How far is too far?
This is the question that no one will ever be able to establish the “right” answer for, but I think we can all agree that our own individual perception of ‘too far’is far enough.
When I think back to all the famous activists who have campaigned and fought for the freedom, respect, justice, and equal opportunities for women: Shirin Ebadi, Sampat Pal Devi, Aparajita Gogoi, Lubna Hussein, Graca Machel, Somaly Mam, Lisa Robinson, Nawal El Saadawi, Mary Wollstonecraft, Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Millicent Fawcett, Emmeline Pankhurst, Emily Murphy, Betty Friedan, Wangari Maathai, Billie Jean King and even most recently young Malala Yousafzai; one begins to wonder why in 2014, the media still continues to out rightly portray women as ‘ornamental’, ‘emotionally unbalanced’, ‘hysterical’ and ‘stupid’as well as blaming them for why ‘sports has lost its way’ and often undervaluing what they have contributed towards society.
Are women supposed to only ‘know their role and shut their mouth’?Well it depends on what you mean by their ‘role’in the first place. If you mean stay at home, cook, keep the house clean, raise the children, adhere to their husbands every wish, and command then…lol you must be out of your baby-making mind! Contrary to this traditional stereotype, my role as a young woman is not to display my body as an object of desire on every social media platform available either. I want the media to let me know that a Skool girl’s most valuable asset is her brain, not her D cup boobs or Nicki Minaj looking behind!
This video, ‘How the Media Failed Women in 2013’, was published last December… and with over 4 million views, I am still scratching my Cerebrum in regards to why I’ve only just come across this remarkable YouTube discovery? (better late than never I s’pose). What I love particularly about The Representation Project video, is the fetching contrast shown between what we can celebrate about 21st century women in the media to the ever-still unchanging stigmas that need to be kicked as far, deep, wide, horizontal, vertical, north, south, east and west of the kerb as possible.
There are always two or more extremes when it comes to discussing the representation of women in the media. In the early 20th century women ‘power dressed’, however fast forward 50 years plus, it’s no longer necessary for women to stalk around in men’s suits trying to prove that they are capable of being the CEO’s, corporate leaders and successful business innovators. Thank goodness, I am perfectly capable of doing this in a yellow skater dress, pink pop socks, and blue lipstick.
The question is Skool Girls, what do you want to tell the world? Not just as a ‘female’ but as a human being first and foremost. Every time you post a picture, choose a weekend outfit, look in the mirror…what and who do you represent? How satisfied are you with this representation? Are you truly amplifying the best ‘positive’ attributes of what you have to offer? Don’t give the media an excuse to think otherwise.
