Entry 1

Not only does the media influence the ways in which young girls think they should act, it

also influences the way in which they feel they should look. Almost every image that women see

are “ideals that are often both unhealthy and unattainable, yet culturally valued” (Markey, 2012,

p. 209). This is seen in almost every type of show, especially reality television. The problem is

although these are “real people,” they are “manufactured situations” (McInerney and Morris,

2010, p. 139). Because a woman’s body is so concentrated on in the media, there is suggestion

that it us used “on which the cultural understandings of gender are expressed” (McInerney and

Morris, 2010, p. 135). In other words, a female is symbolized through her body and the result is

a devaluation of her as an individual.

This information was not completely surprising to me because I have taken many women's studies classes which discussed the effects of the media on women's bodies. But this text gave a better idea of the problems behind the effects of women being known only for their bodies. The text implies that because women are only seen and put identity in their bodies, they are dehumanized and are more seen as visual objects rather than important characters on TV. Because of these implications and messages, there are a lot more of celebrity and teen cases of young women being obsessed with their body images as well as having health problems because they are so rooted in finding identity through their body image.

INTRO

The purpose of this blog is for the discussion of gender stereotypes, particularly on women, in the media. Everyday, people are exposed to a variety of ideas and messages through the media in which they partake. Inevitably, these messages and ideas can affect people who are constantly exposed to them, despite not knowing it. This is particularly true with gender stereotypes. My research question is whether or not the media messages that are shown in TV affect the well-being of young women in society today. This question is important to society because many women nowadays are being affected with problems such as anorexia or bulimia as well as body image and negative attitudes about work. The problem is that many of these concerns can possibly arise from images and messages that women receive from the media. Because women take in media messages starting at a young age, it can shape their thoughts and outlooks on their lives in society as women. And if those messages are unhealthy, it can potentially affect their well-being. I will answer this question by looking at the studies that are being done which study the effect that female characters on TV have on young women.