"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society." Rush Limbaugh.
When it comes to sexism, the liberal left and conservative right media are on the same page. The left coverage of Sarah Palin and the right coverage of Nancy Pelosi are equally despicable.
Liberal MSNBC's coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign was unremittingly critical of Hillary Clinton and began pressing for her withdrawal from the campaign long before the tide of primary results turned against her. Mike Barnacle, Chris Matthews, Pat Buchanan, Dan Shuster, and yes, even Keith Olbermann, all participated. MSNBC's egregious sexism rivaled the ultra-conservative Fox News - no mean trick.
Then there is popular pundit, "politically incorrect" Bill Maher. Rare is the "Real Time with Bill Maher" episode that doesn't include a vicious attack on women. It pains me that someone with whom I agree on many issues is a misogynistic male-gonad-head. (I tried to clean that up, but no other expression worked for me.)
Women are objectified in advertising. Rap music videos portray abuse of women as if it merits a badge of honor. Magazine covers at the supermarket and drug store checkouts force photo-shopped images of unattainable female perfection upon us as we pay for our groceries and suddenly remember we need hemorrhoid wipes. These are WOMEN'S magazines!
Themes of violence perpetrated against women usually guarantee good sales for movies and television programs. Entertainment that portrays women as normal human beings struggling to survive in a difficult world (just like the other 49 percent of the U. S. population) is tough to find. Women who are not young and beautiful do not live on Planet Hollywood.
What we will not see in advertisements, movies or TV shows are women who resemble those you meet every day and know well. You will not see your mother, your sister, your favorite aunt, your friend, yourself unless you catch a newscaster's interview with family victims of a tragedy or natural disaster. Even there, attempts will be made to find the most desperate looking victims, the sexiest, or the dumbest - all preferable to a normal woman (or man either in this instance).
A student project from Santa Monica College I found on YouTube is a little long but you have to love them. I would like to give them all hugs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w44B1JzdwXY
Shows like The Bachelor, Real Housewives of Orange County (Atlanta, New Jersey, whatever) and CSI portray women as physically perfect, sex-crazed, intellectually challenged bimbos or tantalizingly dressed, impossibly thin, supposedly hard-as-nails detectives.
For news commentary, how about more Cokie Roberts, Christiane Amanpour, Candy Crowley and less Betty Nguyen, Alisyn Camerota and Maria Bartiromo (CNBC's "Money Honey")?
There are no more Roseannes. Roseanne Barr was my heroine. Her show was gutsy, in your face and its characters resembled people I could imagine actually knowing. She brazenly fought her producers tooth and nail until she achieved artistic control, willing to be called "difficult," "temperamental" and "controlling" to do it.
Disclaimer: Last season did bring us a handful of promising new sitcoms - The Middle, Modern Family and Parenthood. The situations are promising, but all but two of the female leads are the usual drop-dead gorgeous prototypes.
Women are not oblivious to the spurious nature of the media standards set for them. Check out the "Real Woman Fashion Show" at UC Davis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nvu7uYQw-M&NR=1
Those California students are savvy!
Finally, a taste of what your pre-teen daughters and granddaughters are about to face:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6JvK0W60I&feature=related
Is there sexism in media? Is there anything else?
Possibly coming soon: Sexism - The Fellow Travelers
Here's what I think...
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