My head is reeling since the Oprah show yesterday on the marginalizing of women. She sat with Pink and discussed the new video, Stupid Girls; talked with Karrine Steffans about her book, Video Vixen and Ariel Levy about her book, Female Chauvinist Pigs; Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture.
Is this time so very different? Are women viewed as sex objects more today than in the past? From Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Farrah Fawcett to Madonna – poster girls, calendar girls, “women for sale” has been around a very long time. And is women profiting by selling women a brand new phenomenon? Certainly many women ascend the corporate ladder on the backs of women.
But ultimately Pink was lamenting that there are so few smart women held up as role models. She could only think of Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman. And there she was saying this to compassionate and supportive Oprah when it is obvious that Oprah is an extreme contributor to this ridiculous illusion. Day after day, week after week this season, Oprah has had dozens of shows showcasing celebrity.
But I am still left with the flood of intelligent accomplished young women who are not mentioned, not on TV, not in videos. And why not? There are thousands of women on college and university campuses all over the US. What of the women firefighters, police officers, school teachers, doctors, activists, artists --- I could go on forever. It isn’t that they don’t exist, it is that they are not noticed. Sure there are many smart women in entertainment but the issue is holding up empty and idiotic things as fulfilling. From sanctifying weight loss and make-overs ~ to ~ From Bra and Jean Interventions and Bad Hair Days (seriously those aired on Oprah).
Ok Oprah, lets deal with some solutions here. How about shows on what girls and women could benefit from – developing character, ethical understanding, social and spiritual activism, global and political advancement.
Let me help:
- What is sexism?
- What was life like before Roe v Wade?
- What is physical autonomy?
- What is pay equity?
- How do women solve conflicts?
- What is the second wave and third wave of feminism?
- Where are women excelling?
- What is true and lasting beauty?
- What countries have women in leadership?
- What countries allow women and men to vote?
- What countries protect women constitutionally?
- What rank in the world is the US in women in leadership? (69th)
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