How Media Misrepresentation Reinforces Gender Inequality

Abstract

MISS RERESENTATION Introduction Gender inequality is not news especially in the context of socially defined gender-roles. Unfortunately, most of these inequalities affect undeserving people especially with regard to professionally-related areas. Denying a qualified talent a chance in a deserving job because of gender is not only a form of inequality but also ignorance of basic human rights entitled to individuals as human. Miss Representation is a thrilling movie that offers clear insights on the challenges experienced by women in regard to media representation. Unlike the male gender that enjoys masculinity privileges including full representation by the media in regard to their powers as leaders among other powerful positions, feminism exposes women to an inferior stereotype subjecting them to inequalities even in the basic like media representation. Based on this documentary, it is open that limited media representation for women serves as a potential catalyst for discussion on media literacy and gender inequality calling for the need for a diverse and accurate portrayal of females in media. Miss Representation proves an impactful piece of work that raises awareness about media de-representation of females as undeniable issue that demands attention to amend the adverse effects that such limited representations exposes women to in the course of their lives. Media influence on gender roles is a potential theme expressed in the documentary. Based on this film, media coverage ranging from movies, advertising and televisions under represent women based on the embraced stereotypical roles within the society. The documentary portrays such stereotypical roles through emphases on physical appearance over competence and intelligence. What does this imply? Such portrayals enhance reinforcement of traditional gender roles and expectations thus limiting open opportunities and aspirations for women based on socially perceived gender-roles expected from males and females. While emphasizing on the origin of socially perceived gender-roles, (Lorber, 1994) cites that “the gender practices of everyday life reproduce a society’s view of how women and men should act” (Pg 239). For instance, such portrayals may hinder women from attaining positions of power and influence in America citing them as a gender only entitled to family-related chores like nursing their children, husband and washing among other house chores. In such a situation, even the qualified and competent women in the context of academic among other qualification lacks an opportunity to enjoy such achievements as the media portrays them as inferior to male making masculinity dominate all over America. While adding on the adverse effects that gender inequalities have on women Lorber confirmed that “When gender is a major component of structured inequality, the devalued genders have less power, prestige and economic rewards than the valued gender” (Lorber, 1994, Pg 240). Women suffer a lot in the name of structured gender-roles as they limit these women deserving privileges and subject them to undeserving roles that are non-rewarding. Such limited privileges are well analyzed through the lenses of political under-representation of women as argued in the film (Newsom, 2011). Based on the film, media under-representation of women perpetuates gender biases making them seem as incapable of handling any political pressure. Such biases allows the male gender to enjoy a clear pathway to defined opportunities especially in powerful positions like in leadership of America leading with huge representations in politically-related positions. To this effect, the film emphasizes on the need to diversify representation in politics to ensure a more inclusive and equitable society. Without an inclusive and equitable society, women can never find or feel their worth because their self esteem will remain hampered limiting them to express their potentials in any rewarding position within American context. The documentary also pays close attention on the impact of media representation on women self-esteem. While it is open that the media under-represent women and portrays them as inferior to men, it...