When I think of the American face in terms of prominent women, the first three that pop into my head are Hilary Clinton, Paris Hilton and Condoleezza Rice. While those three make up a very eclectic group, I believe they sum up social stereotypes of women made by the media. You have the woman who wants to wear the pants, the beautiful, dumb model and the bitchy woman who manipulated the president and cast doubt within the American public of the White House.
The media has chosen these three women to represent the majority, casting stereotypes and ill-posed photography as the way to portray these prominent women. Fortunately for all women, we do NOT fall into those three categories.
The media has done an excellent job at painting these women’s personalities. Through tabloids, blogs and satirical news sites, these women are made to look inadequate and incompetent. While they do not necessary portray the woman I would like to be in five, ten or twenty years, these women contain more depth than the media shows.
Hilary Clinton has come great distances to attain the plaque of Secretary of State. Married to former President Bill Clinton, she has stood beside him through numerous scandals, including trials that tested her role as a politician and a wife. Her 2008 run for the White House proved that the media enjoys stereotypical embellishment towards what and how a woman is supposed to act. While she is an excellent politician, she does not fit the shape of a Barbie doll, and let’s face it, who would you rather look at…Hilary Clinton or Sarah Palin?
Paris Hilton, on the other hand, could be coined a Barbie doll. The media has done an excellent job showing her in all her glorious idiocy. But in 2008, when John McCain compared Obama as a celebrity in comparison to Hilton, she took it upon herself to show McCain that he was, in fact, the old, dumb politician as she promoted and endorsed herself in a mock TV news show. Maybe she shows a little more spunk than Barbie…?
Lastly, the issue of media stereotypes has fallen to Condoleezza Rice. Rice has defied all political notions of superiority; being a black female, I would say she has done quite a bit to improve social stereotypes. Unfortunately, her association with former President Bush has set her back in social favor. The media has done an excellent job portraying her face as one in constant fervor and heated anger. Did you ever see a woman so angry??
In today’s society, the media dictates thoughts and opinions, shaping views in a little as nine second sound bytes. My advice to you is to question what you are told and to not allow social stereotypes to formulate independent thought.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d/paris-hilton-responds-to-mccain-ad-from-paris-hilton-adam-ghost-panther-mckay-and-chris-henchy
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Interesting point that you make with these three. I find it quite unfortunate that as women in politics we are pigeon holed into two categories. One based upon the way she looks and the other based upon how fierce her delivery is. I find myself wondering when we will ever overcome the stereotypical views of being a woman in politics and become respected for the intelligent policy makers that we can be. On a side note, no matter how the media spins her image, I don't think I can ever change my mind about Paris Hilton just being a ditzy socialite. Good read...
ReplyDeleteStereotypes in general are unbelieveably annoying, especially if you are being grouped into the stereotype yourself (such as being a woman). You can only truly know the harm it does on a single person, if you yourself have felt its effects.
ReplyDeleteI like how you chose the three different women to show three different stereotypes about women. The Paris Hilton example is a famous one, the dumb, blonde model has been used for jokes against women for years.
"A blonde, a brunette and a redhead are running from the cops. They hide on a potato farm. They crawl into some potato bags. The first cop pokes the bag with the brunette in it. She says, "Meow." The cop confirms that it is just a cat. The second cop pokes the bag with the redhead in it. She says, "Woof." The cop says that it is just a dog. The third cop pokes the bag with the blonde in it. She say in her sweetest voice, "Potato."
Growing up, I would just say, "I'm not blonde." And think I would get away with it that way. But in all reality, it isn't just about blondes, it's about all women.
All of the press Hillary Clinton got for running for president, as the first woman, was so disturbing to me. Everyone saying she wanted to "wear the pants" and calling her the "sensitive president" just because she was a woman and wanted to run for the highest position available in the United States. She got so much attention just because she was a female, people doubted her just on the basis that she was a woman, not on her other qualities at all.
i enjoyed your post very much :)
You had very good points and your post was very well written. I agree it is very unfortunate for women, including myself that so much of our worth or talent or abilities is so easily and frequently overlooked because people, encouraged by the media, cannot seem to get past the physical appearance to see what is deeper within. I am hopeful, but not holding my breath, that one day we will be able to look at a person, male or female, and not automatically form a decision about the type of person they are on the real inner level based entirely on physical appearance. But it is unfortunate that the media continue to support the stereotypes and continue to portray skinny attractive women and dumb bimbos and fail to show those with beauty and brains. It is now our task to refuse to continue to accept these stereotypes and show through our interest and time that we desire and demand that females be portrayed in more positive, less stereotypical images and roles.
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