Womens Representation in the Media - Essay Example

Moreover, these same images have been portrayed within the media since the dawn of the television age as is traced through the work of Barry Gunter.  Throughout television history, programs have been created with an eye toward attracting and defining the female in ways that focused upon the observational qualities she possessed – her body shape, her pleasing facial appearance and her glamorous clothing and accessories. Even in shows such as The Honeymooners, which offered a questioning of the ‘powerless’ role of the female, attention was given to ensure the female body remained a pleasing conformation.

The emphasis on the concept that even lower middle class women were expected to conform to external ideals has only continued to build in the film industries and as television has expanded programming.  These widely apparent examples of how women portrayed in the media represent an impossible ideal to which ‘normal’ girls are constantly compared has also been proven to have the potential for long-term social, psychological and physical problems.Chasing the DreamToday there are numerous pop culture stars such as Paris Hilton who seem to believe that being an object talked about is better than contributing something significant to the welfare of society.

  This attitude of image trumps substance is transferred to many of their fans and by extension many other young girls. Empty-headed material-culture superstars have achieved their fame based solely on their beautiful bodies and extreme spending habits.’