Feminists, Stereotypes and Stereotyping in the Media Essay -- Feminism

Feminists and Media Stereotypes The media portrays feminists in unflattering ways. Largely because of the media portrayal, the word feminist usually evokes images of crass, butch, men-hating, very masculine women. some women believe in the feminist doctrine, but they would never consider themselves as a feminist because they cannot relate to the images of crass, butch, men-hating, masculine women. In fact, it has only been within the ago year that Ive been able to accept the fact that I am a feminist and that my preconceived images of feminists are merely media stereotypes. Im now able to admit I care more approximately my own rights than whether or not someone will assume I fit the media stereotype of a feminsit. Feminism is the belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. One doesnt have to hate men, refuse to wear dresses, or be homosexual to be a feminist. Feminism isnt about male bashing, but rather about equality. Now I can (and do) admit freely that Im a feminist. People whitethorn think that means Im lesbian. They may think that means I hate men. They may think I have some sort of secret agenda. They can be as misinformed or stereotypical as they chose, I just want equal rights. Yet now I have to wonder why those stereotypes exist and where they stemmed from. Were early(a) feminists butch man haters? No. Early accounts from women and men of the time prove otherwise. * ... the 1848 Seneca Falls convention for a female Bill of Rights provoked editorials about unsex women...which insinuated that they had become activists because they were too repulsive to find a husband....These women are entirely devoid of personal attractions....When a supporter, Senato... ...lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/illusions2.html life-time Time Entertainment Services. 2000 Changing tone of Beauty Models http//www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/models.html Life Time Entertainment Services. 2000 Changing Face of Be auty Views. Sela Ward http//www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/views5b.html Life Time Entertainment Services. 2000 Changing Face of Beauty Views. Maricia Gillespie http//www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/views.html Life Time Entertainment Services. 2000 Douglas, Susan J. Where the Girls Are Growing Up Female with the Mass Media. unsanded York Random House Publishing, 1994, 278. Starr, Bernard. IT AINT JUST PAINTAGING AND THE MEDIA http//www.longevityworld.com/justpaint.html. 1997 Wolff, Naomi. The Beauty Myth. New York Doubleday Publishing, 1991