Amanda's "Women in the Media" Class Blog

I was doing some research on women and the issues they face today on Google and I came across this article that was posted today around 4pm.  It explains that the Indian Air Force has decided to not allow women behind the controls of fighter planes “for the time being”.  The representative went on to say that, eventually, he believes that women will be fighter pilots, but will have to meet certain stipulations.  “Til a certain age, we request you (women) to be happy, be married, but no offsprings” (Singh, 1).  Seriously?  Are we really still at that time and place in the world where women are considered second best to men?  I know the culture is different and with that comes different values and beliefs but, still, I don’t think this is fair. 

Their main concern is that women can get pregnant.  With pregnancy, it is possible that women could be away from their job for 10-12 months, which would make it hard for them to find a replacement during that time (Singh, 1).  Regardless of this fact, women should still receive the same rights and opportunities that men receive.   How do they know that a woman is not more qualified than a man applying for the same job if they don’t give them the chance to prove themselves?  Does anyone else feel that this is completely unfair, regardless of the culture they are in?

Singh, Rahul.  “Prez ok, not women fighter pilots”.  Hidustan Times.  17 Nov 2009.  17 Nov 2009.  www.hindustantimes.com/Prez-ok-not-women-fighter-pilots/H1-Article1-477511.aspx.

Wow, I have really been slacking on these blogs.  My apologies to the class.

Today, my little sister asked for help on her Sociology essay.  It was asking her to depict the hip hop world in the four different elements of Sociology.  This got me thinking: hip hop does a lot in their music to degrade women, and their own race, for that matter.   Granted, their music is popular (I do listen to some of it) and the beat makes the song easy to dance to but, does anyone ever listen to the lyrics???

“It must be ya money, cause it ain’t ya face…..I got you payin my bills and buyin automobiles…..I know you a trick go spend that s***, turn that a** up mama put that dip in ya back, now baby girl bring it over let me spit my pimpjuice, I need a freak to hold me tight….for seven days and seven nights….I need a freak that will not choke….let me stick it down her ohhh, I said it must be ya a** cause it ain’t ya face” (Lyrics.com).  This is a song off of rapper Nelly’s album, Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention, called “Tip Drill”.  Now, come on.  This rapper makes MILLIONS off of songs like this, degrading women and basically calling them slaves to men.  Is this what we are allowing our teenage boys and girls to listen to?  No wonder teen sex and violence is such an issue these days.  Boys are learning that women are merely sexual slaves that should allow men to do whatever they need to in order to please themselves.  Does anyone agree??  Any solutions to the problem??/

So, I am obsessed with Law and Order: SVU.  I have all the seasons on DVD…I just never got into any of the other law shows.  Anyways, I have always been fascinated with the way the female characters are portrayed.  It is one of the only shows out there that show women in powerful positions. 

Olivia Benson, portrayed by Mariska Hagertay, is a prime example of this (seen on left).  This character has always been shown right in the middle of the action: interrogating suspects, helping the victims and even getting physical with men when needed.  Benson has never been married in the show, and has only had two-three boyfriends, making her seem extremely independent.  She is the product of her mother’s rape, who then became and alcoholic and eventaully died from it.  Her brother, who is her father’s son, has also been in trouble with the law, and had even appeared on the show numerous times, even a suspect in one of their rape cases, which turned out to be a setup.

Olivia Benson seems strong, level-headed, and understanding.  So many shows today portray women as sex symbols who only know the value of a dollar (Have you seen the Real Housewives series???).  This is definately a “breath of fresh air” in the world of females in the media.

So, after finally thinking it through, I decided to focus on something I saw recently on MTV called the VMA Awards, which I’m sure many of you have heard of.  The show was pretty good this year when it came to class (I.E Beyonce and Taylor Swift) but, the one thing that bothered me was the simple fact the BRITNEY SPEARS won Best Pop Video for her song, “Womanizer”.  Okay, people, this is crazy to me.  Women all over the world are constantly complaining that they are never taken seriously and that guys are always thinking we are only good for one thing: sex.  Now, we are praising the work of someone who has that controversial song, “If U Seek Amy” out on the radio, and whose taste in clothing and child care are outrageous.  I just feel like we are showing the world that, it’s okay to look at women like trash. 

I knew this one family who’s parents were fairly strict and did not like how promiscuous their 17-year-old daughter was being.  However, they were constantly allowing their daughter to buy low-cut shirts and skirts from all the popular stores at the mall and allowed her to watch shows that would influence her style, such as Daisy of Love on VH1.  Now, to me, this makes no sense.  You don’t want your child out in the world, experiencing things she shouldn’t until she’s 25 but, at the same time, you’re letting her make men believe that she’s ready and willing by the clothes she wears. 

http://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/britney-spears/if-u-seek-amy.html  (Britney Spears’ song lyrics)

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2009/winners.jhtml (MTV VMAs Winners)

http://www.vh1.com/shows/daisy_of_love/series.jhtml (Daisy of Love pics)