A Feminist Analysis Of Sexism In Media
Victoria Salis
Student ID#
RTA101/Section 11: Introduction to Media Theory
Final Paper: A feminist analysis of sexism within the media and its various platforms.
02/12/14
The media is one of the most influential, powerful and cultural economic forces in today’s society. The decision of who gets to talk, what is said, who writes, and what is crucial enough to announce is usually made by people themselves. Media shapes our perception of who we are and what we are capable of. There is a large problem when it comes to representation within the media. Today we live in a world that is ethnically and racially diverse and 51% female. Yet the media and most of the platforms within remain exceedingly defined and limited to a …show more content…
It is very rare we turn on the television and see a strong, powerful woman putting a man in his place. This is not a new phenomenon, sexism in the media has been an ongoing crisis ever since the invention of media. A prime example is the music industry in the 1970’s which had perpetuated stereotypes towards women in many ways. During this time men had completely dominated over the music industry and this was making it almost impossible for women to express themselves musically. Not only were women pounded with harmful and degrading lyrics, women were also only shown in music videos as illiterate sex objects. Considering this, “Under My Thumb” written and produced by the Rolling Stones in 1971 is very demeaning in an outright obvious way. Throughout the entire song, the lyrics continue to show the disregard for the feelings of the woman that he keeps referring to. When he uses the metaphor “Under My Thumb” he is implying that he has complete control and supremacy over the female. This helps prove that the overall image of women was very stereotypical and music was only giving females a limited representation within the industry.(10) At the time, major record labels had only signed a few women’s bands. This lack of …show more content…
Olsen, Deborah. "Women and Minority Faculty Job Satisfaction." Ohio State University Press. 1 Jan. 1955. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2943892?uid=3739448&uid=2&uid=3737720&uid=4&sid=21105332426613>.
2. Sibben, John. "Media." The Exposed Problems Of Sexism In The Media. UK, 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/the-exposed-problems-of-sexism-in-the-media-media-essay.php>.
3. Thornham, Sue. "Google Books." Google Books. Edinburgh University, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://books.google.ca/books?id=JLHmYOUVJ9QC&source=gbs_navlinks_s>.
4. Kaur, Rupi. "Rupi Kaur Poems." Rupi 's Collection. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.rupikaur.com/post/78703591204/i-want-to-apologize-to-all-the-women-i-have-called>.
5. Blesing, Jo. "Image Shift." Image Shift. Jo Blesing, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.imageshift.info/blog.html>.
6. "Quotes About F." (5 Quotes). 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/f>.
7. Riley, Sarah. "Technologies of Sexiness." Adrienne Evans; Sarah Riley. Oxford University, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Student ID#
RTA101/Section 11: Introduction to Media Theory
Final Paper: A feminist analysis of sexism within the media and its various platforms.
02/12/14
The media is one of the most influential, powerful and cultural economic forces in today’s society. The decision of who gets to talk, what is said, who writes, and what is crucial enough to announce is usually made by people themselves. Media shapes our perception of who we are and what we are capable of. There is a large problem when it comes to representation within the media. Today we live in a world that is ethnically and racially diverse and 51% female. Yet the media and most of the platforms within remain exceedingly defined and limited to a …show more content…
It is very rare we turn on the television and see a strong, powerful woman putting a man in his place. This is not a new phenomenon, sexism in the media has been an ongoing crisis ever since the invention of media. A prime example is the music industry in the 1970’s which had perpetuated stereotypes towards women in many ways. During this time men had completely dominated over the music industry and this was making it almost impossible for women to express themselves musically. Not only were women pounded with harmful and degrading lyrics, women were also only shown in music videos as illiterate sex objects. Considering this, “Under My Thumb” written and produced by the Rolling Stones in 1971 is very demeaning in an outright obvious way. Throughout the entire song, the lyrics continue to show the disregard for the feelings of the woman that he keeps referring to. When he uses the metaphor “Under My Thumb” he is implying that he has complete control and supremacy over the female. This helps prove that the overall image of women was very stereotypical and music was only giving females a limited representation within the industry.(10) At the time, major record labels had only signed a few women’s bands. This lack of …show more content…
Olsen, Deborah. "Women and Minority Faculty Job Satisfaction." Ohio State University Press. 1 Jan. 1955. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2943892?uid=3739448&uid=2&uid=3737720&uid=4&sid=21105332426613>.
2. Sibben, John. "Media." The Exposed Problems Of Sexism In The Media. UK, 1 Jan. 2003. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ukessays.com/essays/media/the-exposed-problems-of-sexism-in-the-media-media-essay.php>.
3. Thornham, Sue. "Google Books." Google Books. Edinburgh University, 1 Jan. 2007. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://books.google.ca/books?id=JLHmYOUVJ9QC&source=gbs_navlinks_s>.
4. Kaur, Rupi. "Rupi Kaur Poems." Rupi 's Collection. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.rupikaur.com/post/78703591204/i-want-to-apologize-to-all-the-women-i-have-called>.
5. Blesing, Jo. "Image Shift." Image Shift. Jo Blesing, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.imageshift.info/blog.html>.
6. "Quotes About F." (5 Quotes). 1 Jan. 2000. Web. 2 Dec. 2014. <http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/f>.
7. Riley, Sarah. "Technologies of Sexiness." Adrienne Evans; Sarah Riley. Oxford University, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.