Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Regarding the representation of girls and women.
Old but insightful posts I found while perusing one of ism's OPs earlier.
Females 51% of population but minority of imaginary characters and real life power positions
...
In her film, Miss Representation, Jennifer Siebel Newsom argues that there’s a connection between sexualized images of women in the media and lack of women in power positions.
I agree with this, but it goes beyond sexualized images. It’s images at all. The imaginary world has done something really scary. Females are 51% of the population, but in cartoon images marketed to kids, except for the pink ghetto, females are presented as a minority. This illusion is dangerous, because it normalizes the lack of females. We expect it and accept it.
We’ve become so used to seeing females presented as a minority that we hardly notice it anymore. We don’t question it. Even worse, our kids don’t.
...
Why do you think in imaginary worlds created for kids– worlds populated by singing lions who befriend warthogs, rats who cook, and toys who come to life, worlds where anything should be possible– females are restricted to a minority? Why does the lack of females in the imaginary world, of all places, reflect the same lack of females as in power positions? How do you think this gender gap affecting kids imaginations and aspirations? Why are we allowing this gender gap to happen?
http://reelgirl.com/2012/03/females-51-of-population-but-minority-in-imaginary-characters-and-real-life-power-poitions/
...
In her film, Miss Representation, Jennifer Siebel Newsom argues that there’s a connection between sexualized images of women in the media and lack of women in power positions.
I agree with this, but it goes beyond sexualized images. It’s images at all. The imaginary world has done something really scary. Females are 51% of the population, but in cartoon images marketed to kids, except for the pink ghetto, females are presented as a minority. This illusion is dangerous, because it normalizes the lack of females. We expect it and accept it.
We’ve become so used to seeing females presented as a minority that we hardly notice it anymore. We don’t question it. Even worse, our kids don’t.
...
Why do you think in imaginary worlds created for kids– worlds populated by singing lions who befriend warthogs, rats who cook, and toys who come to life, worlds where anything should be possible– females are restricted to a minority? Why does the lack of females in the imaginary world, of all places, reflect the same lack of females as in power positions? How do you think this gender gap affecting kids imaginations and aspirations? Why are we allowing this gender gap to happen?
http://reelgirl.com/2012/03/females-51-of-population-but-minority-in-imaginary-characters-and-real-life-power-poitions/
Sexualized images of women in media and lack of women in power positions is connected phenomenon
CNN.com reports today on Jennifer Siebel Newsom and her film Miss Representation:
...
Male characters in kids movies almost always outnumber female characters. These films are also often titled for the male protagonist. Watching an animated movie is kind of like First Lady training for girls: learn how to play the supporting role and cheer on the real star! Often, females have gone missing from kids media all together as with many of the posters advertising animated movies from 2011.
How do you think these images and narratives are influencing a generation of future leaders?
http://reelgirl.com/2012/03/sexualized-images-of-women-in-media-and-lack-of-women-in-power-positions-connected-phenomenon/
CNN.com reports today on Jennifer Siebel Newsom and her film Miss Representation:
Here’s the fantasy: A half-naked women lies across a couch, lips pouty and cleavage prominent as her sultry gaze implores you to buy this bottle of perfume.
The reality: Women make up 51% of the United States yet only 17% of seats in the House of Representatives. They’re 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs and 7% of directors in the top 250 grossing films.
What’s the connection? We live in a sexualized society where the gap between fantasy and reality is vast and harmful, director and activist Jennifer Siebel-Newsom says.
“Women are aspiring to do great things in leadership, yet the glass ceiling is still there because of the way media depict women,” Siebel-Newsom said. “It influences our culture and dictates our gender norms and values.”
...
Male characters in kids movies almost always outnumber female characters. These films are also often titled for the male protagonist. Watching an animated movie is kind of like First Lady training for girls: learn how to play the supporting role and cheer on the real star! Often, females have gone missing from kids media all together as with many of the posters advertising animated movies from 2011.
How do you think these images and narratives are influencing a generation of future leaders?
http://reelgirl.com/2012/03/sexualized-images-of-women-in-media-and-lack-of-women-in-power-positions-connected-phenomenon/
I love this blog.
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Thank you RedQ. I have gotten so many good blog recommendations since I joined HoF. 
I don't know how you find all of these, but don't stop!
I followed links from a link ismnotwasm posted earlier... Actually it was a link someone posted in a comment at the link in the OP! 
So yeah that's how I find them, talking to other feminists and reading.
