FightingforFeminism

Shantazia's blog for Women in the Media!

[juliajayyy-blog]

3 Months Later, Still A Feminist!

From a previous Women’s Studies class, I was able to kick the idea that I wasn’t a feminist and learn about the progression of feminism, the different waves it has gone through, and how it is expressed today. I came into this class confident that I was a feminist and that I knew all about it. However, along the way, I realized I still had so much more to learn.

“I believe feminism is defined as equality between the sexes…that is something I support.”

I must admit that when I wrote this, I was still thinking in terms of women being seen equally in the workplace and other arenas of life. Reflecting on this “equality” aspect, though, allowed me to see how far we have to go in the world. To see the inequality that is set by the stereotypes of women and the glass ceiling placed on women in just the arena of the media is mind-blowing and has opened my eyes to the true inequality women have faced and are still facing today. I was astonished to see the hyper-sexualization on women and girls throughout movies, songs, and especially advertisements. What’s more, I have also been able to start considering the emphasis of feminism as involving both sexes in order to make the feminist ideal happen. Though I wouldn’t change the statement, I would definitely change my intention and thoughts behind it.

“Though there are differences, we are meant to complement one another, which gives us equal importance.”

When I wrote this, I was speaking of  men and women having different niches and being naturally inclined/better at certain things, mainly in regards to family life, and how that is okay. There’s nothing wrong with people serving in different roles in the home and perfectly complimenting each other to make family life work. In retrospect, I now realize that my conclusion was not a given and not valid in the context of the world we live in today. It can be true for some, but there are so many women that are taken for granted for what they do or are simply not given credit for their amazing feats. Recognition of equal importance is not so easily achieved. Just because we may be of help to one another, does not mean we are appreciated, nor does it mean we are credited the spotlight when roles may be reversed and women assume a “traditional” male-dominated role or position.

I’m still a feminist and I’m still learning, but I do think I’m a better one thanks to what I’ve learned and observed in this class.

[karmendoesfeminism]

Blog 6: Last blog!  Woohoo!

Revisit your “Am I a feminist?” essay from the beginning of the semester.

Choose two excerpts from your essay to discuss.  Would you say the same thing if you were writing this essay today?  Why? If you would change these statements, how would you change them and why?  

If you did not have the opportunity to write this essay at the beginning of the semester, then please answer the following question:  Am I a feminist?  Why or why not?

Please write 200-250 words.

Use the following tags and any other that may be appropriate:  #utk women in media  #blog 6  #feminism  

[juliajayyy-blog]

Gender-Appropriate Internet Communication?

In my personal experience, I’ve seen a pretty clear distinction of the ways in which gender plays out in online communication. Whether it be internet communication through social media or personal/ professional emails sent out, usually you can tell when a woman or man is conveying the message by how the message is worded and a lot of times by the content being addressed. Both men and women are spoofed for this particular issue. Men are portrayed as narrow-minded and short-versed while women are seen on the overly elaborate opposite end of the spectrum. Cosmopolitan, though not the most credible source, created an article entitled “8 Differences Between Men and Women Communicating Online” that is a prime example of this. In the article, there are 8 instances where men and women are trying to convey the same message. In each of them, the woman says much more and speaks in roundabout ways to get to what she’s trying to communicate. Though the article was created for women considering the magazine’s target audience, there was nothing included that expanded on the implications of such findings.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a32946/8-differences-between-men-and-women-communicating-online/

Another interesting tidbit I found was that, in terms of bonding online with the same sex, it seemed people typically played into their gender roles to make those connections. Women frequently complemented one another online under pictures regarding their looks, clothes, and cooking skills, typically using language that embraces and appreciates the femininity of other women. Men, on the other hand, stick to their roles, talking about sports and entertainment to bond with other men. Usually, when this happens, there’s still not a lot of elaborate language going on or too many wordy instances. Surely there are deviations from this, but I think online communication on a large scale makes it easier for women to embrace hyper-femininity and men to do the opposite, portraying only their masculine sides. We all know that communication missing the human face-to-face element is lacking in the ability to show the complexities of the message and the person portraying it, but I think it’s interesting that people usually only choose to communicate in the ways that will be most acceptable and gender approved to whomever it is they are addressing, allowing the creation of superficial pseudo-friendships and alter-personas that are not a direct reflection of who we really are.

In your personal experience, has your online interactions with men or women been noticeably different? If so, how?

Do you see anything wrong with this? Should these things be changed? Why or why not?

[juliajayyy-blog]

A Note to UTK from a Black Girl

As a graduating senior, I can reflect on my experiences at UT in retrospect. Something that has always bothered me on campus is the black community’s interaction within itself; I speak mainly about black women. There are only so many of us here and, of the ones present, it always felt like we were cliqued off into different groups. Sure, there were events to bridge together all races and talks of recognition of “white privilege” whenever the occasion allowed, but as a black woman at UT, I believe my experience has been quite bittersweet in regards to connecting with my black sisters.

I bring all of this up to address the theory of intersectionality. This term is a concept basically used to refer to ways in which different categories, mainly of the oppressive sense (race, class, sexuality, gender), are interlaced and how the holistic view of the categories combined makes for a better understanding of the people observed in more specific instances. This is something that needs to be considered at UT. We talk about LGBTQ+ and women, different ethnicities and religions, but it usually stops there.  We don’t pay attention to those that feel the most oppressed, the minority within the minority. Black women need to bond together on campus because of this specific experience they share. That network and sisterhood from a college bond is not something I received at UT, nor do I know many other black women on campus that can attest to the same thing. We need to have one another to talk about the particular struggles we face being black at a PWI and being female at the same time in a place where so many males try to dominate everything they possibly can. We need to know one another’s victories. We need to have that support. Not just in small groups, but on a large scale.

I say all of this to suggest UT airs for the student body the film For Colored Girls directed by Tyler Perry. It was shown a couple of years ago, but UT needs to follow up on it and have conversations about it following the showing. This movie shows the struggles of black womanhood in so many different facets. It addresses the successful black woman, the religious black woman, the young black woman who gets pregnant unexpectedly, etc. We, as black women, face a different reality from many others. That cannot be ignored. This film addresses issues that, if we haven’t at least experienced them, we probably all know someone in our lives that has. It addresses the “angry black woman” stereotypes we’ve all been subjected to, along with others. I believe it would at least spark a conversation or a thought in our minds to be there for one another – a call to try to come together. This is important to show our black women that they are not alone, nor do they have to operate accordingly. They can be complex and accepted by one another because, at the end of the day, isn’t that what we all are anyway? It’s time black women get out of the mindset of always having to fend for themselves or forever being placed only on the outskirts of everyone else. We can lift one another up. It has to start somewhere, though, UT. The movie is only one means to an end, but for the sake of all the black girls out there still trying to find their place in this life and on this campus, can we be there for them? Can we make this happen?

[karmendoesfeminism]

Blog 5: Media Recommendation

Choose a piece of media—a book, article, TV show, movie, etc.—that relates to any of the theories or themes we have discussed this semester and that you think should be read/viewed by the members of the University of Tennessee community.  What theory or theme (such as intersectional theory, queer theory, power, masculinity, media representations, media use, etc.) does this media represent?  What could the university community learn from it?  Why is this important?

Please write 250-300 words.

Use the tags #utk women in media, #blog 5, and any other appropriate tags.

[juliajayyy-blog]

#Disney Princess Probs

I must admit, one of my all-time favorite movies growing up was the Disney original, The Princess Diaries. It was so great because it entailed the typical underdog turned popular person plot as the awkward and quirky Mia Thermopolis came to find she was actually a princess and rise to fame and popularity among her peers. Kind of cheesy and typical, I know, but man was it entertaining as a kid.

In retrospect, it’s interesting to look back on the way gender was constructed in the movie. There are actually some pretty blatant gender roles and strong gender socialization at play. First off, majority of Princess Mia’s “princess training” was centered on making her beautiful, graceful, charming ̶ a real lady if you would. This all seems like a bunch of nonsense considering the fact that the main function of her title would consist of taking over and running everything as the queen of the country of Genovia, something I’m sure her looks and etiquette could only take her so far in doing. Sure Mia fought for individuality, freedom, and all that good stuff for a little while, but she ultimately conformed to the “lady” image.

Along with Mia’s limited gender expression was the fact that the movie made her male best friend and secret admirer a guy that played in a band and worked on cars ̶ how masculine. Not to mention her actual love interest was a simple-minded preppy, womanizer (total creep if I must say so myself). I guess Disney just added to the long list of what men and women should be with this one; however, I do have to note that this movie did at least make girls feel empowered. Regardless of Mia’s grandmother’s constant scrutiny to make her become a real princess, there was something admirable about seeing her grandmother run a whole country by herself. This was later even a theme passed down as Mia was able to take the throne in the sequel without having a husband to fill the role as her king. Seeing these women in these roles relayed the message of leadership, courage, strength, wisdom ̶ all things typically depicted by male heroes.  So, way to go, Disney! You kind of sort of maybe did something right.

[karmendoesfeminism]

Blog 4:  Let’s talk about TV and movies!

Choose a television show or film and discuss the ways in which gender is constructed or gender relationships are portrayed.  Do the portrayals seem limiting?  Do they challenge norms?  Do they open up new possibilities for experiencing or understanding gender?

Please write 250-200 words

Use the following tags and any others that are relevant: #utk women in media #blog 4 

[juliajayyy-blog]

Media vs. Real Life

My relationship to media is like many others’ I’m sure in that it is labeled as love/hate. I love the convenience and entertainment that media provides but hate the negative underpinnings and repercussions that it has the potential to have. Typically, I don’t consume much of television, but I do watch movies in my leisure time, use Pinterest like it’s the answer to life, and dabble in Facebook daily to see what family and friends are up to. After some time, I realized that these media outlets, in addition to music, were my limits. This is mainly because I know I can handle them without regretting it later. They offer connections, great ideas, and an opportunity to relax from the typical duties of life, which is basically all I really expect from the media nowadays.

However, I am not exempt from the media trap, especially in regards to social media. I’ve been subject to negative effects in the past, altering my view of self and others based on media. I was once obsessed with getting likes on Instagram and wanted to be in the loop of everything going on via Snapchat. Needless to say, I let these media sources go because they were occupying too much of my time and causing me to measure beauty and life against fictional realities on a very consistent basis, which isn’t healthy for anyone.

Media is no longer my standard for what I should do or who I should strive to be. It’s a great thing in moderation, but I have chosen to try to be more conscious of what I am putting into my spirit. Media isn’t representative of who I am on a deeper level and I’m okay with allowing media and reality to exist in non-overlapping areas of my life. 

[karmendoesfeminism]

Blog 3: Media Consumption

Discuss 2 or 3 examples to illustrate your relationship to media.  What is your role in media consumption or media making?  How much of who you are is measured against media examples?  How does the media fit into your life and your identity?  

Please write 250-300 words.

Use the following tags and any others that may be relevant:  #utk women in media     #blog 3     #media consumption

[juliajayyy-blog]

What about Men & Masculinity?

In this video sponsored by The Representation Project, there are examples showing the ways men have been portrayed over the last year. In the beginning, we see the typical scenes of men objectifying women and showing off their bodies as strong and fit, giving the world confirmation that the media hasn’t come extremely far in veering away from traditional “masculine roles” that have always been depicted in the media. Throughout the years, especially through the media, trends have shown that masculinity is typically depicted as a combination of exhibiting physical strength, wealth, and having a top priority for sex. We still see this same message in much of the media today; however, there is a very obvious move toward more realistic, positive portrayals of men beginning to emerge (just as in the second half of this video), which address men as sensitive, loving fathers and leaders. This is sending out a new message under the campaign The Representation Project leads under the catchphrase #BeAModelMan and #Unmasked.

 The target audience is men and women alike, helping men to redefine what it means to “be a man” and helping women to acknowledge the same thing about men and what they should look for in men to define masculinity. The message being sent is that we are making strides toward the truth of who men are and should strive to be in a holistic manner, moving away from boxing them into what we know about them via the media. It’s a very overt message that men and women should be able to grasp and it is shown in such a positive light, it’s something that would be hard to reject for any modern man or woman, especially those with families. We’re not to the finishline of truth/equality yet, but it’s a start.

What examples of gender role stereotypes, pertaining to men, have you noticed in media? 

What personal, real world experiences have you had as a man, or with men, defining masculinity? What was their standard? 

[juliajayyy-blog]

Personal Reflections of Gender Representation Influences

Thinking back to high school, though the exact details are vaguely remembered, I specifically recall battling with comparison to other girls in my school and across the city. It wasn’t extremely pressing, but it did hold some weight of importance. I remember girls gathering together in the bathroom in the mornings before the bell rang and having to rush to the one bathroom with a full length mirror before anyone else got to it so we could do a full examination of ourselves and make any last minute adjustments before school started. It’s embarrassing to think of now, but it was reality for so many of us back then.

Reflecting on those years, I remember a few women that were considered standards of beauty in pop culture, mainly because they still are now. There was always Beyonce, Rihanna, Lauren London, and Meagan Good. They were seen as effortless beauties with the faces and bodies that made men swoon. As a matter of fact, girls got particularly happy when held in comparison to these women. I remember the dimples, the plump lips and the hourglass figures ̶  all things I’m sure I’m just not naturally inclined to having but desiring. Besides just their appearances in movies and music as the ideal women of sex appeal, there was also the music that backed up the importance of women’s external appearances and sexual abilities. These examples showed all the girls that viewed such media that the most important thing a girl could invest in was her looks and that would validate your value amongst boys and girls alike. It seemed the gender expectations for teenagers were morphing into the same expectation as full grown women entertainers who capitalized off of their sex appeal. A girl had to be expected to dress well, be put together, have an equal amount of class and sex appeal, and do what women do best, flaunt her assets to get what she wants. I was one of those girls who wanted so badly to be seen as desirable, I just like to think it was more hidden than the others. It’s a sad truth, but it happened and it’s still happening to girls of every generation, starting younger and younger.

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[karmendoesfeminism]

Blog 2: Personal Reflections

When you were in high school, how did the media influence your understanding of gender? You probably watched TV and films, read books, played video games, and had interactions with other types of media that provided you with images of how men, women, and perhaps people of other gender identities were supposed to look and behave. What images had the most impact on you, and what impact did these images have? What were the gender expectations for teenagers?

Please write 250-300 words.

Use the following tags (and add as many other ones as you like):  #utk women in media     #blog 2

[mariah-bowers-blog]

What are representations of gender in media?

What does Caroline Heldman (in MissRepresentation) argue about representations of women like Laura Croft which, on the surface may appear empowering? Describe another example of this representation. 

Caroline Heldman argues that there is a problem with “the fighting fucktoy” archetype presented in popular culture.When movies and video games do present a “powerful” female hero she still is largely objectified and defined by her sex appeal. This is something you do not see with male heroes like Superman, Batman, Spiderman, The Flash etc. But it is hard to think of a female superhero that is not hyper sexualized, for example: Cat Woman, Laura Croft, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Cat Woman for instance, wears tight leather clothing and displays a lot of cleavage and leg, similar to Laura Croft.

Mariah Bowers, Selena Patel, Niema Apiat, Shantazia Jones, Quran Muhammad.

[juliajayyy-blog]

MissRepresentation: Where are We Going Wrong?

Oftentimes, media is the main culprit that perpetuates the idea that women can only rise to power or make a difference by taking advantage of their sex appeal as a means to that end. The issue is that majority of women can’t measure up to the standard of celebrity body image and sex appeal as represented in the media, leaving girls and women everywhere feeling unworthy of the spotlight that power brings and ultimately lacking the confidence that is essential for leadership. 

IS CONSTANT FOCUS ON WOMEN’S LOOKS ACTING AS A BARRIER THAT KEEPS THEM FROM REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL? 

In the field of psychology, it is asserted, according to Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs”, that until certain needs are met, people cannot ascend to the next level and reach the ideal goal of self-actualization.  

 As is shown above, below this paramount goal are two essential levels that must first be achieved- love/belonging and esteem. If the media is causing esteem issues and self-hate in women and girls by pushing them to inevitably compare them selves to the women on the big screen, there is seemingly no way we will ever be able to free our minds enough from the preoccupation of our looks to even entertain the idea that we are capable of power, strength, and influence if things remain as they are now. 

 CAN WE DISTURB THE MEDIA’S MESSAGE TO WOMEN AND GIRLS BY FOCUSING ON THE WAY WE LOVE OURSELVES? 

When considering making the sacrifice of giving up self-pity and self criticism, we create the possibility of stepping outside of the realm of selfish living and give others the opportunity to benefit from our lives. The media represents women as being the main focus of others’ pleasure, which is exactly the foundation necessary to create all kinds of toxic situations. Instead of doing what seems natural, women must step out of their comfort zones and do exactly what the media leaves out- appreciate themselves, maximize their potential, and encourage other women and girls not to be afraid to do the same. The underlying message throughout MissRepresentation is that “we cannot be what we do not see.” If we leave what women and girls are seeing up to the media, such esteem issues and psychological enslavement could only be resolved by film makers and writers by creating women protagonists that don’t fit the perfect body image/sex appeal mold that achieve heights of influence and power. However, if we take this issue into our own hands, more women must find love and belonging within themselves and realize the value and importance that lies within being a model to other girls and women who are watching and waiting for them to challenge the status quo. Then, women will see something that empowers them, and only then will other women and the generations to come be able to envision themselves with the ability to achieve power and influence as all humans have the potential and ability to do.