Representation...

Sundays are for blogging! In this post, I discuss how women are represented in the media. Take a look:

I plan to represent young females within my project. Women, in general, are often depicted as dramatic and overly feminine in entertainment magazines, so I have decided to better represent them in a more positive, accurate light. Being a girl myself, I feel I can best relate to this group and address any common misconceptions that are represented in the media. In my project, I would like to share both females’ difficulties and opportunities. An emphasis on female power is my main goal, with a focus on different stages in a woman’s life, such as coming-of-age and entering the workplace, which may be overwhelming times in life. Because of the expectations that are placed upon females, women may grow up with a negative self-image and many insecurities. Therefore, my project will share the everyday struggles that young women face as well as how these difficulties empower them to work harder and face their fears.

Often times, the media continues to sexualize women and only represent their role as a mother, wife, or ‘beauty icon’. One such example is the entertainment magazine, People. Across several issues, only women’s heartbreak, wedding, family, baby, beauty, or weight loss have been addressed, exemplifying the long-withstanding gender stereotypes in society. One specific issue showcases Angelina Jolie on the cover, with the headline “100 Most Beautiful (Women)”. While these topics may be interesting to the public, they do not offer a correct representation of females. Another media example is the television show Gossip Girl, which portrays young women as being excessively pretentious and dependent on men for happiness. This show mainly focuses on the ‘drama’ of young women’s life and represents them as constantly trying to reach ‘elite status’ within their social group. While Gossip Girl usually depicts women arguing and spreading false rumors about each other, I will focus on femininity and women supporting one another, which is not often depicted in the media.

While I am willing to retain common representation characteristics such as family and romance in my project, I will also challenge these media norms and offer a more holistic representation of females, one that shares their accomplishments, mental health, and economic independence. My main goal is to depict women as powerful, intelligent individuals that do not need males’ encouragement or financial support. Within my project, not only will I give fashion and makeup advice like all magazines do, but I also plan to implement articles such as “How to Prepare For a Job Interview” and “How to Handle Anxiety and Stress”, which are just as useful for women as any cosmetic tip. Most of the time the media fails to recognize that women are no longer ‘stay-at-home moms’ and don’t have to look perfect and happy all the time. Therefore, my magazine will embody all aspects of a woman’s health and possibilities; which truly represents women in the twenty-first century.

Hope you enjoyed :-) Until next time!

Catalina