Blog #10

This chapter was a little bit harder to think of something to write my blog over. Usually I try to discuss something that has been relatable to something in classes, media, or in my life. Recently nothing has come up related to domestic violence, rape, or in general women abuse. Although, I do want to discuss something that happened years ago that I did not understand then, but today I think I grasp the situation a little better. When I was younger my mom’s sister came to stay with us a little while because my aunt’s husband had emotionally and physically attacked her. My aunt was fine and decided not to report the situation to the police. After a few days she returned home. I never understood how other family members would just let her move back in and why they were okay with her not reporting it. The thing that I did not understand then, that I understand now, is that my aunt had convinced everyone that it was a onetime incident, that it would never happen again, and that she loved her husband, she also did not want her children to have to go through a divorce. Recently my best friend was in an emotionally abusive relationship that was not dangerous but I still could tell that it was affecting my best friend’s life. We often talked about the situations and I told her that I did not like what he was doing, but she always told me she loved him, so I never felt like the situation was in my hands to take care of. Luckily my best friend is a strong woman and is now not with him, but for my aunt things got a little worse, until the day she walked out on him. The crazy part about my aunts situation, that although she was the one tormented, because she walked out on him and never reported any of the incidents, he got to keep the house and have custody over their kids.

Add a comment November 12, 2009

Blog #9

                Not only can we analyze the role of women in media entertainment like television, movies, and music, but also I think it is interesting to look at the effect media has on these entertaining women. I think women get criticized and looked at more often then men, and from that come negative thoughts about themselves. I have researched many times the effect media has on women, but I have found that the most interesting aspect of this research is not the effect it has on everyday women (all though this is still very important), but the effect it has on actresses, supermodels, and musicians.

            Although women get mad at the fact that in magazines they show slim beautiful women, it is still very interesting to know that average women are attracted to these images. Average women criticize body and facial changes in women entertainers, not only men. As women we should also blame ourselves for creating a heightened desire for these beautiful perfect entertainers. As soon as an actress gains weight, average women as consumers of media thrive off of this gossip. The effect of this then puts pressure on that actress to look slim again, as she was before. Such pressure to look a certain way cause not only unhealthy eating habits, but also negative emotional stability. There are very few movies and television shows that revolve around larger women, and when they do, their weight and appearance becomes the subject of the story or plot. I just recently watched the new version of the movie “Hairspray,” and the new television sitcom “Drop Dead Diva,” were this idea came to me for this blog. Women, start paying attention to this gossip and please do not jump on the bandwagon and spread it. You could be that women, and think of how you would feel if these things were being said about you.

Add a comment November 5, 2009