20
October
2010
The popular song, ‘Just a Girl’ by No Doubt, has a pretty simple and straight-forward message. It is written from the point of view as a woman explaining how she is viewed as inferior or held back from opportunities simply for being female. Take note though that this was written in the 90’s, so it represents how women were supposedly viewed in this decade. Instead of being true to herself she is forced to behave as a stereotypical woman and to be constrained to decidedly feminine roles. It is also hinted that women have no use other than being objects or ‘things to look at’ in the lines:
“Guess I’m some kind of freak
‘Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes ”
It is also suggested that women are less than individuals when she describes herself as a “typical prototype”.
Note the following lines:
“I’m just a girl in the world…
That’s all that you’ll let me be!
I’m just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some”
This part of the song not only suggests that women have limitations in society, but that men have far more power than women and that men are limiting women. “You” and “You’ll” could be interpreted as society, or it could be interpreted as males in our society, but I believe it is targeted at men in our society and how they have a ‘rule of thumb’ and are keeping women from being what they want to be.
“Just A Girl”
Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I’m exposed
And it’s no big surprise
Don’t you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
‘Cause I’m just a girl, little ‘ol me
Don’t let me out of your sight
I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite
So don’t let me have any rights
Oh…I’ve had it up to here!
The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I can’t do the little things I hold so dear
‘Cause it’s all those little things
That I fear
‘Cause I’m just a girl I’d rather not be
‘Cause they won’t let me drive
Late at night I’m just a girl,
Guess I’m some kind of freak
‘Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
I’m just a girl,
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh…I’ve had it up to here!
Oh…am I making myself clear?
I’m just a girl
I’m just a girl in the world…
That’s all that you’ll let me be!
I’m just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some
I’m just a girl, what’s my destiny?
What I’ve succumbed to Is making me numb
I’m just a girl, my apologies
What I’ve become is so burdensome
I’m just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum there’s no comparison
Oh…I’ve had it up to!
Oh…I’ve had it up to!!
Oh…I’ve had it up to here!
Posted under Women Studies
19
October
2010
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a satirical, cynical comedy about a dive bar owned by a group of drunks approaching middle age. Each of the characters portray completely selfish and demeaning traits, never taking into considering how their actions may affect others. They also perfectly represent gender stereotypes.
Mac is an extreme example of a stereotypical man in our society. Mac is obsessed with being ‘strong’ and ‘manly’, however his strength is mostly an illusion since he often claims he can do back flips and roadhouse kick when in reality he is not quite that strong. Perhaps this is suggesting that some men live in the illusion that they are superior in strength simply because they are male, or it represents that a man’s superior strength and/or power really is simply a picture painted by society.
The ‘Gang’s’ treatment of the female character, Dee, is a clear yet perhaps exaggerated representation of how some women are looked at in society. She is the butt of all jokes, constantly put down for being incompetent. Most often she is put down for her appearance not being of the average woman, where the even less attractive male character of the cast, Frank, is only put down for being ‘ugly’ at one point. It is clear here that women are held at a much higher standard for their appearance in our society and that how they are viewed is dictated largely on appearance. This also represents the female’s role of the object and the male’s role of the looker.
A third character to mention is Dennis. Dee’s brother, he is most often the character that puts her down. Dee, however, is not the only woman that he mistreats. Dennis is completely self absorbed and his ego is solely dependent on his apparently ‘chizzled and noble’ appearance and his ability to seduce and ultimately use and mistreat women. There is an entire episode devoted to the “D.E.N.N.I.S.” system, during which he gets with a girl and toys with her emotions enough that he can sleep with her a few times, make her miserable, then never speak to her again. His system is also apparently so ‘perfect’ that he can win back any woman he once used the system on. Such mistreatment of women by men is common in our society, and the way that he describes such mistreatment as a system further objectifies women since they are apparently intended to be used and nothing else.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a comedy which, like other comedies, could easily offend many individuals. I feel that this material could be very offensive and demeaning, while I also feel that it could be viewed as the opposite. The actions and traits of the characters are terrible, but the intention of the show is to satirically show the actions of monsters. Is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia wrong to display such crude humor, or are they really displaying that only idiots would act in such ways?
Posted under Women Studies
17
September
2010
I am going to review a French ad that in a way makes me ashamed of owning a Nikon.
This ad, which is obviously targeted toward men, is selling the newer Nikon camera and in order to demonstrate how it is better than the older Nikon camera, uses the idea that a woman with a larger chest is superior to a woman with a smaller chest. The smaller chested woman is compared to the older, inferior Nikon, and the larger chested woman is compared to the newer, superior Nikon. Looking at this from a feminist view, this ad without a doubt demonstrates the male role as the ‘looker’ and the woman as being objectified, especially since she is being compared to a material posession. Both of these women demonstrate the ‘average woman’ that women are expected to be: white, thin, and attractive, however the woman with the larger bust is seen as more qualified in the ideal image of the ‘average woman’.
I will definitely admit that I am very offended by this advertisement. It brings me to understand why women that are overweight are offended by advertisements and media that suggest skinny girls are ‘better’ and ‘more beautiful’ and women that are minority are offended by advertisements and media that suggest that white women are ‘better’ and ‘more beautiful’. I have a very small chest, which is a 34 A to be exact, and I am nothing but proud of my body because I think that small chests are absolutely gorgeous. I actually prefer women with smaller chests over women with larger chests. I feel sickened by the fact that society paints a picture that I am less than a woman because of the size of my chest simply because that is the preference of most males. I also live strongly by the belief that all beauty is subective and is determined by the tastes of each person and that is what truly makes beauty a, well, beautiful thing.
I have nothing against the opinion that larger chests are more attractive, however I do not like it constantly being shoved down my throat.I am also sure that most people, men and women alike, are brainwashed by advertisements and the media and therefore believe that since they are told that the average image is beautiful, it is what they believe is beautiful.
Posted under Women Studies
15
September
2010
I will be analyzing the cover of Latina magazine and how it reflects ideas about gender and race. The cover of this magazine contains an image of Selena Gomez, an attractive, young Hispanic woman. Around her is text that explains what will be in the magazine in attempt to catch the reader’s attention. Some of the headers are:
“Fun Fashion under $100”
“Why You’re Ready to Be Your Own Boss”
“Best New Latino Designers”
“6 Sexy Hairdos to Try Now”
“WIN a bag on Latina.com”
“Feeling lonely? Why you may be the problem”
“The Sad Truth about the Violence in Mexico”
As can be seen, a lot of articles are about fashion but this magazine differs from most magazines that cater to women. Most magazines that cater to women are primarily about fashion, sex, and fitness. However, only half of the headers deal with fashion and the other half deal with more diverse topics. I was actually shocked in seeing, “The Sad Truth about the Violence in Mexico”, because for once a woman’s magazine is actually talking about serious real-world situations.
The model also somewhat strays from the ‘average woman’ image since she is Hispanic. This magazine is showing that not only white, blonde, blue-eyed women are beautiful. However, although this woman is not white, she is still slender, has very light skin, has a chest that is not ‘too small’, and has perfect hair. She still has an ‘average’ body, and for these standards to not exist even within other races is impossible. While this magazine send out messages with less consequences than most, the cover shows that the ‘average woman’ image isn’t so easily avoidable in our society and that there is an ‘average woman’ standard demonstrated within other races as well.
Posted under Women Studies
9
September
2010
I am going to discuss how the toy, Easy Bake Oven, reflects gender norms and expectations in our society. The Easy Bake oven is meant to be a fun method of introducing children to cooking at an early age. However the Easy Bake Oven, invented in the 60s, truly reflects the ideals of its time. The 60s were a time when the ideal American family consisted of a working husband, a stay-at-home housewife, and obedient children. This ideal image is still in play today, but it was much stronger at the time that the easy bake oven was invented. The Easy Bake oven strongly reflects the norm that women should stay at home and be fully responsible for cooking and cleaning.
One could argue that the Easy Bake Oven is intended to teach all children how to cook, male or female, however the methods of advertising make it more than clear that the Easy Bake Oven is meant to cater to a female audience. The Easy Bake oven is pink, which is associated with femininity in our society. The Easy Bake Oven is also advertised in our media by young girls instead of young boys, such as in commercials and packaging.
Posted under Women Studies