How are Women Effected by their Representation in the Media?

... How are Women Effected by their Representation in the Media? Feminism has been a recognised social philosophy for more than thirty years, and the changes that have occurred in women's roles in western society during that time have been nothing short of phenomenal. Yet media representations of women remain worryingly constant. Does this reflect that the status of women has not really changed or that the male-dominated media does not want to accept it has changed? Representations of women across all media tend to highlight the following: * Beauty (within narrow conventions) * Size/physique (again, within narrow conventions) * Sexuality (as expressed by the above) * Emotional (as opposed to intellectual) dealings * Relationships (as opposed to independence/freedom) Women are often represented as being part of a context (family, friends, colleagues) and working/thinking as part of a team. In drama, they tend to take the role of helper (Prop) or object, passive rather

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