Women in mass media
Media Studies – Culminating Task: Women in the Mass Media
Women have been degraded in the mass media for decades; this has happened even with the advances in women’s rights. This trend has been seen as early as the 1950s. The mass media has still not come to the realization that today’s women have become equal to today’s men both in the workforce and at home. Women are still seen in images that are both sexist and belittling; these images show women as objects that are used to promote products. Advertisers use different codes and conventions using women in their Ads, they are highly sexualized and their looks are the main focus of the ad. It’s the 21st Century and I think it’s time for the mass media to change its image of how it portrays women.
Advertisers put men in superior roles in ads that simply portray that men are the more dominate gender. A man is usually positioned in these images like they own the woman in the ad; using this method, the advertiser objectifies the woman and she becomes more like the product. They are objectified for not only their bodies, but for parts of their bodies. They are often silenced by their hands over their mouths, passive positions, or composed as sexual objects. Women in the media are always trying to get the approval of the men in these images and are made to seem like they are slightly unintelligent than their male superior. It’s rather shocking to believe that in this day and age men are still looked at as the dominating gender; the media exposes this in many images which can be scary because 30 percent of the average person’s day is spent with media.
You can see the media’s sexist ways when even children’s products are advertised by using gender roles. Different social messages are sent to children through the media: For girls it's to be delicate, beautiful, and nurturing, while boys learn the need to be tough and athletic. As a result of this constant reinforcement of
Women have been degraded in the mass media for decades; this has happened even with the advances in women’s rights. This trend has been seen as early as the 1950s. The mass media has still not come to the realization that today’s women have become equal to today’s men both in the workforce and at home. Women are still seen in images that are both sexist and belittling; these images show women as objects that are used to promote products. Advertisers use different codes and conventions using women in their Ads, they are highly sexualized and their looks are the main focus of the ad. It’s the 21st Century and I think it’s time for the mass media to change its image of how it portrays women.
Advertisers put men in superior roles in ads that simply portray that men are the more dominate gender. A man is usually positioned in these images like they own the woman in the ad; using this method, the advertiser objectifies the woman and she becomes more like the product. They are objectified for not only their bodies, but for parts of their bodies. They are often silenced by their hands over their mouths, passive positions, or composed as sexual objects. Women in the media are always trying to get the approval of the men in these images and are made to seem like they are slightly unintelligent than their male superior. It’s rather shocking to believe that in this day and age men are still looked at as the dominating gender; the media exposes this in many images which can be scary because 30 percent of the average person’s day is spent with media.
You can see the media’s sexist ways when even children’s products are advertised by using gender roles. Different social messages are sent to children through the media: For girls it's to be delicate, beautiful, and nurturing, while boys learn the need to be tough and athletic. As a result of this constant reinforcement of