Media plays a significant role in gender roles and expectations in Western culture. Since the emergence of televisions in the middle class home in the early twentieth century, images of the ideal woman have driven social and economic development. As technology became more accessible, advertisers projected unrealistic and essentially unattainable standards of beauty that target female insecurities and encourage them to find solace in their products. Movies, television shows, magazines, and other forms of entertainment idolize individuals based off physical characteristics, creating role models that are praised throughout the world. The capitalization gained by corporations based off this insecurity prove to be destructive in female perceptions
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The documentary began by introducing a mother’s perspective and her skepticism about exposing her daughter to a world driven by media that is both limiting and derogatory to women. According to research, 53% of girls are unhappy at the age of thirteen; this increases by about 20% by the time they turn seventeen, with developing cases of body dysmorphic order. It is proven that women spend over $12,000 - $15,000 per year on beauty, rather than education, suggesting an effort to conform to a society that values physical appearance and behavior as a means of becoming successful. As a result, women suffer through self-objectification, dealing with issues of depression, eating disorders, and lower self-confidence. As a child growing up in the 90’s, I myself fell victim to an ideal of beauty influenced by celebrities such and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. I grew up believing that society valued women who entertained others by baring minimal clothing and dancing promiscuously. The lack of coverage of strong female figures in fields such as politics and medicine in adolescent programming reflects the low percentage of women in government. Statistics show that the country is made up of 51% women, yet in Congress, 17% are women. This number is not only a consequence of self-objectification, but society’s own perception of gender roles and the manipulation that media has over it. If children were exposed to successful women in various fields of study at an early age, there would be more appropriate inspiration within the generation, ultimately leading to more involvement in voting and governmental
The documentary began by introducing a mother’s perspective and her skepticism about exposing her daughter to a world driven by media that is both limiting and derogatory to women. According to research, 53% of girls are unhappy at the age of thirteen; this increases by about 20% by the time they turn seventeen, with developing cases of body dysmorphic order. It is proven that women spend over $12,000 - $15,000 per year on beauty, rather than education, suggesting an effort to conform to a society that values physical appearance and behavior as a means of becoming successful. As a result, women suffer through self-objectification, dealing with issues of depression, eating disorders, and lower self-confidence. As a child growing up in the 90’s, I myself fell victim to an ideal of beauty influenced by celebrities such and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. I grew up believing that society valued women who entertained others by baring minimal clothing and dancing promiscuously. The lack of coverage of strong female figures in fields such as politics and medicine in adolescent programming reflects the low percentage of women in government. Statistics show that the country is made up of 51% women, yet in Congress, 17% are women. This number is not only a consequence of self-objectification, but society’s own perception of gender roles and the manipulation that media has over it. If children were exposed to successful women in various fields of study at an early age, there would be more appropriate inspiration within the generation, ultimately leading to more involvement in voting and governmental