How Media Affects Men and Women

The media, we use every single day of our lives. To message friends, make plans, do homework, study, and more. We think of it as this peaceful place we can run away to. But, the media affects how Men and Women view themselves, and how people view other people. Media shows what people should look like, the media shows what

people should act like, and the media shows what people should do. The media puts people on pedestals for looking a certain way, or doing a small act of kindness. And shames people for not fitting that criteria, or for messing up.

Scrolling through Facebook, you see ads of pretty women or pretty men ushering for you to buy their products. You see photos of famous people, all fitting a certain beauty criteria. Many people think to themselves, “oh, i don't look like that, i must do whatever i can, to look like that”

Women and girls. Girls are taught, on the media, that if they do not look this certain way, they are ugly and useless. They are taught to be young-looking, petite, skinny in some places, larger in others, to wear make up, etc. Young girls, who think that they are fat, start starving themselves, to look like those people on TV. Women, are getting implants, just because they saw it on the media, and they think it will make them look good. Women are changing what they like, or how they like, thinking, that if they don’t do it, it will badly affect their future. Girls are even killing themselves, thinking they are not good enough. Furthermore the image and representation of women and girls in the media has long been a subject of concern. Multiple studies have shown that there are many fewer females than males in most forms media and those who do appear are often portrayed in very stereotypical ways.

In everything from advertising, television programming, newspaper and magazines, to comic books, popular music, films and video games, women and girls are more likely to be shown: in the home, performing domestic chores such as laundry or cooking; as sex objects who exist primarily to service men; as victims who can't protect themselves and are the natural recipients of beatings, harassment, sexual assault and murder.

But, Women and girls are not the only people subject to this. Men and boys are also largely stereotyped by the media. From GI Joe to Rambo, muscles are often associated with toughness, independence, competition, emotional detachment, aggression and violence. Although different from those which affect women and girls, it is very damaging to boys. For example, a boy can be watching TV, and all the men and boys are being athletic, and can do amazing things, thus getting what they want, or if it is an older child or program, “the girls”. The boy watching could be cripple from the waist down, their legs unable to move. Thus, they feel as if they are useless and can not get anything done, nor do anything fascinating.

Research tells us that the more television children watch, the more likely they are to hold sexist notions about traditional male and female roles and the more likely the boys are to demonstrate very aggressive behavior.

In fact, images aimed at children are particularly biased in the way they portray girls and boys. In advertising, for example, girls are shown as being endlessly preoccupied by their appearance, and fascinated primarily by dolls and jewellery, while boys are encouraged to play sports, become engrossed by war play, and technology.

Also, children are increasingly being exposed to messages about gender that are really intended for adult eyes only. These images also help shape the little girls and boys have about who they should be and what they can achieve.

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