Portrayal of Women

         The media, in its many forms, is a great way to stay up to date on current events around the world. However, the media is also responsible for its influence in the way women are portrayed. Society is easily influenced and the media is the greatest influencer. Women are told through the media that in order to be accepted socially, one must maintain their appearance. Women are under constant scrutiny to always look beautiful and to be thin; and if you aren’t thin enough, you aren’t attractive.  The portrayal of women in media is quite discrediting. Women have fought long and hard to have a voice, to be respected and to be considered as equals; and yet in the eyes of the media, we are no more than our physical appearance. What’s even more disheartening is that when a woman is considered “beautiful” and “intelligent,” her intelligence is overlooked because of her beauty.

            As a woman myself, and a not so little woman I might add, I do feel a constant pressure to look younger and be thinner. Most commercials are aimed at women with the next new thing in beauty products, or the next new diet fad. These same commercials feature mostly younger, thinner women and sometimes even celebrities selling the product as a way to make you want to try their products. The media has shaped the way we are supposed to look and completely overlook our brains.

            I remember my mom saying “you can only get by on your looks for so long, but your brain my dear will take you further than you ever expected.” Women have fought fiercely since the early 19^th century to be accepted as equals. Women have fought to prove that we are not just the pretty little housewives of the kitchen, but that we have brains that can be used to contribute to make our country more successful. However, the media doesn’t see women for their brains, only their beauty. Let’s take Sarah Palin for instance. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman who started her political career in 1992 earning a seat on the Wasilla City Council. From there she went on to become Mayor and eventually Governor of Alaska. Sarah was picked to be the Vice President running mate on the John McCain ticket in 2008. I think it’s safe to say, the media picked her apart with every mistake that may have been made and concentrated on her appearance. One day Sarah would be made fun of  in the media because of the way she spoke, criticized for her clothing the next day, and objectified as a sex object another day. It didn’t matter what she did, she was constantly under the eye of the media. Most of the media was negative, never concentrating on the good, positive, intelligent decision making that she had done as Governor. There are many more examples of this happening, this is just the most recent I can think of.

            The media shows you what it wants you to see. I understand that is their job. It is their job to promote all kinds of products, but being that they are highly influential they should also promote positive images for the young people of today. There should be some kind of balance. If the media insist on portraying women based on their physical appearance, they should also portray women based on their intelligence. Women are not the only ones the media targets. They portray men as the strong, masculine type, the money-makers of the family. If men don’t display this type of image then they are considered not manly enough.

            The media isn’t all bad they’re just out of balance. There are so many beautiful, intelligent women in our world, but they are short changed over their appearance. Condoleezza Rice, Hilary Clinton, and Brownie Wise are just a few that are very successful but often don’t receive the credit that’s due. Women may have fought long and hard to become accepted in a man’s world and sadly it seems we still have a ways to go.