This paper discusses the merits and limitations of using both fiction and non-fiction films and videos to teach issues related to gender (especially issues of appearance, dieting, aging, abuse, rape, and power relationships between the sexes) in gender communication courses (and by extension, other communication courses, such as interpersonal communication). The paper explores the benefits and problems associated with the use of controversial media in such classes, especially media texts which have generated debates about gender in the popular press. Such media texts include various feature films (e.g. Thelma and Louise, The First Wives Club, The Accused, The War of the Roses, The Color Purple, In the Company of Men, etc.), television series (e.g. Absolutely Fabulous, Roseanne, etc.), and documentary videos (e.g. Dreamworlds II and Slim Hopes, etc.). Limiting my discussion to a selected few of the above (for manageability), I explore objectives and strategies for using controversial media, including dealing with student resistance and/or emotional responses, based on my experiences in using these and other media texts in communication classes.
Jean Kilbourne’s “Two Way a Woman Can Get Hurt: Advertising and Violence” is a section of a book titled: “Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising” that was originally published in 1999. It is about the images of women that advertisements illustrate. The central claim or thesis of the document is that: “advertising helps to create a climate in which certain attitudes and values flourish and it plays a role in shaping people’s ideas”
(paraphrase). The author wants people by all genders and young children to acknowledge a right attitude towards what is shown in the advertisements so that the standards of behavior will not be influenced. As a result, it enables the negative contribution from the advertisements to be limited or eliminated.…show more content…
Accordingly, “pornography can be considered mainstream” (page 460, paragraph 1, line 5), said
the author. However, there were problems brought up since the pornography glorify the violence and crimes, and it had no difficulties in being shown in mass media. Jean Kilbourne, though, did not place all the blame on advertising when she pointed out: “Ads don’t directly cause violence, of course. But the violent images contribute to the state of terror” (page 466, paragraph 2, line 1). Such erroneous attitudes are known to be existed as: “women are valuable only as objects of men’s desire,
that real men are always aggressive, that violence is erotic, and that women who are the victims of sexual assault “ask for it”” (page 478, paragraph 5, line 2). The impact it made on women well-being is dreadful when it comes with them along their journey through life starting from being misbelieved as young to ending up with self
Related
Gender Inequality Of Women
Every day, women experience sexism whether it is on television, at work or even at home. Society sees men as biologically superior creatures compared to women. Sexism has become very common and even acceptable and this is the problem (Gill, 14). If from a young age females endure sexist remarks, they would naturally accept those remarks and easily become the victims of the patriarchal society. Another personal problem that affects women is the objectification in the media.
- 1569 Words
- 4 Pages
The Importance Of Duality In Society
Up from the time they are born, boys and girls have social norms applied to them. Society is more harsh on women than men any day. Women are not even allowed simple human rights that a man doesn’t even have to fight for. It is as if we coexist with each other on the same planet but we are indeed from two separate worlds of experience. Girls are sexualized before they even know what sexuality is, and boys are encouraged to sexualize women as soon as they reach intrest in doing so.
- 1111 Words
- 3 Pages
Dangerous Presuppositions
She claimed that there were number of contradicting myths on why women act the way that they do, how women think, and how to treat women. It is no wonder that men are confused and call women a great mystery. When men have the excuse that women are impossible to understand, it readily leads to men assuming they are unable to help women. She claimed that no matter how much experience and reality contradict any myths, men continue to cling to them and pass them on to further generations. Amazingly, this issue came to public attention even before Beauvoir wrote in it, an... ... middle of paper ... ...ed.
- 806 Words
- 2 Pages
Gender Stigma
There's a huge stigma attached to sexuality, in every meaning of the word. Whether it's what gender or genders one is attracted to, how much sex they like to have, or if they even like or WANT to have sex. Take, for instance, the preconceived notion that ALL MEN like to have sex. Or ALL MEN must always want to have sex. It's just not true and this notion does so much harm to young boys because male victims of rape by females are either too embarrassed or ashamed of the fact that they've been 'raped' because they're told their entire lives that they're supposed to want sex all the time and those who do come right out and say the words, 'A woman has raped me' are insinuated to be less of a man or even called gay (as an insult) because they didn't 'like' being raped.
- 745 Words
- 2 Pages
Women and Advertising
Sex is used to sell almost anything: from lingerie to makeup, perfume to food and household items. Advertising tells viewers that if they aren’t sexy, they are not acceptable. The female body is repeatedly objectified in advertising, and whenever a human is turned into a thing, violence is going to follow. Rapes and beatings often result from the dehumanization of women (Still Killing Us Softly, video). Advertising creates unhealthy and even dangerous stereotypes and mindsets in the people of today’s society.
- 2281 Words
- 5 Pages
- 7 Works Cited
A Cause for Concern: Objectification in Culture and Society
Well, every day we are subject to hundreds of advertisements from the radio, television, magazines, movies, and music to look a certain way to live up to certain cultural ideals. They all tell us how to look, tal... ... middle of paper ... ... wouldn’t instead view a women’s body as something to use or abuse sexually. In conclusion, the cultural trend of objectifying both men and women, but more-so women needs to end because it isn’t healthy for the adolescents and adults of our country. Not only does it cause body shame and negative health issues in both young children, adolescents, and adults, but it perpetrates a culture where rape is blamed on the victim. By not dehumanizing a body by letting all of its physical assets determine its value in our society, intelligence may become the centerfold in what our society once again tries to achieve.
- 1737 Words
- 4 Pages
Michael Kimmel's 'Masculinity As Homophobia'
So a man’s desire to fight is perceived as being the farthest thing to being seen as feminine (65). The domination of women also comes into play here. The abuse of women often times enriches the masculinity of men and sadly enough, movies represent women as knowing this for a fact. The queen is seen being raped during the movie so that the king would have a better chance standing against the council. Although she has the highest position a woman could have in the kingdom, she still feels that she must be violated so that one man could feel a stronger sense of manhood and so her husband’s story could advance.
- 825 Words
- 2 Pages
The Marginality of Women in the Media
. but the violent images contribute to the state of terror" (Kilbourne, 1999: 278). With advertising reaching millions of possible consumers every day, the need for sexual equality in commercialism becomes an even more important cause. Even though stereotyping is common does not earn it the right to be acceptable. Stereotyping causes society to make false judgments on people because of their race, ethnicity, or even sex.
- 866 Words
- 2 Pages
Laurie Mintz's A Letter To Young Sexually Active Heterosexual Women
There are no better words then the ones Laurie used in her article about this. Growing up, both from my parents and sex education classes, I thought sex was wrong, bad, and not meant for pleasure. Sexual Education classes gave me false ideas that sex would lead to nothing but rape, sexual transmitted diseases, pregnancy, or an unfulfilled future. These things were all negative and was meant to scare the directed audience of middle and high school aged girls and boys. I think it is crucial for two people who have sex, either casually or because they are in a relationship/married, need to communicate their feelings and what helps them to achieve orgasm.
- 735 Words
- 2 Pages
Mass Media is Harmful to Women
Advertisements are everywhere, found on televisions, buses, on the sides of buildings, on the Internet and in the magazines we read. Mass media affects each member of society even when they don’t realize it. Its reach is vast and its message seeps into the very fibers that are woven together to create a culture of misperceptions, mostly about women. While the media attempt to target every individual, the level of publicity is dictated by gender, and the majority of harmful messages are focused more on women. Women are often illustrated as inferior and “appear in poses that are more “canted”, more exaggerated and grotesque, more off-balance and tentative than tho... ... middle of paper ... ..., independent women, it just so happens that a sexually attractive women is socially accepted and any woman not falling in that category is not seen favorably.
- 1181 Words
- 3 Pages