The Mass Media's Illusion of Equality

   It appears that for the most part, main stream society has departed from the days of June Cleaver- when women would vacuum their homes in high heels, aprons and pearls. Nowadays, when you turn on the television you can see women starring as brain surgeons, lawyers, detectives and other white-collar professions. However, if you flip to the next channel you might be bombarded with characters such as J-Wow, from the popular reality show Jersey Shore- her claim to fame being her super sized breasts and her knack for violence. 

J-Wow

Flip to another channel and you might be lucky enough to catch the end of The Bad Girls Club. The premise to this show is simple: place seven women with explosive personalities in a house and watch the backstabbing begin. 

Susan Douglas suggests that both media portrayals of women, be it a doctor or a rambunctious product of plastic surgery, are devastating to the Feminist movement and women collectively. This works in a two step process. First, the media creates a dangerous and damaging illusion, in which they portray women as being extremely successful, independent and equal. The illusion of equality is where our society trips and slides down the slippery slope of enlightened sexism. Thus, a successful writer and independent woman such as Carrie Bradshaw (SATC) allows for characters such as J-wow to exist. Let's think about this for a minute. How does a positive portrayal of a female allow for such a stereotypical portrayal to exist? Simply put, enlightened sexism can almost be described as a defense mechanism, put in place by the execs and moguls who control the media. If they manipulate the public into thinking that female equality has been achieved than it is okay and acceptable to re-institute female stereotypes, which were formally rejected and shunned. Take a minute to think about this concept.  

The major problem with enlightened sexism is two- fold.

1.  First it convinces people that woman have made it to the mountain top and we are eating our hot fudge sundaes....cherry included. However, Douglas highlights the ever-essential fact that women have a long way to go. There is a major gap between the occupations women hold on television and in real life. She cites that in 2007 the main jobs for women were: secretaries, registered nurses, teachers, cashiers and retail salespersons. Clearly a far cry from the glamorous, Manolo Blahnik filled life of Carrie B. The media is feeding us "fantasies of power" and we are inhaling it.  
2. Secondly, now that we have presumably made it to the mountain top, we must exercise our new power- that is purchasing power. We need more and more items to first empower ourselves and then make ourselves attractive to men- extremely attractive. We no longer want the newest pair of Uggs, we NEED them in order to compete with other girls and please the opposite sex. As Neuborne says, "Sisterhood doesn't pay the bills." Thus, we must compete with other women for men, jobs, respect and clothing! 

Douglas implores us women to stick together, especially if we are from different generations. Don't fall victim to the tantalizing and dazzling media gimmicks. On a similar note, Adrienne Rich tells women to have the courage to be different and respect ourselves and our bodies above all. She calls into questions the irony of a women's college being run by men. This is a very interesting predicament, in which we must take responsibility and exercise our intellectual freedom. 

A concern of mine stems from Douglas' qualms with female portrayal, mainly positive portrayal.

• Yes...I understand that she believes that there is a consequence for portraying women as successful and equal. But, how than does she suggest they be portrayed? Is it really better to portray them as their top 5 professions? What effect would constantly showing women as cashiers and secretaries have? I cannot imagine it would be much better than portraying them as doctors.