As people were still in awe of the ability to spread news so quickly in the 1920s, women were not nearly as upset with their representation in the media back then as they are today. However, women have slowly come to realize that the way they are often portrayed in the media is sexist. Women star in television shows as cooks, caretakers, and housewives while men are depicted as the heads of the household and workplace. A more current example of how women are poorly represented in the media is how magazine covers and television commercials set up unrealistic standards for girls and create an ideal image of how they should look. Women's health magazines are supposed to lead them into a healthier and happier lifestyle, but they include unrealistic images of women with flawless faces and flat stomachs. Women are constantly calling the media sexist, stereotypical, and demeaning because of the constant emphasis on appearance and image.
Women's Health Magazine and Body Image
The photos above are all the covers of different "Women's Health Magazines." Notice how women's health has really turned into women with "perfect bodies." Putting faces to these women is unnecessary because the focus is really on the body and not the face. Women have been represented by their bodies in "Women's Health Magazine" since 2004 and this representation does not look like it will stop anytime soon.
Gender Representation in the Media
These commercials are examples of how genders are represented in the media throughout the years. People notice the exaggerated stereotypes of women as nothing but a house wife who is out to please her husband and men as heads of the household and the workplace. Women particularly are targeted by the sexism of these commercials.
Celebrities Body Shame
Above is a tweet from @theweelady who points out that although Demi Lovato tries to be a role model for young females, she hypocritically shamed Taylor Swift on twitter and called Taylor out for being "2 skinny." People often use social media to say one thing, but then do another. People are noticing this hypocrisy with celebrities and how it's much easier to do something behind a screen rather than in real life. Demi Lovato was always a celebrity who fought for women empowerment, but she got wrapped up in the stereotypical media world that she once criticized.
The Empowerment Project
We believe in the power of cinema to create social change. We have found the way to achieve that is to bring this film to communities around the country and around the world” This is a quotation from the makers of the Empowerment Project. They have created a film to combat gender stereotypes and advocate for female empowerment because they are such firm believers in the power of media and its effect on American opinions. The goal is for The Empowerment Project Tour to storm the media and represent women in a new light.
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The video clip above gives a preview of the Empowerment Project and explains its purpose. Ultimately, Sarah and Dana (the directors) rely on the dominance of American media to create change and prove that women are capable of succeeding in any occupation. All participants of The Empowerment Project see media as a powerful outlet for changing American stereotypes of women.
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Report on Sexual Behavior in the Human Female Opinions
Report on Sexual Behavior in the Human Female by Alfred C. Kinsey was harshly criticized when it came out in 1953 following the male volume that was widely accepted in 1948. People had a very negative notion about this controversial book, even though people allowed for the push for the publication of Playboy. The people in this video express their opinions about the book, most of which are against the work, the book, and the author.
Representation of Women in the Media in the 50's
Though the Sexual Revolution hadn't started, the 1950s brought on media that represents the turn towards it. The first Playboy magazine came out in 1953 which marks the beginning of a more over-sexualization of people in the media, particularly women. People were fine with the concept of this magazine; however, they got worked up over other representations of women such as the Report on Sexual Behavior in the Human Female.
Citations
Women's Health Magazine
"Women's Health Magazine." Magpile, magpile.com/
womens-health-magazine-australia/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2017.
Gender Representation Video
"Gender Representation in the Media." YouTube, 4 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/
watch?v=D_CWXOQNGIk. Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.
Tweet
Corvino, Kate. "Demi Lovato Body-Shamed Taylor Swift's Squad and Fans Are
Furious." Elite Daily, 4 Oct. 2016, www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/
celebrity/demi-lovato-body-shamed-taylor-swift/1632457. Accessed 2 Jan.
2018.
The Empowerment Project Quote from Directors
"The Empowerment Project." Empowerment Project, IndieFlix,
www.empowermentproject.com/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2017.
The Empowerment Project Preview
"The Empowerment Project Tour." YouTube, 17 Dec. 2014, www.youtube.com/
watch?v=GZTzvK_CDrA&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 3 Jan. 2018.
PlayBoy Magazine
First Playboy Magazine. Dec. 1953. Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/
08/23/playboy-first-issue_n_3803465.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.
"Women's Health Magazine." Magpile, magpile.com/
womens-health-magazine-australia/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2017.
Gender Representation Video
"Gender Representation in the Media." YouTube, 4 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/
watch?v=D_CWXOQNGIk. Accessed 26 Oct. 2017.
Tweet
Corvino, Kate. "Demi Lovato Body-Shamed Taylor Swift's Squad and Fans Are
Furious." Elite Daily, 4 Oct. 2016, www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/
celebrity/demi-lovato-body-shamed-taylor-swift/1632457. Accessed 2 Jan.
2018.
The Empowerment Project Quote from Directors
"The Empowerment Project." Empowerment Project, IndieFlix,
www.empowermentproject.com/. Accessed 14 Dec. 2017.
The Empowerment Project Preview
"The Empowerment Project Tour." YouTube, 17 Dec. 2014, www.youtube.com/
watch?v=GZTzvK_CDrA&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 3 Jan. 2018.
PlayBoy Magazine
First Playboy Magazine. Dec. 1953. Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/
08/23/playboy-first-issue_n_3803465.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.