Reflection 2

Last week's topic on sexuality in the media was very interesting in light of all of the media coverage of NBA player Jason Collins coming out, opening conversations about gays in the public sphere. When we watched the video Celluloid Closet last week, I was surprised that the sexuality of gays was present in the black and white films. I was disturbed with the portrayal of gays as films as with many of the other films we have watched in class. In our class discussion, the question of whether or not it is better to have bad representation or no representation at all still hangs over the class discussion every week.

In this case, I think it is better to have bad representation of gays than no representation at all. In the film, one of the commentators said that she would search for any discreet signs to show the character was gay even though that may not have been the intention from the screenwriters. By having no representation of gays in the media, it would be dangerous because it would be justifying the invisibility of many gays out there like they don’t exist. The media reflect the society’s culture and so having visibility of the gays in the film industry is very important for the millions of gays out there who look for someone they can identify with, even if the character is a bad guy/woman.

In this week’s reading, “News Media Suck at Reporting Transwomen”, I was really shocked about the violent attacks from gay men towards the transwomen. I assumed that the gays and transsexuals would generally get along and know that they are on the same team to fight for rights, equality, against prejudice, etc. I am curious to know why there is such a lack of solidarity in the LGBT community towards the transsexuals and since this was written back in 2009, if it had gotten any better. Amongst the many different women we have studied in class, transwomen have to be, in my opinion, the least visible and represented in the media. However, I do think that very slowly, more people are exposed to transwomen in the media because there is always a “shocking” story on a talk show or in an interview about a transwoman who feels like they are trapped in the wrong body.

Reflection #2

Focusing on our most recent week, which i'm not sure if we will get to discuss in class, of gender and sex categorization I realize how oblivious I was to the self-identification of a good portion of society. The identity terms "trans women" and "trans men" where usually flipped in my head and I never sought out to correct them because I don't come into connect with people that identity in either way, so I subconsciously took them out of existence all together.

Along with that, the terms intersex, genderqueer, and gender-variant where unknown to me until reading the assigned chapters in Whipping Girl, and now I believe I have a deeper understanding of the trans discourse. Furthermore, the idea of sex and gender being genital-centric in most discussion was something I hadn't thought about. This along with the text on transsexual representation in media really struck me and helped increase my media attentiveness and literacy; when the topic of transsexuals only being represented as deceptive and/or pathetic I had a hard time trying to disprove this. As of today I still can't think of any film or direct show where a transsexual isn't placed to be deceptive in order to "gain" straight men.

dress codes & rape culture

Recently came across this article which addresses school "slut-shaming" in which schools ban female marketed clothing on the bases of them being inappropriate or "distracting."

This kind of discussion usually brings to mind the underwear vs. beachwear dichotomy where both of these outfits are essentially the same, but it's all about the location you wear them for most people.

The part of the article that got to me the post was:

"4. A kindergarten student in Georgia was forced to change her “short” skirt because it was a “distraction to other students.” It’s hard to imagine that a kindergartener’s outfit could be “a distraction to other students,” but a mother in Georgia told locals news there that her daughter had been outfitted in someone else’s pants — without parental permission — after the principal deemed the skirt the young girl was wearing too short.” The girl had apparently wore the skirt, and accompanying leggings, just one week before without incident."

Where do you think the line should be crossed when it comes to school-friendly clothing?

Media Moment: Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Explains Why He Hates Fat Chicks

http://elitedaily.com/news/world/abercrombie-fitch-ceo-explains-why-he-hates-fat-chicks/

This article is truly sickening and is a prime example why women have such bad self esteem. The CEO comes straight out and says that he doesn't want fat chicks wearing his clothes. The only people who can wear his clothes are those in the "in" crowd and obviously only thin pretty girls can be in the "in" crowd. Even the ads for Abercrombie give off the same message, that thin is in by showing a model where her ribs are quite visible. The store only carries up to a L in women's but yet carries up to an XXL in men's to accommodate for large athletes. Why are these double standards still allowed? and why are women subjected to such harsh messages? Have you ever noticed a lack of larger sizes offered at stores?

Reflection 2

I enjoyed watching "Celluloid Closet" last week because it discussed the different ways that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are portrayed in Hollywood. One of the main ideas that the film had was that homosexuality is often treated as something to laugh, pity or fear. It is very saddening that homosexuals are being treated as lesser beings.

One of the moments that stuck to me was when one of the gay men interviewed said that he was fine with being gays being portrayed negatively because he is just concerned with them being represented. It did not matter to him that they were being degraded and I find myself not agreeing with him. I think that I would rather not have any representation than be represented very negatively. I remember that the professor posed that question in class too a couple of weeks ago and the class had somewhat of a 50/50 split.

Media Moment 3

I found this video a few weeks ago, and thought it would be a good fit for our class. In this video, the hegemony is switched from being heterosexual to homosexual. This is the story of a little girl who realizes she isn't homosexual like all of her society and is criticized for being a "breeder."

Many of the comments said they didn't believe that homosexuals faced these types of difficulties anymore in 2013. What do you think? Does this type of oppression and homophobia still exist?

Class Reflection #2

For this class reflection I wanted to talk about the discussion we has as a class about "unruly women," as well as women in comedy.

In class, we discussed that being "unruly" entailed being loud, obnoxious, and "unfeminine." We talked at length about Roseanne Barr and Margaret Cho. Both of these women can be considered unruly due to their "loudness" and "potty mouths," but what was most surprising was the fact that weight was a central factor in determining the "unruliness" of a woman.

This is because being "unruly" is synonymous with straying from the feminine norm, and what could be more "unfeminine" than being overweight? Being overweight is constantly associated with laziness, gluttony, and poor hygiene, when in all reality being overweight is something that can also be inherited and have nothing to do with eating or exercise habits. So why else is "fatness" associated with being unruly? Because being overweight does not comply with the hegemonic idea of what "beauty" should be. In the eyes of this culture, beauty is thin, and being this is associated with femininity. It goes without saying that if you take away the thinness then by default the femininity also goes away. Someone in class brought up the fact that Chelsea Handler is crude and loud yet she wouldn't fall under this same category because she is thin.

I also want to bring up the point that someone in class brought up: is the only place for unruly women in comedy?

It seems as though women who stray from the feminine norms are looked at in a way that can only be acceptable to laugh at. People are threatened and offended by women who do not conform to the expectations set for them by men. Therefore, they are not taken seriously. These are serious implications for just simply not conforming to a certain appearance or attitude.

I also want to mention something else we brought up in class which the fact that "unruly" men are taken completely seriously. Men such as Rush Limbaugh for example are unruly and still get taken completely seriously and are respected (well, atleast by republicans...)