Comments on: The media are funhouse mirrors—female television protagonists, it turns out, don’t reflect reality. http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/ Tue, 21 May 2013 13:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: ariah http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-795 ariah Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:12 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-795 (disclaimer: I'm not a women, nor do I watch television) I think the post makes an interesting point, but I think we can separate the two pieces. 1) I think it's great that women are being portrayed as successful protagonist, "ahead of the curve" so to speak, in the media. This provides an example to young girls and all those exposed to the media about the reality of what they should be able to achieve. We are fighting for the exact same thing in the media's portrayal of minority groups. 2) The degrading objectification of women is a disgusting thing that continues to need to be attacked, regardless of the excuse. Douglas might be right that the excuse is women have 'made it' so it's okay to continue objectifying in other areas, but that excuse is BS and we can all see that quite clearly. So, I'm all for successful female protagonist, young girls and boys need to see that, and I'll continue to fight against the objectification. (disclaimer: I’m not a women, nor do I watch television)

I think the post makes an interesting point, but I think we can separate the two pieces.
1) I think it’s great that women are being portrayed as successful protagonist, “ahead of the curve” so to speak, in the media. This provides an example to young girls and all those exposed to the media about the reality of what they should be able to achieve. We are fighting for the exact same thing in the media’s portrayal of minority groups.

2) The degrading objectification of women is a disgusting thing that continues to need to be attacked, regardless of the excuse. Douglas might be right that the excuse is women have ‘made it’ so it’s okay to continue objectifying in other areas, but that excuse is BS and we can all see that quite clearly.

So, I’m all for successful female protagonist, young girls and boys need to see that, and I’ll continue to fight against the objectification.

]]> By: The Round Up – New Feminist Links « Nice Work If You Can Get It http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-794 The Round Up – New Feminist Links « Nice Work If You Can Get It Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:33:13 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-794 [...] friends at About-Face have a really interesting discussion going about female protagonists on TV shows? Is it good to show so many successful women in positions of power? Or does it undermine [...] [...] friends at About-Face have a really interesting discussion going about female protagonists on TV shows? Is it good to show so many successful women in positions of power? Or does it undermine [...]

]]> By: Nathalie Massé Prieur http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-793 Nathalie Massé Prieur Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:52:01 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-793 Many women are busy caring for others: children, elderlies... but these occupations are denied their value and are not financially recognized. Do we have to become doctors or laywers to be worth something? Are power and celebrity everything? Can it be that women are presented a poor choice between being a superwomen with masculine values and attitude, or dropping to the object level? The in-between is so vast and of greath worth. Many women are busy caring for others: children, elderlies… but these occupations are denied their value and are not financially recognized.

Do we have to become doctors or laywers to be worth something? Are power and celebrity everything? Can it be that women are presented a poor choice between being a superwomen with masculine values and attitude, or dropping to the object level?

The in-between is so vast and of greath worth.

]]> By: Tamsin http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-792 Tamsin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:58:06 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-792 I like seeing women in successful positions, but what I get tired of is seeing only stay-at-home moms on reality shows...like Supernanny, make-over shows, etc. I like watching those shows but I get a little frustrated because it seems like ONLY stay-at-home moms with a high-paid husband are featured. It's wonderful that many women can do that...I would love to stay home with my kids, but that's not our reality. And it's not the reality for a great deal of women. Many mothers - single and non - have to work and raise their kids. Why don't they show up more often on these reality shows? I like seeing women in successful positions, but what I get tired of is seeing only stay-at-home moms on reality shows…like Supernanny, make-over shows, etc. I like watching those shows but I get a little frustrated because it seems like ONLY stay-at-home moms with a high-paid husband are featured. It’s wonderful that many women can do that…I would love to stay home with my kids, but that’s not our reality. And it’s not the reality for a great deal of women. Many mothers – single and non – have to work and raise their kids. Why don’t they show up more often on these reality shows?

]]> By: Tweets that mention A B O U T – F A C E — blog » The media are funhouse mirrorsâ?”female television protagonists, it turns out, donâ??t reflect reality. -- Topsy.com http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-791 Tweets that mention A B O U T – F A C E — blog » The media are funhouse mirrorsâ?”female television protagonists, it turns out, donâ??t reflect reality. -- Topsy.com Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:21:26 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-791 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by La Brigitte, . said: [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by La Brigitte, . said: [...]

]]> By: ann http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-790 ann Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:50:35 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-790 while i think that there needs to be both shows that portray women's realities and shows that portray women achieving more than their current lot, i think the portrayal of women in higher positions is great and i never get tired of seeing it. i know that it excites me after getting bored and frustrated with women always being portrayed as secretaries and nurses and whatever for so long. i think it could give girls inspiration and role models to look up to. why can't this portrayal exist without the objectification? i think the media will always find excuses to objectify women, whether shows are portraying reality or an ideal. the objectification needs to stop, but i think the powerful women characters can stay. while i think that there needs to be both shows that portray women’s realities and shows that portray women achieving more than their current lot, i think the portrayal of women in higher positions is great and i never get tired of seeing it. i know that it excites me after getting bored and frustrated with women always being portrayed as secretaries and nurses and whatever for so long. i think it could give girls inspiration and role models to look up to. why can’t this portrayal exist without the objectification? i think the media will always find excuses to objectify women, whether shows are portraying reality or an ideal. the objectification needs to stop, but i think the powerful women characters can stay.

]]> By: Lorraine Manifold http://www.about-face.org/the-media-are-funhouse-mirrors%e2%80%94female-television-protagonists-it-turns-out-don%e2%80%99t-reflect-reality/#comment-789 Lorraine Manifold Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:02:49 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=2180#comment-789 I agree! It seems that as the years go by, society is just not willing to allow women to become people, real people. Making them appear as sex-objects in all the media keeps them less than people. Whether women are wearing mini-skirts and low neck lines or whether they are wearing burkas is the same: in both situations, they are objectified as sex objects. The only difference is that in one society they are allowed to reveal as much skin as possible to prove they are objects, and in the other society they are not allowed to do that in public. The more women complain about the media and the way it portrays women, the better! Let's get over this and insist on being respected as dignified human beings. I agree! It seems that as the years go by, society is just not willing to allow women to become people, real people. Making them appear as sex-objects in all the media keeps them less than people. Whether women are wearing mini-skirts and low neck lines or whether they are wearing burkas is the same: in both situations, they are objectified as sex objects. The only difference is that in one society they are allowed to reveal as much skin as possible to prove they are objects, and in the other society they are not allowed to do that in public. The more women complain about the media and the way it portrays women, the better! Let’s get over this and insist on being respected as dignified human beings.

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