CNN.com reports today on Jennifer Siebel Newsom and her film Miss Representation:
Here’s the fantasy: A half-naked women lies across a couch, lips pouty and cleavage prominent as her sultry gaze implores you to buy this bottle of perfume.
The reality: Women make up 51% of the United States yet only 17% of seats in the House of Representatives. They’re 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 7% of directors in the top 250 grossing films.
What’s the connection? We live in a sexualized society where the gap between fantasy and reality is vast and harmful, director and activist Jennifer Siebel-Newsom says.
“Women are aspiring to do great things in leadership, yet the glass ceiling is still there because of the way media depict women,” Siebel-Newsom said. “It influences our culture and dictates our gender norms and values.”
Read the rest here.
Think about all of the sexualized images of females in animated movies for kids like Cutlass Liz from the upcoming “Pirates! Band of Misfits.”
Male characters in kids movies almost always outnumber female characters. These films are also often titled for the male protagonist. Watching an animated movie is kind of like First Lady training for girls: learn how to play the supporting role and cheer on the real star! Often, females have gone missing from kids media all together as with many of the posters advertising animated movies from 2011.
How do you think these images and narratives are influencing a generation of future leaders?
Margot.. not entirely related to your fantastic post, but have you seen this over at Jezebel? http://jezebel.com/5892262/studio-wants-dudes-to-see-hunger-games-too?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
blue milk,
thanks so much for this, had not seen, just posted on it
MM