos. "Laverne Cox's Actress Emmy Nod Puts Trans People in Bigots' Living Rooms." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 10 July 2014. Web. 01 Aug. 2014

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/10/laverne-cox-best-actress-emmy-nod-transgender-people