Take a Good Look!

           When attempting to understand the differing roles between men and women in society, and how the two genders interact with each other over the course of their daily lives, one must take the time to interpret the unspoken understandings that are handed down to us by our fathers. Mass media has, in effect, been brainwashing children the world over for decades now, influencing them to think one thing or another is cool, or acceptable. The roles that different genders play in these various forms of media have evolved over the years, but women have always struggled to find equality through these outlets. Female heroes have always been few and far between.  

            Simple interactions between men and women, when portrayed by mass media outlets, become exponentially more concrete, become, in a way, undeniable proof and a constant reminder of the times that we live in and the roles each gender plays in our society. The simplest interaction, the way we look at each other, when reflected back to us by media outlets like the television and the cinema, or magazines and their advertisements, becomes magnified and exaggerated. Boys are taught to look at and look for girls in certain ways, and girls are taught to be accepting of this “gaze.” Furthermore, girls are brought up thinking that their chances for overall success in life are increased if they know how to really draw this gaze, and summon the right amount of attention. It all just ends in a society filled with very confused children, and jaded adults.

            Berger sums it up well, stating, “According to usage and conventions which are at last being questioned but have by no means been overcome, the social presence of a woman is different in kind than that of a man” (Berger, 45). He goes on to relate that a man’s presence is directly related to the “promise of power which he embodies.” Men must pretend to be powerful, to have influence, in order to make an impact in today’s culture. Women, on the other hand, are defined by a much more complicated process. They are scrutinized, tortured by ridiculous standards and expectations, not to mention whatever the latest degrading fashion is.

            The best response to this longstanding tradition of set interaction between the genders is a defiant stare. An “oppositional gaze,” per say.   According to Bell Hooks, this rebellious response has brought black culture to the point where it is today. Stereotypical portrayals of black men and women in the media have faded over time, even though the battle is far from won. Women, however, should collectively appreciate and emulate the struggle and achievements of black Americans in terms of their portrayal in mass media.

            Women are the subject of constant attention in our society, but is the attention they receive something that any of them truly want? Is it the right kind of attention, and if not, what can they do to change the way the world perceives them? At the forefront of the battle to work to change these long standing notions are the various media outlets which the majority of the world is connected to in this day and age. Portrayal of women, and their interactions with men, must be analyzed, scrutinized and worked on. Television is rearing a generation of children every decade, and much care must be put into what these children should consider normal and acceptable. The sort of change that is necessary for complete equality won’t happen overnight, but the first step is to recognize the need for it.