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How accurately are women
potrayed in media?
By Minakshi Kudalkar , FE IT
My coach said I ran like a ‘girl’. I replied,” If you ran faster, you would too”
Everyone dreams of being a leader and the key to successful leadership is influence not
authority. Media is the perfect tool to influence people and grow as an organisation. But in
todays Media landscape content is commoditized and audience is the new currency.
You could go to a film, switch on the TV, tune in to the radio, turn the pages of a magazine, or
surf online. Regardless of your choice of media, you’d have a good chance of encountering
stereotypes that perpetuate gender discrimination.
Women in all types of media tend to be thin and sexualized. They talk less than men. They have
fewer opinions. And they are far less likely, in the entertainment industry, to play roles as
leaders or professionals, or even as women who work for a living.
The way women are portrayed in magazines concludes that you have to change your looks to
earn confidence and position in this society. The main reason why these magazines are sinister
is because they use insecurity marketing. Their strategic planning effects the society’s
psychology towards women.
Women on the advertisements are a part of the company’s “Distress in a dress” which basically
is portrayal of women in emotional distress, weight issues, skin colour, etc. pushing negative
stereotypes all the time. Whether it is a seven-inch burger add with a woman’s mouth wide open
or an explicit rap music video, the way women are portrayed is ridiculous.
With changing times people have raised their voice against this issue and we do see a positive
shift today. In Britain the Advertising Standards Authority has announced it is to investigate
“negative gender stereotyping” in advertising and is commissioning research into public opinion.
As a woman, this loop of horror, the circle of shame and, zeroed in, female celebrities as
portrayed, we make sure that we laugh at it because inside us rests a pure soul that is eternally
beautiful. Feminism is about gender equality whether by being funny, angry, using satire, being
a guy or a girl, or just living your life. It is time we see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets
of opposite ideals.
“ She is both: Hellfire and holy water. And the flavour you taste depends on how you treat her”
--(Women’s week essay writing winning entry)--