The Mass media have played a decisive role in perpetuating gender stereotypes and in maintaining the status quo. With the introduction to new communication technologies, the mass media have acquired global dimension. Although the form and content of mass media have changed dramatically throughout the past few decades, it has been reinforcing patriarchal culture by emphasizing selective themes and viewpoints. Women, in Film media have always been seen, and portrayed as a sex symbol, and subservient one. Media has been instrumental in the construction and marketing of female subjectivities and it has urged women to leave behind their ‘own’ self and change into the ‘new’ woman of the moment.
Feminism is no longer relevant to film media in today’s …show more content…
Each of these is explored in some detail, in the film Pretty Woman.
In Pretty Woman, Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) shows ideologies of postfeminism by the way she earns her living. In practising prostitution, Vivian objectifies herself in order to make her sexually attractive to men. Also, Vivian does not embody the chaste heroine of old, vis-à-vis withholding her virginity. While Pretty Woman holds with classic tradition in making Vivian lower class, she needs to be taught social niceties; it breaks with tradition by according little if any importance to female virginity. Indeed, it is Vivian’s sexual expertise rather than her chastity that first attracts Edward (Richard …show more content…
In the movie, Pretty Woman, Roberts’ character faces many situations and scenarios that would upset and go against third-wave feminists. Many ways in which Roberts’ character, Vivian, responds to these situations shows a very third-wave view on women’s equality, sexual activity, and empowerment.
Another scene in which Julia Roberts’ character empowers herself is when she goes to the club to visit her friend, and fellow prostitute. In this scenario she is entering a very racy district even though she has found an economic and financial boom through Richard Gere’s character she is still going to visit a friend, regardless of her friend’s occupation or financial status. In this scene, Roberts’ character is stepping into a situation where her friend’s occupation, Roberts’ old occupation, is looked down upon. Most women in the new circle Vivian has been thrown into would demean and dehumanize the status and occupation of her friend. However, even though she was currently living amongst the wealthier woman who would never associate with people of that lower status, Roberts’ character was breaking the mold and visiting her friend no matter what her occupation or status may have
Feminism is no longer relevant to film media in today’s …show more content…
Each of these is explored in some detail, in the film Pretty Woman.
In Pretty Woman, Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) shows ideologies of postfeminism by the way she earns her living. In practising prostitution, Vivian objectifies herself in order to make her sexually attractive to men. Also, Vivian does not embody the chaste heroine of old, vis-à-vis withholding her virginity. While Pretty Woman holds with classic tradition in making Vivian lower class, she needs to be taught social niceties; it breaks with tradition by according little if any importance to female virginity. Indeed, it is Vivian’s sexual expertise rather than her chastity that first attracts Edward (Richard …show more content…
In the movie, Pretty Woman, Roberts’ character faces many situations and scenarios that would upset and go against third-wave feminists. Many ways in which Roberts’ character, Vivian, responds to these situations shows a very third-wave view on women’s equality, sexual activity, and empowerment.
Another scene in which Julia Roberts’ character empowers herself is when she goes to the club to visit her friend, and fellow prostitute. In this scenario she is entering a very racy district even though she has found an economic and financial boom through Richard Gere’s character she is still going to visit a friend, regardless of her friend’s occupation or financial status. In this scene, Roberts’ character is stepping into a situation where her friend’s occupation, Roberts’ old occupation, is looked down upon. Most women in the new circle Vivian has been thrown into would demean and dehumanize the status and occupation of her friend. However, even though she was currently living amongst the wealthier woman who would never associate with people of that lower status, Roberts’ character was breaking the mold and visiting her friend no matter what her occupation or status may have