Sure, a woman might run for presdient in 2008. We have women in the military. Med schools, and other professional school are now at least half women. But what about today's children?
It's one thing to say that pop culture has elevated the likes of Britney Spears to roles models. But, much more concerning, is the latest trend to label every positive powerful female role model as either a B%$^& or a lesbian -when they are not either. (I mean no disrespect towards lesbians. I would hope that they would be angered that their lifestyle is being used as a term of slander.)
Some examples I've seen in the papers:
Hillery, Martha Stewart, most female CEO's- B&$#@'s.
Oprah, Sec. of State Rice, women athletes -lesbians.
I hope I am wrong.
If I am wrong, tell me why. If I am right, what can we do about it?
Please, serious answers only.
2006-12-28 03:12:07 · 11 answers · asked by Janice M 2 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
that is an excellent observation, and i must whole-heartedly agree. women are seen so much as sex symbols and valued by their bodies and rarely their minds. if they are strong-minded, then they are seen exactly as you say. i find it most disappointing, yet at the same time, to some extent we must be to blame (i am a female, by the way). we allow ourselves to be put in those positions. i guess girls in rock and rap videos and porn stars need the $ and love the attention (but are they happy?), but they have fostered an attitude in the public that we're objects. i think the fast paced, angry feminist movement has died down and become a stereotype, and as a result is less effective and less influential in the minds of young females. parents shouldn't let their daughters aspire to be a sex toy, but rather an assertive and self-respecting person who is entitled to respect from others. (i'm not a feminist or a lesbian, just a woman with an attitude :)
2006-12-28 03:24:17 · answer #1 · answered by izaboe 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You are correct. Men, especially, are uncomfortable with a woman acting as aggressively as a man. And successful CEO's must be aggressive. These women are either labeled as B(*&^ or Lesbians. It's designed to put a woman in her "place."
Women are taught (still!) that it's better to be nice than it is to be right. So more often than not, when we are confronted by a woman who is aggressive or opininated, we feel hostile.
The media is STILL being run by the good ol' boy network. And sex sells. Since men (by nature) are more visual, we will probably always see more women being objectified in the media.
But one thing I noticed growing up in the 70's and 80's....it's all in your frame of reference. Shows like Charlie's Angels was empowering to me as a child since it basically showed women in powerful positions taking care of themselves and being independent. It's only as an adult that I notice that Charlie's Angels also has this huge anti-feminist overtone. The women were never in any real danger and never got their cute little outfits or hair messy. They were also, more often than not, placed in situations where they ended up wearing little or no clothing.
2006-12-28 12:48:47 · answer #2 · answered by jenn_jenn02 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pop culture is often ignorant, and actually encourages disfunction in society. Take rap for instance, everyone celebrates the degradation of women in many of the lyrics, and there is always some semi nude woman shaking her butt in these videos. The men who sing these songs are ignorant people, who just want to make money and talk trash against anyone they hate. People love their music and will emuluate them in their daily lives. So YES womens advances are being undermined by society and pop culture especially.
2006-12-28 05:58:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, this only shows how stupid the notion of role model is. Children, regardless of gender, should be encouraged to be themselves and think for themselves, not to imitate athletes, entertainers, businessmen, or, heaven forbid, politicians.
As to the "powerful role models" themselves, guess what? Most of them ARE bitches (or bastards, depending on the gender), in spite of what the sycophants say... For example, the percentage of sexual harassment lawsuits filed against women more or less precisely tracks the percentage of women in executive ranks. In other words, female executives are as likely to abuse their position as their male colleagues. Power corrupts, and it corrupts women just like it corrupts men. To get to the top (whatever the top may be), people often have to make perverse moral choices (read "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli to see why).
2006-12-28 03:31:10 · answer #4 · answered by NC 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it helps women by masking how quickly women are moving up in society.
By the time people figure out the trend is really that women are exceeding men in education and in some parts of the workforce....it could be too late to turn things around.
Women will be incharge before people figure out what's going on.
2006-12-28 08:22:25 · answer #5 · answered by CoolLuke 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes-the biggest set-back has been the portrayal of sexuality. Our foremothers fought for choice-media and society have pigeon-holed it into a one-dimensional amateur porn-stars. Instead of degrading the scurge of society, we glamourize and idolize them. What's worse, it is the look of sexuality that is being paraded-that we are to be gazed upon, not engaged. Young girls are acting and dressing provocatively with having a real understanding of what it really means. What can we do about it? We can resist buying into the degradation.
2006-12-29 19:44:49 · answer #6 · answered by nunya 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as CEO's go they are all a$$es that is what their job is.. to do what is necessary to make the shareholders money
As far as lesbians... Myself i have never had those views on women in power or women of strength.
But i do agree that many are using sex as a selling point to get where they are, actresses, singers etc etc
No idea if anythign can really be done about it right now, i think society is to blame and society will change it eventually
2006-12-28 03:22:21 · answer #7 · answered by lethander_99 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just last night I saw on regular tv., a young women, talking about some famous guy. She said every women in America was drooling at the mouth. I know how it makes me feel when I see this stuff. Mabe this will help answer your question.
2006-12-28 10:46:09 · answer #8 · answered by ohn D272727 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We call them either bit ches or lesbians because they do not act feminine and are not attractive to us men. The advances feminism have made has come with a heavy cost.
2006-12-28 04:02:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
American women have not made any advances in the past 50 years.
2006-12-28 03:20:45 · answer #10 · answered by Crackerass 2 · 1⤊ 7⤋