Gender Misrepresentation in Society and Media - Research Paper Example

Gender misrepresentation in society and media due: Mainstream media and advertising have proved to be a potential tool used to influence gender norms in the American culture especially in matters relating to women’s leadership. It constructs negative perceptions of women thus subjecting them to low political efficacy and high self-objectification. This paper will identify and discuss forms of sexism and biases in the media, how media defines gender socialization and the negative implication of how women are measured in the society.

It will also highlight ways in which individuals and the society can influence a change in the media, news and advertising industries.Since time immemorial, the female gender has been treated as objects, without regard to their dignity (Worell, 2001). As a result, depression, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, anxiety of facial and body appearance are common among media working women. In addition, women in advertising companies have been neglected in that the advertisements only highlight a specific part of a woman body while completely ignoring other body parts, thus increasing shame that women feel about their bodies being less attractive.

The negative aftermath not only affects adult female but also the younger ones (Croteau & Hoynes, 2014). This has caused low political efficacy and other negative implications. Discrimination based on person’s gender has dominated the media and advertising industries. Victims of sexism and bias in the media lose morale to perform their duties effectively. Some advertising industries pass over women for promotion due to their belief about women’s ability; they use this phrase as an excuse ‘women are weak vessels.

Extreme sexism may result to sexual harassment at workplace. Researchers have raised numerous questions on how media defines gender socialization and particularly how it portrays crimes committed in the society. While it is true that researchers have examined the crime covered by media, it is apparent that the majority of them have not focused on how media portrays the offence (Holtzman et al. 2014). This has led to female been portrayed as victims and not offenders thus bringing the point that females less likely commit criminal acts compared to their male counterparts.

In this aspect, a small number of female offenders represent a minute percentage of the offenders convicted because of a serious offence (Holtzman et al, 2014). On the occasions that women are not fully responsible for the crimes committed, media groups justify their images and narratives and thus are not labeled as sad or mad. In some instances, media depict women as the victims of circumstances and even attributing their criminal behaviors to their medical conditions or their biological malady.

Such explanations from the media are intended to increase sympathy thus reaching a conclusion that women offenders should escape the punishment for their criminal actions. Because many in the society believe that women should be wives and mothers, many media groups have stereotyped about their appropriate behaviors. In this aspect, women are believed to be good mothers, cooperative, passive, good wives and submissive to their husbands. The members of the society favorably look upon women who are known to behave in this manner whereas those who fail to behave in like manner are considered to be abnormal and thus viewed negatively.

On the other hand, media groups have grouped female offenders in two categories namely mad and bad women. This is according to the summary of the studies carried out on female offenders; the study also indicated that women who willfully defy the gender expectations are seen to be bad women thus victimized (Worell, 2001). Media has played a principle role in the creation of consuming societies and this has been influenced by the positive expansion of media from all directions. For instance, because of the emergence of the new technologies in regards to communications, electronic messaging has been used by millions of populace in the universe (Croteau & Hoynes, 2014).

This messaging has emerged in different forms that have enabled unique and specialized ways of sending messages per the requirements of an individual. The dramatic developments brought about by the emergence of the new media in electronic communications, in particular, have enabled the society to change radically in its way of communicating and has further played a central role in the creation of consuming societies (Croteau & Hoynes, 2014). Furthermore, media has also enhanced computer networking; this has brought communication, advertising and marketing of goods and services into another level.

ReferencesCroteau, D., & Hoynes, W. (2014). Media/society: Industries, images, and audiences. Holtzman, L., Sharpe, L., & Gardner, J. F. (2014). Media messages: What film, television, and popular music teach us about race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. Worell, J. (2001). Encyclopedia of women and gender: Sex similarities and differences and the impact of society on gender. San Diego, Calif: Academic Press.