What's this all about?

Representations of women in the media have shifted drastically over time. Or have they? Just because women are no longer being shown wearing aprons and mopping a kitchen floor does not at all mean things have improved. Studies have shown that even before the time of the 1950's housewife, women had been portrayed as helpless, hopeless romantics constantly on the prowl to find their dream man and would do anything to satisfy (in whatever terms) his needs. Today, it's prevalent in most Women's Studies courses to learn that women are still being objectified and, now, hyper-sexualized through the media.

Jean Kilbourne, social theorist and an expert at deciphering advertisement's representations of women, has even written a book "Can't Buy My Love" which openly displays the stereotypes of women that have been taken to the extreme. Her documentary, Killing us Softly, does the same, but through the use of video. These forms of media help to alleviate some of the stereotypes persuasive influence and bring the truth of the matter into the light for consumers and your average magazine reader or television viewer.

It should be said, however, that there are two sides to every story. some women find these representations (that being sexy and dominating) liberating and powerful. A majority, however, find them even more so oppressive and enforce the idea that women are sex-crazed.

Being sexy isn't a crime, and it shouldn't have to be! Just because the media is portraying women as being "sexy" doesn't mean we have a problem. The issue lies in the heart of the advertisement, film, or commercial. What is the over all message that the medium is trying to display?? Is there a need for a Maybelline advertisement promoting foundation to show a woman wearing a bra, only her face is left out of the ad? Isn't make-up, especially foundation, applied to one's face? It can boggle the mind, if you stop and think about it, how the images of women can be perceived. There are varied opinions, of course, but more and more feminists (and even NON-feminists) are starting to speak up against the ridiculous ways women are made to seem passive and oppressed in the media.

The media likes to emphasize certain parts of women's bodies, making them appear to be overtly sexual. The over all effect is younger generations of women, and even older women, feeling as if they need to live up to a certain standard and beauty type in order to be acceptable in society. It's here that we find the emeragence of eating and body disorders.

It would be wrong to place blame solely on advertising agencies and other forms of media because women are giving in to these representations which reinforce the binaries. The problem is, however, that represenations of women are usually biased and based off impossible standards. Computerized images and digital enhancements have made taking a picture far too easy. Any flaws can be fixed right on a computer screen with a click of a button and this creates problems for the real women.

The fact of the matter is that with all the changing and emerging technology, it's getting harder to decipher what's real and what's digitally enhanced. Even digital hand-held cameras have multiple settings to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. What's next?

I highly recommend that anyone even slightly interested in this topic check out Jean Kilbourne's site: www.jeankilbourne.com