Influence of Keeping Up With the Kardashians on Change of Modern Television's Representation of Women - Essay Example

 Research Essay Research Essay The show Keeping up with the Kardashians did not have a name until a few days before the premiere. The executive producer, on a very stressful day where he was late, he literally said “I’m sorry I’m late. I’m just having a really hard time keeping up with the Kardashians”. This is how the name of the show was born (Woodward, 2016). The TV reality show Keeping up with the Kardashians is a modern mean of teaching the morals of family unity, body image and feminism. Keeping up with the Kardashians has 14 seasons. It premiered in 2007. It has become one of the longest shows in the country. It is aired by E! Cable network. This show mainly focuses on the three Kardashian sisters – Kimberly, Kourtney and Khloe – and their two little sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Also, all their friends and significant others play an important role. Kimberly, also known as just Kim, became famous by her sex tape with the singer Ray Jay. This video is known to be the biggest reason for the fame of this family. The same year the video was leaked, that same year the show was born. The controversy Keeping up with the Kardashians has impacted many, either in a positive or negative way. For example, Kanye's style, Kendall being a full-time model, Kourtney's position as a single mom basically, Kim's attitude before and after the robbery that occurred in Paris, Kylie's empire on makeup and her love life, Rob's problems as a dad and monetary wise, etc. The Kardashian family are known to "set high standards" for body image, but they actually support the idea of self-love and acceptance of your body. Their media portrays it and they say it. The family unity is seen since the beginning. They stick together no matter how much love or hate they receive. Feminism is also seen because of all of them, having different ages, are business women. Keeping up with the Kardashians teach many morals. Specifically for my paper, I will talk about family unity, body image and the importance of both and feminism, and how these women advance these values. Majority of successful families in America attribute their success to family unity. The same can be said about the Kardashian family. Since their show KUWTK premiered in 2007, it has gained innumerable success and acclaimed universal admiration. The show aside, the Kardashian-Jenner family has amassed millions of profits from their reality show and have become entrepreneurial geniuses. According to McLaughlin (2016), the family is collectively worth more than $300 million today. Additionally, the star-studded family owns a number of popular boutiques in New York and other cities. That is not the icing on the cake yet. They have also authored several books and started a wide range of business ventures including perfumes, a clothing line, beauty products and even smartphone apps. However, would they have achieved such success without family unity? Definitely not. The show has almost a predictable structure but usually ends with one important lesson: Family comes first. For instance, a typical episode would follow the Kardashians especially the sisters and their half-siblings, showing off their lavish lifestyle that involves exorbitant spending incorporated with minor family quarrels which are often wrapped up with a soliloquy that strengthens the significance of family (Goldstein, 2015). This recently manifested itself in how the Kardashians were supportive of Caitlyn Jenner during her transition. The protagonist of the show Kim Kardashian, clearly stated that even though the transition was hard, the family was in full support of Jenner and understood his decision to transform from a man to a woman. Values of family unity have also been expressed by other characters in the show. In a particular Sunday episode, for instance, Kendall and Kylie engage in a squabble after Kendall fails to keep her promise of helping her younger sister answer red-carpet interview questions relating to Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. In spite of this brief fight, the episode as expected ends with Kendall seeking redress and apologizing for putting work ahead of family. She also promises to always be there for her little sister in case she needs her in future. While many would scoff at such scenes as mare dramatic public relations, it is obvious that such sibling tensions are all-inclusive and strangely relatable. Ultimately, the show has turned the Kardashians into a brand in America but all the credit must be directed to its deserved heir and that is harmonious family existence. Woodward (2016) contends that it is for this reason that ten years after their show premiered on E! Entertainment network, the Kardashian-Jenner clan has become an inescapable social, cultural and commercial force to reckon with in Hollywood. This explains why the show has garnered more than 5million views and holds the record for the most-watched TV show in the network telecast as of today. These statistics are not meant to decorate the show and win it more viewers. Instead, they point to the fact that the show has become part of the fabric of popular culture today. Arguably, it implies that the show is relatable to individuals of all ages and is probably watched by young families who consider the Kardashians role models. Nonetheless, the majority of the viewers as observed by Mujukian (2017) are single, educated women without children but with well-paying jobs and annual salaries of more than $55,000. In that regard, amid the controversy that surrounds the Kardashians, they remain aware that America’s popular culture is centered on the family and thus, have built their brand upon the family unit. As matter of fact, they have more often than not shown us the best and the worst of the American culture with regards to family. The bright side is that America relates to all the family issues that are portrayed in the show. “The Kardashians are irresistible.” This has become a common phrase amongst the majority of Americans familiar with the show. Such admirable statements prove that the Kardashians have not only become the face of Hollywood but also a symbol of beauty in America. To that effect, body image as the essay’s second point of focus comes into perspective with respect to the female Kardashians. Overtly, the likes of Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney have shown the world that one does not necessarily need to be white, blonde, or skinny to be considered sexy. According to Press and Strathman (1993), the Kardashians have encouraged diversity in modern American television shows and more so media. He further asserts that the importance of this fact cannot be underestimated since people feel represented when they see others like them on TV or print media. The Kardashians for example, are known to be outspoken advocates of their Armenian origin. Kim has additionally battled for acknowledgment of the frequently ignored Armenian Genocide. The sensitivity of the Kardashians on such important issues highlight their dedication to voicing the concerns of underrepresented individuals and ethnic groups or people that have been wronged in the past. Aside from this fact, the Kardashians are global fashion icons who are admired for their appreciation of the female body and its imperfections. This has clearly been exemplified by Khloé and Kardashian in the recent past. Khloé Kardashian, for instance, has once been the target of cyberbullying due to her body weight. However, she came out strongly and vehemently told off her critics to stop calling her fat. Khloé also pointed out that it was morally wrong to compare a person’s size with someone else. She eventually proved her critics wrong by working out, eating healthy, and losing a considerable amount of weight. In fact, her own TV show Revenge Body has more than 68.5 million followers on Instagram (Lipworth, 2017). This shows the kind of admiration she has from her loyal fans. Similarly, based on her activities on the show Kim Kardashian encourages many women to embrace the natural appearance of their bodies. More often than not, people have questioned whether her butt is natural or a result of cosmetic surgery. Kim in one of the show’s episodes answers this question. It happens when at one point Khloé and Kourtney challenge Kim to prove that her behind is natural which she does by going for a butt x-ray. To further show how light she perceives the issue to be, she comically rubs it up against those of her sisters in jubilation. Kim also shows how proud she is of her bodily imperfections when she is diagnosed with psoriasis and courageously exposes it on television for all and sundry to see. Ferstle (2015) holds the view that the Kardashians are not keen on body perfection and are not ready to let critics wear them down on the same. The importance of body image as regards to the Kardashians goes beyond popularizing the feminist themes on the show. In perspective, the Kardashians have helped to minimize popular American television narratives that have conventionally revolved around the problems of modern American women. As such, they have carved out new identities for many women like themselves and consequently affirmed that beauty goes beyond physical appearances. Another significant impact of the show is that it has changed the society’s view of women as individuals who struggle with the problems of balancing work with family, harmonizing family budgets and offering childcare. In effect, Verloigne et al note that many television shows following the Kardashians often depict women as single mothers in the middle-class category with white-collar jobs. Those with families are similarly portrayed to be in the upper-middle-class category (2015). While many would fault the media for viewing the society in such an unrealistic way, the truth is that portraying women as successful entrepreneurs on television motivates the younger generations to work hard. This is the primary goal of the Kardashian women. To tell the world that the image of the woman goes beyond physical appearance and household chores. Smith and Roy (2008) further argue that popular television shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians mirror a want to streamline territories of ideological perplexity and logical inconsistency that normally touches on the view of women within our society. Such shows have a tendency to give us fantasy level answers to sensitive social issues, especially those identifying with the insecurity of our private lives and the crumbling of families. However, some critics have stressed that the ways in which modern television misrepresents basic social and private problems are systematically distorting the true picture of our cultural ideologies. These concerns, however, have not yet been proven. The truth of the matter as it stands is that the Kardashians are a symbol of true feminine beauty both physically and mentally. The Kardashian family also draws the attention of its viewers especially the female divide to feminism (Salmon et al., 2013). As opposed to traditional TV roles that placed women at the heart of family care, KUPWTK places women at the center of everything. They are virtually in control of all aspects of their lives. The Kardashians beyond screen have successfully achieved the American dream. In as much as many do not like to admit it more so men, what a man can do a woman can do better. The Kardashians are successful women by all means. Unlike the traditional woman who often depended on the husband to provide for the family, the Kardashian women are rich enough to buy their own homes, cars, and other expensive toys. According to the women, money is the ultimate symbol of success and they have it in plenty. Besides the fact that their empire is worth more than $300 million, they are successful businesswomen who have got more than 11 brands under their names. Apart from using their financial stability to enhance feminism, the Kardashians have also tried to change the perception of women as objects in the society. This point, however, is feeble considering the fact that they primarily use their bodies to ensure commercial success on the television screen. Still, their efforts merit recognition. Kim and Khloe, for instance, have in the past implored the society to appreciate women for who they are without body shaming them. The women have been victims of online attacks and have been harshly judged based on the photos they post on social networks such as Instagram. Such instances have raised serious concerns about how the society constantly keeps women self-conscious (The Grimm Brothers (2010). In that regard, by boldly tackling the problems that arise from their physical appearances, the Kardashians act as a voice of the oppressed women of today. Lastly, while the society tries hard to confine the lives women to the home only. The Kardashians live and create a subculture of defiance against the chauvinistic society by opposing their husbands' wishes and beliefs. The sisters trust each other and regularly help each other subvert the requests and wants of the men in their lives, especially those whose interests vary from and antagonize their own. In traditional television shows, it was so rare for women to be depicted as intellectually mature and equal to their male counterparts (Ferguson, 2011). In fact, unlike the men in shows such as Keeping up with the Kardashians, early TV women were frequently delineated in inseparable solidarity with each other. No television show in the 21st century has affirmed feminism more than Keeping up with the Kardashians. In summary, Keeping up with the Kardashians has influenced and changed modern television's representation of women. Through various characters in the show, KUWTK has proved that women too have the capability to promote positive and desirable values regarding the family unity, the female body image, and ideal feminism. Consequently, the shape of the ideal American family has changed and so has a place for women in America. References Ferguson, C. J., Munoz, M. E., Contreras, S., & Velasquez, K. (2011). Mirror, mirror on the wall: Peer competition, television influences, and body image dissatisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 30(5), 458-483. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2011.30.5.458 Press, A., & Strathman, T. (1993). Work, family and social class in television images of women: Prime-time television and the construction of postfeminism. Women and Language, 16(2), 7. Retrieved from http://lynn-lang.student.lynn.edu:2048/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/198874239?accountid=36334 Salmon, J., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., De Cocker, K., Teychenne, M., & McNaughton, S. (2013). Educational inequalities in TV viewing among older adults: A mediation analysis of ecological factors. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity,10(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-138 Smith Speck, S., K., & Roy, A. (2008). The interrelationships between television viewing, values, and perceived well-being: A global perspective. Journal of International Business Studies, 39(7), 1197-1219. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400359 The Grimm Brothers (2010). Cinderella. The Complete Grimm's Fairytale. Neeland Media LLC. Verloigne, M., Wendy, V. L., Bere, E., Manios, Y., Kovacs, E., Grillenberger, M., De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2015). Individual and family environmental correlates of television and computer time in 10- to 12-year-old European children: The ENERGY-project. BMC Public Health, 15. Retrieved from http://lynn-lang.student.lynn.edu:2048/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1780074829?accountid=36334 Woodward, E. (2016). 46 things you never knew about “Keeping up with the Kardashians”. Buzzfeed. Retrieved from https://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/er-the-wind-you-guys-is-this-necessary?utm_term=.yvN4D2239g#.sxaKRppPx5 Goldstein, M. (2015). Fallen women: Exorcising evil from Eve. In M. Lewis & T. Ferstle (Eds.), Dialogues of belief and reason level 200 (2nd ed., pp. 98-101). Boca Raton, FL: Lynn University. Ferstle, T. (2015). Lecture on Mary Daly’s exorcising evil from Eve introduction. In M. Lewis & T. Ferstle (Eds.), Dialogues of belief and reason level 200 (2nd ed., pp. 96-97). Boca Raton, FL: Lynn University. McLaughlin, A. (2016, June 13). Why Keeping Up Matters: The Kardashians as a Reflection of Society. Macalester. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from https://www.macalester.edu/news/2016/06/why-keeping-up-matters-the-kardashians-as-a-reflection-of-society/ Lipworth, E. (2017, August 19). 'I don't like the term plus size': Reality TV royalty and businesswoman Khloé Kardashian on self-belief, body image and why family always comes first. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-4757712/Khlo-Kardashian-self-belief-body-image-family.html Mujukian, A. (2017, October 01). Kim Kardashian Is A Body-Positive Role Model. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/celebrity/reasons-kim-kardashian-role-model/1666785 Read More