Sunday, February 22, 2009
Media Images and Sterotypes
Everyday we are surrounded by media images that portrays all sorts of sterotypes. Ecspecially the sterotypes of women and men. From magazines to billboards, they have pictures of gorgeous looking women who most likely don't exist. They make this girls pretty, skinny, flawless skin and just perfect. But really who is perfect? From day one of our society, women was seen as the mother nature. We nourish and take care of our kids. That's our "duty". No no no, I say. It's only our "duty" because society, the culture, had made it that way. What if from day one, instead of the women taking care of the kids, but the dad? How different would it be today? Women is always seen as the weak one, the one that has a heart and shows emotions? What's so wrong with showing emotions? It doesn't make us a baby or weak? It says we have feelings and a heart that pumps. I'm not saying guys don't because they do, but media and steroptypes was always the guys would hide their feelings be strong. Then when a girl trys to be strong, we are called a boy. Or when a boy shows emotions, they are called gay or baby or other not nice stuff. Kids portrays these sterotypes quite well; it's not like we do it purposely too, but it just happens unconciously. For an example, I know one of my guy friends are having girl problems. He ask his guy friends for some advice and they go, Man up. Be a man. What exactly is being a man? Not showing you care? Being a dead robot? Come on, even a robot has emotions. These sterotypes and media images distorts the true perspective of things and people. These sterotypes sometimes are very dangerous. Girls out there who try to be this skinny and starve themselves. It's super unhealthy, and they could die. We can't get rid of steroptypes, but we can tone down the media images and how women or men "should" be.
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I agree with what you wrote in your article but do you have any ideas how we can "tone down" the media's use of stereotypes? I think that the media is in too far to be able to self-regulate now. Maybe we could ban the use of airbrushing and other similar devices to make a person more visually appealing in magazines or commercials. Do you have any ideas?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Kim! I think these girls being portrayed in the media are so detrimental to our society. These images aren't even real and a lot of people don't know that. Girls try to copy and live up to these fake images and are only being set up for failure.
ReplyDeletePaulette, I definitely think there should be some regulations, but yeha what you said is probabaly true. The media is in far too deep to self regulate. Myabe government interference? Who knows. That most likely will not work out though because we all know, everybody dislikes governnment interference. Banning airbrushing sounds like a good idea, but I don't know. I think the Media will do anything just to sell their product.
ReplyDeleteATTA GIRL! You are exactly on the right track. I agree with you that media is portraying stereotype images to consumers without us knowing. Media holds the power to control the direction of what we see and where we want to go with it.
ReplyDeleteI like how you were realistic with your idea that we cannot completely get rid of stereotypes. I like how you proposed the idea to lessen the media images of frail, skinny, limp girls that are what girls are supposed to look like or any other false image! Kimthoa you're so smart. =)
ReplyDeleteNo, Kim...robots DO NOT have emotions...that's what makes them robots.
ReplyDeleteAnyway...if all the ladies out there realize that they media is telling them they have to be skinny and have to look beautiful, why do they wear makeup? Most of you ladies get up every morning, put on makeup, and put on "cute outfits". It seems like you're playing along with the stereotypes, but saying they're wrong at the same time. It seems odd to me.
Nic, I agree with you, but at the same time I don't. There are differences between girls who tries to be what the media wants them to be and tries to looks cute and pretty for others and the other type of girls who gets up everyday to put on make up and look cute for themselves. To make them selves feel better. They aren't doing it because media told them to. They do it because they want to. It is what they value. There is a huge gap between that. I can't say media doesn't influence them, but it't not as big of an impact such as girls to literally strave themselves and have a self esteem of -500. After all, girls are girls, they like to have a little beauty in their lives. Nothing wrong with it unless its for the wrong reasons of course.
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