http://adage.com/bigtent/article?article_id=120429&search_phrase=Is+black+back%3F
I can see both sides but in all actuality, our society has become so careful as to not step on anyone’s toes that it’s getting ridiculous. People need to not take things so seriously and besides, a name only has meaning if you place meaning behind it; otherwise it’s just a name.
I don’t know why the politically correct term is “African-American.” I suppose you could see who is from America and who is a foreigner but sadly in these days there is not enough awareness to differentiate between a Nigerian and an African American and there’s also way too many people in this world to know all the differences.
With America being the melting pot it is, what name to call darker-colored people shouldn’t be that big of an issue. It gets on my nerves more than anything when they do make it a big issue because you don’t see Indians protesting what they’re called…think about it.
Indians were here first, why then are they called American Indian or Native Indian. It should just be Indian and you should know. But often times American Indians are confused with East Indians. In America people call East Indians, Indians…would it then be politically incorrect? But you don’t see us all up in arms.
The only push towards what name to call Indians is to use American Indian not Native American, because anyone can be a native to this country. I do support the movement from being called American Indian rather than Native American but the point is that we don’t get all wrapped up in the issue. Its not that it’s not important, it’s just that we know there are more important things to us than to be nit-picky about every little thing.
I think the more important and interesting research to be done here is how society moves from using one term to another. How does it transition and how does it spread to others to use it as well?
That would be worth looking into.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Compelling murder mystery didn't have made-for-TV ending
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/101607dnmetfloyd.341673a.html
I am always annoyed that murder victim stories never follow through till the end. And it’s sad that if this story had turned into such a tradegy, the story might have been aired. This story is an everyday event, but it doesn’t seem like an everyday event because society never sees it.
People don’t ever expect to get robbed during the day because they only see the crimes happen at night, at least that’s what the media shows.
Things aren’t always what they seem with the media and I don’t think it ever will be because they will never release the entirety of any story aired.
I am always annoyed that murder victim stories never follow through till the end. And it’s sad that if this story had turned into such a tradegy, the story might have been aired. This story is an everyday event, but it doesn’t seem like an everyday event because society never sees it.
People don’t ever expect to get robbed during the day because they only see the crimes happen at night, at least that’s what the media shows.
Things aren’t always what they seem with the media and I don’t think it ever will be because they will never release the entirety of any story aired.
Thanksgiving Has Nothing to do with Iraq
The other day, during the Thanksgiving holiday, I heard this quick report on the radio that went something like, “Today in Iraq there are families celebrating a traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey and stuffing…”
What the fuck, and excuse my language, but who the hell cares about what the Iraq people are doing for Thanksgiving?! Not to mention that why are they celebrating it anyway?!?! Thanksgiving celebrates the day when the Indians taught the white people, aka pilgrims, how to grow corn and live on this land. I don’t remember the Indians ever teaching the Iraq people how to grow corn.
This radio bit made me furious! They shouldn’t be celebrating this holiday because it is an AMERICAN holiday! Plus, were they being forced to celebrate it? Was it being pressured onto them? Honestly, where would they get the idea to celebrate this American holiday? And what’s next?? Are they going to start dressing up like Santa Clause and laying out cookies and milk for him?
I believe in helping other countries and I fully support our troops but I DO NOT support us trying to instill OUR traditions on people that aren’t even in our country! It’s ridiculous!
What the fuck, and excuse my language, but who the hell cares about what the Iraq people are doing for Thanksgiving?! Not to mention that why are they celebrating it anyway?!?! Thanksgiving celebrates the day when the Indians taught the white people, aka pilgrims, how to grow corn and live on this land. I don’t remember the Indians ever teaching the Iraq people how to grow corn.
This radio bit made me furious! They shouldn’t be celebrating this holiday because it is an AMERICAN holiday! Plus, were they being forced to celebrate it? Was it being pressured onto them? Honestly, where would they get the idea to celebrate this American holiday? And what’s next?? Are they going to start dressing up like Santa Clause and laying out cookies and milk for him?
I believe in helping other countries and I fully support our troops but I DO NOT support us trying to instill OUR traditions on people that aren’t even in our country! It’s ridiculous!
Protesting Demeaning Images in Media
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/arts/05enou.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
I am a little confused by this article...maybe more confused on how I should take it. I do agree that BET and channels like MTV have way to vulgar stuff and to tell you the truth I am so disgusted at what they show on those programs, especially at night, I refuse to watch them.
The only part that I am confused on is the true stance of the Enough is Enough group. Are they protesting that BET is only showing a small portion of black life or it is showing a completely wrong portion? I ask this because I have seen blacks look and act just like the blacks in BET…some of them looked like they just stepped out of the show. I’m not ignorant enough to think that all blacks are like this, but I always wondered if blacks (especially young ones) acted like they do because of what is aired on BET? Kind of a “monkey-see-monkey-do” sort of thing. Either way, I’m glad they are protesting and I think more people of all races should protest because it amazes me today that the stuff in rap videos can even be aired on television.
For Clues on Teenage Sex, Experts Look to Hip-Hop
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/health/06well.html
“We need to teach teens that these portrayals of women and sex don’t represent reality,” as one person stated in the article. When I hear hip-hop lyrics I do believe its true but not just for anyone. I usually associate the artists lyrics with the artist, seeing that they usually are promiscuous and treat woman around them like they’re objects. I don’t believe that all black people are like the lyrics in hip-hop songs but I never relate any other race to hip-hop lyrics.
Maybe it’s because I always see rap videos being the same with them verbally putting down women and treating them like they’re not even human.
I remember this one college girl had stated how she was mad at all the white people for buying rap cds and supporting this false image of black people. All I could think was, hello!!! It’s your people that are writing this junk and as Marc Newman stated in a previous article, “A lot of rap isn’t rap anymore, it’s just people selling their souls.” Both parties are at fault and we all need to take a stand.
I am a little confused by this article...maybe more confused on how I should take it. I do agree that BET and channels like MTV have way to vulgar stuff and to tell you the truth I am so disgusted at what they show on those programs, especially at night, I refuse to watch them.
The only part that I am confused on is the true stance of the Enough is Enough group. Are they protesting that BET is only showing a small portion of black life or it is showing a completely wrong portion? I ask this because I have seen blacks look and act just like the blacks in BET…some of them looked like they just stepped out of the show. I’m not ignorant enough to think that all blacks are like this, but I always wondered if blacks (especially young ones) acted like they do because of what is aired on BET? Kind of a “monkey-see-monkey-do” sort of thing. Either way, I’m glad they are protesting and I think more people of all races should protest because it amazes me today that the stuff in rap videos can even be aired on television.
For Clues on Teenage Sex, Experts Look to Hip-Hop
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/health/06well.html
“We need to teach teens that these portrayals of women and sex don’t represent reality,” as one person stated in the article. When I hear hip-hop lyrics I do believe its true but not just for anyone. I usually associate the artists lyrics with the artist, seeing that they usually are promiscuous and treat woman around them like they’re objects. I don’t believe that all black people are like the lyrics in hip-hop songs but I never relate any other race to hip-hop lyrics.
Maybe it’s because I always see rap videos being the same with them verbally putting down women and treating them like they’re not even human.
I remember this one college girl had stated how she was mad at all the white people for buying rap cds and supporting this false image of black people. All I could think was, hello!!! It’s your people that are writing this junk and as Marc Newman stated in a previous article, “A lot of rap isn’t rap anymore, it’s just people selling their souls.” Both parties are at fault and we all need to take a stand.
Top General Sparks Outrage: Calls Same-Sex Relationships “Immoral”
http://www.glaad.org/eye/stories.php#ucc_ejector
This is definitely a touchy subject, but in my own opinion I believe we as humans do not have a right to condemn others for their actions. I think we should respect their differences as long as it doesn’t affect society as a whole or harm anyone.
I personally do not agree with any homosexual actions; however, I do not believe this makes someone a bad person and they shouldn’t be treated like a bad person.
The General was definitely wrong about speaking up in such a manner and yes he should be praising ANYONE who sacrifices themselves for their country, but he obviously believed in what he spoke and I myself wouldn’t have apologized for my beliefs. But it makes me wonder if this General is a typical example of how society and media pressures men to be as macho as possible and anything less than that is, and excuse my pun, gay.
This is definitely a touchy subject, but in my own opinion I believe we as humans do not have a right to condemn others for their actions. I think we should respect their differences as long as it doesn’t affect society as a whole or harm anyone.
I personally do not agree with any homosexual actions; however, I do not believe this makes someone a bad person and they shouldn’t be treated like a bad person.
The General was definitely wrong about speaking up in such a manner and yes he should be praising ANYONE who sacrifices themselves for their country, but he obviously believed in what he spoke and I myself wouldn’t have apologized for my beliefs. But it makes me wonder if this General is a typical example of how society and media pressures men to be as macho as possible and anything less than that is, and excuse my pun, gay.
In Bruce Lee's Shadow: Asians Struggle to Create New Hollywood Images
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=771790&page=1&Entertainment=true
When the article mentioned how Asians were never seen as leading roles in falling in love, I had never really thought about it before, but it’s true! Even in one of Jackie Chan’s movies there is opportunities for him to “hook up” with a woman and it’s just like the article stated, “they’re too busy fighting off villains to fall in love.” I wonder if this is why people outside of the Asian culture do not view Asians as attractive?
As the article started to talk about Asian actresses, they mentioned a current actress that played a role different from past Asian roles. Her name is Sandra Oh and she is one of the lead roles in the TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. I personally love this character and love that she doesn’t have a “typical Chinese accent.” I hope to see more characters like her.
However, I came upon a very sad discovery. I Googled Sandra’s name and went to images, a couple of images over I happened to scroll onto a page that completely disgusted me. It was a poll site that called her ugly and had people compare a character from an old movie with Cher, but the name escapes me. Not even a couple of images down I saw her in a Marie Claire ad in which I could barely recognize her! They had her done in so much make up, and I’m sure with tons of Photoshop, that it made me sad for her. I wonder how she feels looking at a picture that doesn’t even look like herself, does that make her feel incapable? I wish they would leave her natural, we need more normal every-day people in media.
When the article mentioned how Asians were never seen as leading roles in falling in love, I had never really thought about it before, but it’s true! Even in one of Jackie Chan’s movies there is opportunities for him to “hook up” with a woman and it’s just like the article stated, “they’re too busy fighting off villains to fall in love.” I wonder if this is why people outside of the Asian culture do not view Asians as attractive?
As the article started to talk about Asian actresses, they mentioned a current actress that played a role different from past Asian roles. Her name is Sandra Oh and she is one of the lead roles in the TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. I personally love this character and love that she doesn’t have a “typical Chinese accent.” I hope to see more characters like her.
However, I came upon a very sad discovery. I Googled Sandra’s name and went to images, a couple of images over I happened to scroll onto a page that completely disgusted me. It was a poll site that called her ugly and had people compare a character from an old movie with Cher, but the name escapes me. Not even a couple of images down I saw her in a Marie Claire ad in which I could barely recognize her! They had her done in so much make up, and I’m sure with tons of Photoshop, that it made me sad for her. I wonder how she feels looking at a picture that doesn’t even look like herself, does that make her feel incapable? I wish they would leave her natural, we need more normal every-day people in media.
Sexism, Strength and Dominance: Masculinity in Disney Films
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CWMCt35oFY&feature=related
An important topic in this study was on how men are told how to act. Media tells men that woman are for pleasure or are for servants that should please them. I think this is very true today and also why I feel relationships today have such problems.
Media tells men that women should be flawless and should expect them to give up their bodies to men. I think this is why women, especially young women, feel they have so much pressure put on them because they are getting it from the media as well as men around them telling them what to be, how to act, and how to look.
I believe that just like young girls are told to look sexy to transform into a woman, boys also have pressure to be a certain type of man. This certain type is to be masculine, which is defined by strength and physical prowess. In the Disney movie, Mulan, there is a song describing everything a man should be. “He must be swift as a coursing river, be a man! With all the force of a great typhoon, be a man! With all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.” I feel that these types of messages put on a lot of pressure for men to be what media considers masculine and I am even victim to judging men if their not “masculine enough.” But a part of me wonders if this is a “survival of the fittest” or a stereotype that is hurting our society.
The study then goes on to explain how not fighting is seen as pitiful. Even today it baffles me how men protect their territory, as they call it aka their woman, by trying to act macho, tough, and eventually leading into fights. I’ve often asked why men feel the need to do so but they can never explain why. They just say, it’s what men do, it’s divides the men from the boys. I think its ridiculous and wonder if they would ever admit it is as well.
These images will begin to shape what we know about reality and even if media today was to stray outside of stereotypes, there would be a lot of hardship for those children as they would be growing up in a more accepting world that their fathers cannot understand.
An important topic in this study was on how men are told how to act. Media tells men that woman are for pleasure or are for servants that should please them. I think this is very true today and also why I feel relationships today have such problems.
Media tells men that women should be flawless and should expect them to give up their bodies to men. I think this is why women, especially young women, feel they have so much pressure put on them because they are getting it from the media as well as men around them telling them what to be, how to act, and how to look.
I believe that just like young girls are told to look sexy to transform into a woman, boys also have pressure to be a certain type of man. This certain type is to be masculine, which is defined by strength and physical prowess. In the Disney movie, Mulan, there is a song describing everything a man should be. “He must be swift as a coursing river, be a man! With all the force of a great typhoon, be a man! With all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.” I feel that these types of messages put on a lot of pressure for men to be what media considers masculine and I am even victim to judging men if their not “masculine enough.” But a part of me wonders if this is a “survival of the fittest” or a stereotype that is hurting our society.
The study then goes on to explain how not fighting is seen as pitiful. Even today it baffles me how men protect their territory, as they call it aka their woman, by trying to act macho, tough, and eventually leading into fights. I’ve often asked why men feel the need to do so but they can never explain why. They just say, it’s what men do, it’s divides the men from the boys. I think its ridiculous and wonder if they would ever admit it is as well.
These images will begin to shape what we know about reality and even if media today was to stray outside of stereotypes, there would be a lot of hardship for those children as they would be growing up in a more accepting world that their fathers cannot understand.
Women In Media Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwhhAmRvJI
Portrayals of Women in Media
Seeing the transformation of stars from a young girl to a woman puts a lot of pressure on girls to be beautiful and sexy if they want to be wanted and to make it in this world once they grow out of adolescents.
It talks about teenage girls being very vulnerable and believing what media presents them as reality. I think this also affects relationships between men and woman because I guys also are vulnerable to the false reality of woman media presents.
This video also touches on how woman are seen as objects and media promotes violence towards women. I wonder if this is why there is less respect for woman than in the past and why men feel that they can treat us as objects than as actual human beings.
This video also talks about how society puts pressure on us to juggle tasks of keeping up with household chores, family and maybe a career life (if there’s time). It asks, “when do women have time to be themselves?” It seems that media doesn’t make time for us to do so. It seems there’s only enough time to make ourselves presentable enough and to serve the men around us.
Portrayals of Women in Media
Seeing the transformation of stars from a young girl to a woman puts a lot of pressure on girls to be beautiful and sexy if they want to be wanted and to make it in this world once they grow out of adolescents.
It talks about teenage girls being very vulnerable and believing what media presents them as reality. I think this also affects relationships between men and woman because I guys also are vulnerable to the false reality of woman media presents.
This video also touches on how woman are seen as objects and media promotes violence towards women. I wonder if this is why there is less respect for woman than in the past and why men feel that they can treat us as objects than as actual human beings.
This video also talks about how society puts pressure on us to juggle tasks of keeping up with household chores, family and maybe a career life (if there’s time). It asks, “when do women have time to be themselves?” It seems that media doesn’t make time for us to do so. It seems there’s only enough time to make ourselves presentable enough and to serve the men around us.
A Girl Like Me
This video surprisingly struck so many different emotions in me. It got me thinking, got me angry, sad, and ashamed. By the end I felt tired and inspired, but most importantly, aware.
When the girls in the video started talking about how light colored people were more attractive, I started thinking about all the black people in media today. Its funny because the most popular black people today have the whitest features, for example, Beyonce Knowles (who always gets reamed for her bigger-than-normal butt) has a very slim nose, lighter skin, and white-like hair. Haley Barry also has these same features; in fact, she’s actually half white but is considered black in the media. I always wonder why that is when people are half black/half white, why they always claim black and disregard the white side?
The only thing I don’t agree with was that one girl whose mother told her to change her hair because she was starting to look African and the daughter responds with, “I am African.” At first I didn’t agree with the daughter about her being African. Her family has probably been in America for centuries so it’s not like she has any ties to America. But then I started thinking about people that come from Germany and they have been in America for a while yet they still say they are German. It was then that I felt ashamed for having such naive thinking in which I was glad to have watched this video for it opened my eyes a little more.
I then was a bit humored as I watched these girls talk about how they wanted to be lighter when they were younger, because I used to think the same thing. As a child I was always running around in the sun and as an American Indian I would get really, really dark. I remember looking at my mom, who is completely white, and looking at my skin and praying to God that I could be whiter. I would even sadly pray to be so white that you could see my veins through my skin like the girls in school. I think the worst was when I was in cheerleading, it seemed that all the really popular and pretty girls were white and I don’t know if I wanted to be white to be popular or if I wanted to be whiter to be considered beautiful. Either way, I remember that feeling of hating that I was dark. Looking back on it now, especially since being tan is considered beautiful, I scorn myself for being so stupid as to pray to have white skin.
The video then moved on to talk about bleaching cream that blacks would use to make their skin whiter. I thought this was crazy and absurd that someone would be that willing to make themselves change. I then started thinking about how bleaching cream was a very prominent in Asian cultures as well. Being white in Asian cultures is placed with high importance. You never even see a dark Asian, whether male or female, in any advertisements. You can even see this Asian stereotype of beauty passed on in America as I’m sure you’ve seen Asians with umbrellas in the hot summers of Texas. They have those umbrellas because they would not dream of getting any darker; or to them, any uglier.
It wasn’t until the video touched on the recreated study by Kenneth Clark that I felt so sad that I about burst into tears. It absolutely broke my heart when I saw those children pick white doll after white doll, but nothing was worse than when the little black girl had to say which doll was bad and then show that doll was what she looked like. It made me want to jump in the screen and hold her in my arms, as if to shield her from the world, and tell her that she wasn’t bad and that she was beautiful. I would love to see why they think the black doll is bad though. Did they truly understand the word? Did they think the doll looked bad not that it was actually a bad, aka evil, doll?
In the end of the video the girls talked about how they felt they have a culture and don’t really know where they come from. I know how they feel in a sense. I know a part of me is American Indian and I know my culture up until my grandfather. But the ways of my past have been lost and greatly diminished since the Trail of Tears and since my family switched to Christianity and dismissed the ways of our people. I can related to these girls feeling that they feel like something is missing because I feel the same. I feel like I truly don’t know who I am, especially since I have no idea what my mother is.
All in all this was a great video and I surprisingly related to it maybe more than anyone else in that class who wasn’t already black. But I hope others took the video more seriously and had it open their eyes more because it’s a shame if they walked away just as ignorant as when they came in.
When the girls in the video started talking about how light colored people were more attractive, I started thinking about all the black people in media today. Its funny because the most popular black people today have the whitest features, for example, Beyonce Knowles (who always gets reamed for her bigger-than-normal butt) has a very slim nose, lighter skin, and white-like hair. Haley Barry also has these same features; in fact, she’s actually half white but is considered black in the media. I always wonder why that is when people are half black/half white, why they always claim black and disregard the white side?
The only thing I don’t agree with was that one girl whose mother told her to change her hair because she was starting to look African and the daughter responds with, “I am African.” At first I didn’t agree with the daughter about her being African. Her family has probably been in America for centuries so it’s not like she has any ties to America. But then I started thinking about people that come from Germany and they have been in America for a while yet they still say they are German. It was then that I felt ashamed for having such naive thinking in which I was glad to have watched this video for it opened my eyes a little more.
I then was a bit humored as I watched these girls talk about how they wanted to be lighter when they were younger, because I used to think the same thing. As a child I was always running around in the sun and as an American Indian I would get really, really dark. I remember looking at my mom, who is completely white, and looking at my skin and praying to God that I could be whiter. I would even sadly pray to be so white that you could see my veins through my skin like the girls in school. I think the worst was when I was in cheerleading, it seemed that all the really popular and pretty girls were white and I don’t know if I wanted to be white to be popular or if I wanted to be whiter to be considered beautiful. Either way, I remember that feeling of hating that I was dark. Looking back on it now, especially since being tan is considered beautiful, I scorn myself for being so stupid as to pray to have white skin.
The video then moved on to talk about bleaching cream that blacks would use to make their skin whiter. I thought this was crazy and absurd that someone would be that willing to make themselves change. I then started thinking about how bleaching cream was a very prominent in Asian cultures as well. Being white in Asian cultures is placed with high importance. You never even see a dark Asian, whether male or female, in any advertisements. You can even see this Asian stereotype of beauty passed on in America as I’m sure you’ve seen Asians with umbrellas in the hot summers of Texas. They have those umbrellas because they would not dream of getting any darker; or to them, any uglier.
It wasn’t until the video touched on the recreated study by Kenneth Clark that I felt so sad that I about burst into tears. It absolutely broke my heart when I saw those children pick white doll after white doll, but nothing was worse than when the little black girl had to say which doll was bad and then show that doll was what she looked like. It made me want to jump in the screen and hold her in my arms, as if to shield her from the world, and tell her that she wasn’t bad and that she was beautiful. I would love to see why they think the black doll is bad though. Did they truly understand the word? Did they think the doll looked bad not that it was actually a bad, aka evil, doll?
In the end of the video the girls talked about how they felt they have a culture and don’t really know where they come from. I know how they feel in a sense. I know a part of me is American Indian and I know my culture up until my grandfather. But the ways of my past have been lost and greatly diminished since the Trail of Tears and since my family switched to Christianity and dismissed the ways of our people. I can related to these girls feeling that they feel like something is missing because I feel the same. I feel like I truly don’t know who I am, especially since I have no idea what my mother is.
All in all this was a great video and I surprisingly related to it maybe more than anyone else in that class who wasn’t already black. But I hope others took the video more seriously and had it open their eyes more because it’s a shame if they walked away just as ignorant as when they came in.
Portrayals of Women in Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMwhhAmRvJI
This video touched on a very good point, “to be beautiful is to be powerful.” But they never explain in what way. I am faced and condemned with this quote all the time. It’s funny when I relate this comment to myself because I get such different people who actually voice this to me…let me explain:
I hear this comment from a variety of different people. The most being males. When I talk about what I want to do career wise I always hear, “you’re gonna do just fine.” Really, why do you think? I immediately respond with. “Well, because, you know,” they stamper. “No, I don’t, explain,” I say with a stern face, they usually have a concerned face at this point wondering if they should explain further. “You know, you seem independent and are pretty so you’ll go places.”
Just as I thought, I don’t need another person telling me that I’m gonna make it in this world just based on looks. I don’t want to be a person that just relies on that, not to mention that is the worst explanation to give on the only reason why I will be successful. That means nothing to me, but to them they see it as a gate key or something; as if I have the upper hand over everyone. It makes me furious because there is so much more to me than what you see, but that is only what people see. Every day it’s as if I have to prove myself to everyone. I get stereotyped every day as being white, stupid, a snob, and incapable of having any goals and dreams; all because of my outer appearance.
Getting back to the subject, men always see prettiness as the ultimate positive and power and I wonder if this is only because they see themselves giving a pretty girl anything they want so they know other men would too. But also, I don’t think they realize how being pretty can affect you in the corporate world. My biggest fear is being faced with a male that asks for sexual favors to get ahead. I would NEVER EVER even consider it and am ultimately disgusted that women do this today. It makes it so much harder for honest, self-respecting individuals to ever get ahead fairly in this world.
Surprisingly, I have also received the “to be beautiful is to be powerful” comment from a woman. Less surprising is she was from an era where it was near impossible for a woman to have a high-ranking job and especially hard for a pretty women to make it in the world. I felt offended when she too mentioned that I would do just fine in the corporate world because, and I quote, “you look the way you do.” But I had to remind myself where she was coming from and realize that sadly this type of thinking is still saturated in the corporate world. It makes me wonder what differences I will face as compared to that woman in her day. I realize that I am fortunate to not be what media considers hideous, as I have seen TV specials showing how prettier people do get ahead more than those who are not. But it still makes me sad that the world is like this, especially a professional world. And it makes me sad to know that some people are mean to be because they know this fact, as if I had anything to do with it. Will this position of power behind beauty change? Not likely, not likely at all.
This video touched on a very good point, “to be beautiful is to be powerful.” But they never explain in what way. I am faced and condemned with this quote all the time. It’s funny when I relate this comment to myself because I get such different people who actually voice this to me…let me explain:
I hear this comment from a variety of different people. The most being males. When I talk about what I want to do career wise I always hear, “you’re gonna do just fine.” Really, why do you think? I immediately respond with. “Well, because, you know,” they stamper. “No, I don’t, explain,” I say with a stern face, they usually have a concerned face at this point wondering if they should explain further. “You know, you seem independent and are pretty so you’ll go places.”
Just as I thought, I don’t need another person telling me that I’m gonna make it in this world just based on looks. I don’t want to be a person that just relies on that, not to mention that is the worst explanation to give on the only reason why I will be successful. That means nothing to me, but to them they see it as a gate key or something; as if I have the upper hand over everyone. It makes me furious because there is so much more to me than what you see, but that is only what people see. Every day it’s as if I have to prove myself to everyone. I get stereotyped every day as being white, stupid, a snob, and incapable of having any goals and dreams; all because of my outer appearance.
Getting back to the subject, men always see prettiness as the ultimate positive and power and I wonder if this is only because they see themselves giving a pretty girl anything they want so they know other men would too. But also, I don’t think they realize how being pretty can affect you in the corporate world. My biggest fear is being faced with a male that asks for sexual favors to get ahead. I would NEVER EVER even consider it and am ultimately disgusted that women do this today. It makes it so much harder for honest, self-respecting individuals to ever get ahead fairly in this world.
Surprisingly, I have also received the “to be beautiful is to be powerful” comment from a woman. Less surprising is she was from an era where it was near impossible for a woman to have a high-ranking job and especially hard for a pretty women to make it in the world. I felt offended when she too mentioned that I would do just fine in the corporate world because, and I quote, “you look the way you do.” But I had to remind myself where she was coming from and realize that sadly this type of thinking is still saturated in the corporate world. It makes me wonder what differences I will face as compared to that woman in her day. I realize that I am fortunate to not be what media considers hideous, as I have seen TV specials showing how prettier people do get ahead more than those who are not. But it still makes me sad that the world is like this, especially a professional world. And it makes me sad to know that some people are mean to be because they know this fact, as if I had anything to do with it. Will this position of power behind beauty change? Not likely, not likely at all.
Dove Onslaught
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an advertisement advertise something that was actually for the consumer. This was even beyond. Yes, I can see how in supporting/creating this advertisement it sways people’s stance with the brand to like them more because they actually support something that is good. But Dove is doing a very unique thing in which they are making a stance against one, their own branch (Axe), and two, against media.
This campaign is indeed the best yet because there is so much pressure today on woman to be a certain way; especially with media telling you what is beautiful and what is not.
Recently I have been seeing scandalous dress, like shorter skirts, being worn on younger and younger children. In discussions with my friends we are flabbergasted by it! Why is this happening and why aren’t parents stepping in?! I wonder if it is because the parents who are having these children are children themselves; as today you see more and more people having children at such a young age.
I also wonder if it is because parents have a different outlook on discipline than their parents did. In a research study I did this past year, I found that millennial parents had a much different relationship with their children than they had with their parents. They had a more open relationship, almost equal, as they were more likely to sit down with their kids and talk with them about issues whereas their parents were more authoritative with the attitude of “do this because I tell you to and don’t ask questions.”
Either way I absolutely adore this commercial and wish I would see it on the air more often as I feel parents do not realize how strong media can affect their children. The only downfall to this video is that we have to make a video like this for people to be aware…what is our world coming to?
This campaign is indeed the best yet because there is so much pressure today on woman to be a certain way; especially with media telling you what is beautiful and what is not.
Recently I have been seeing scandalous dress, like shorter skirts, being worn on younger and younger children. In discussions with my friends we are flabbergasted by it! Why is this happening and why aren’t parents stepping in?! I wonder if it is because the parents who are having these children are children themselves; as today you see more and more people having children at such a young age.
I also wonder if it is because parents have a different outlook on discipline than their parents did. In a research study I did this past year, I found that millennial parents had a much different relationship with their children than they had with their parents. They had a more open relationship, almost equal, as they were more likely to sit down with their kids and talk with them about issues whereas their parents were more authoritative with the attitude of “do this because I tell you to and don’t ask questions.”
Either way I absolutely adore this commercial and wish I would see it on the air more often as I feel parents do not realize how strong media can affect their children. The only downfall to this video is that we have to make a video like this for people to be aware…what is our world coming to?
Friday, September 7, 2007
News Habits
How do you get news?
My main source of news is by word of mouth. I would have to say that would account for 75% of where I get my news. The other 25% comes from quick stories from a bar TV, reading a couple passages from Quick newspaper, reading the North Texas Daily, or reading a random magazine like newsweek, ect. I even read things from my hotmail newsfeed as well.
How often?
My news source that is by word of mouth I get daily. The rest I do not seek out often, just when I might be sitting in a doctors office or bored in class or waiting for class to start.
What do you read and view both online and offline?
The articles I read online come from the hotmail newsfeed. I read any article that catches my eye, for example, health news, celeberity news, stock and investments or any other articles that relate to information that interests me.
For news offline, I read the articles pertaining to what interests me. The North Texas Daily, for example, keeps me informed on news going on within campus. Quick newspaper allows me to keep up with world events and even celeberty news, and newsweek or magazines like Forbes allow me to keep up with life news, such as investments and business news.
About how many hours a day or a week do you intentionally seek out news coverage?
I don't seek out news daily; however, I would have to say 3 hours in a week would be a good estimate of how much time I intentionally seek out news coverage.
And one last question: when you think about news media and their coverage of race or gender or sexualities or disabilities, what are your own assumptions?
I think news media and their coverage is as false as Paris Hiltons revelation while in jail. News media runs on the whim of someones mouth; for example, say a "very important person" wants something to be covered that sways a vote in one direction more than another. Well there you go, you have CNN and its opposing rival Fox. Another example? How about when a uproar amongst a certain ethnicity breaks out? Say, African Americans are making a scene that they are not being equally represented in the media. Well the next month and there after you see a multitude of coverage for African Americans because of the uproar and possibly threat of lawsuits. But what about the other races, do they have to make an uproar just to be represented equally as well?
Point being, is that news media only shows whatever the "boss man" wants you to see and believe or, depending on what stance you take, feeds you whatever you want to hear (as compared to an opposing station that shoots down all your beliefs, so of course you don't want to watch that station). Unless you are a person that does not feed off of whatever people throw you, but rather take in information from both sides, think about it, and take YOUR own perception and form YOUR own opinions about whatever topic, then news media is worthless.
News media just creates a divide amongst coverage of race or gender or sexualities or disabilities; it prolongs the ever-revolving war of negativity and takes advantage of ignorant people who cant think for themselves.
So what do I think of news media? Well all of the above and, if I haven't made my underlining point clear, that I hate it. If I ever want to be reminded that the world is going to hell in a hand-basket or if I want to be told what to think and how to act towards other people, that will be the day that my morning and nights become submerged in the lies of today's news media.
The end.
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