Gender Inequality

Gender inequality exists between men and women in many ways. In daily life, women are subjected to a barrage of gender discrimination from family, friends, academia, religious institutions, and the like, but the media serves up the strongest attack on women. Unfortunately, female politicians across party lines are not exempt from these vicious media attacks. As is typical of women running for political office, Hillary Clinton received negative one-sided coverage, or no coverage at all, as she was an individual who existed only in comparison to Barack Obama, and not as a separate, independent, and intelligent woman capable of much more than her subsequent State Department appointment by the President. Clinton, in this election, will always be viewed as merely “likeable enough” (quote attributed to Obama, Wakeman, J. 2008). This paper will discuss the media’s obsession with Clinton’s marriage coupled with how deep disrespect of her only exacerbated negative media coverage when referring to her in the public political sphere. Media does this by painting a picture of a weak, dependant , flighty woman seeking political office, manipulating her position with her ready pool of emotions or anger. Clinton attempted to overcome such media attacks, and the grace with which she handled the negative media attention and her subsequent loss led her to being the potential 2016 presidential candidate.
Gender bias exists all over, but persists most strongly in media. Media, no matter what form, represents the sexes, in mostly unrealistic, stereotypical and limiting ways (Wood, 1989). Exposure to the constant negative stream of sexism the media provides, vastly affects the public’s perception of women and their role in society. It is no secret that women are depicted as passive, dependent and weak beings in the media. And constant exposure to these ideals then make it a shock when women break through these stereotypes to explore the more “masculine side” of society (McSweeny,