Identities: applying feminism
Media factsheet: Applying Feminism
1.) The types of feminism outlined in the article are:
- Radical Feminism
- Liberal Feminism
- Marxist-Feminism
- Black Feminism
- Postmodern Feminism
2.) Judith Butler argues how gender roles are a 'performance' and not biologically determined. She believes that it is influenced by external and social factors instead of the human biological nature in how men and women act. With this being said, Butler would probably fall under the category of a liberal feminist, given that their beliefs are exactly what she believes in, and that is that "This type of feminism is mainly concerned with gender socialisation in order to show that gender roles are not biologically determined. The main aim of this type of feminism is to change the ways children are socialised into stereotypical gender roles and to attempt to change social policy to improve the position of women within the family."
On the other hand, Angela McRobbie explores the empowerment and reclaiming of femininity. As a result she would most likely fall under the
3.) Suffragettes are radical feminists that protested in often violent and illegal ways in order to maintain the party that they were fighting for. One of their most notorious actions were chaining themselves to the railings outside Downing Street and the houses of Parliament.
On the other hand, Suffragists would take the exact opposite approach to protesting their feminist rights. Instead, they would peacefully and lawfully protest. Originally, this group of women were formed in 1897 to unite several existing women’s groups who wanted the vote for women.
4.) Laura Mulvey argues that Hollywood's use of cinematography objectifies the women being presented, often focusing on their sexual appeal. This is obviously a demonstration that led to her theory of the 'male gaze', to which then she comments that Hollywood needs to change their style of cinematography. The fact sheet contains examples such as Megan Fox from the Transformers.
5.) Jean Killbourne points out the unrealistic ideal image of a women being presented by the media. She gives examples such as altered pictures such as using different women's facial parts to form one. Example, using eyes from women x, using nose from women y, using lips from women h, etc. She mentions magazines such as Lucy Magazine that used this technique. Her examples of exploiting ideal women appearance also includes her mentioning that women were only considered beautiful if they were in the approximate white ideal. She also mentions how in commercials for example, a bizarre idea of a women turning into a beer keg puts forth the 'maid' sort of figure a women would be.
6.) Killbourne's overall argument is that the representation of women in advertising is unrealistic, given the amount of 'artificial image' they are given from using several different people's features to make one, to having the ideal skin colour of white to only be the beautiful skin on a woman.
7.) Theorist Naomi Wolf in 'The Beauty Myth' argues that beauty is socially constructed and is patriarchal. The fact sheet also states that her theory and suggestions are a follow on from Killbourne's representation of women in the media. She argues that each culture in the world varies in the definition of beauty, and the issue is that the Western society has given off this dominated representation of an ideal and beautiful woman onto other cultures.
8.) Given that women are sexually objectified in music videos, it is not surprising that it is a controversial topic for feminists. Examples given in the fact sheet are Nelly's video for Tip-Drill, which was seen to be controversial given that the music video supposedly had an unattractive woman but with an attractive body, putting forth the sexual objectification of women again.
9.) Artists such as Beyonce and Nicki Minaj sort of do empower women as they given off the impression that they're comfortable in their own skin. However, the exception of Nicki Minaj given her buttock implants, plastic surgery, etc, does trespass the view of natural beauty, and instead says that she once wasn't happy and comfortable in her own skin.
10.) New and digital media has given the Internet as a platform to express their views regarding feminism. They can use a synergy of connected links on the Internet to raise their voice using social media apps such as Twitter and it's 're-tweet' feature. Given this, there are two arguments that are derived from this. While women can challenge sexist views, they can also be harassed or Internet known - "trolled" and oppressed even more.
3.) Suffragettes are radical feminists that protested in often violent and illegal ways in order to maintain the party that they were fighting for. One of their most notorious actions were chaining themselves to the railings outside Downing Street and the houses of Parliament.
On the other hand, Suffragists would take the exact opposite approach to protesting their feminist rights. Instead, they would peacefully and lawfully protest. Originally, this group of women were formed in 1897 to unite several existing women’s groups who wanted the vote for women.
4.) Laura Mulvey argues that Hollywood's use of cinematography objectifies the women being presented, often focusing on their sexual appeal. This is obviously a demonstration that led to her theory of the 'male gaze', to which then she comments that Hollywood needs to change their style of cinematography. The fact sheet contains examples such as Megan Fox from the Transformers.
5.) Jean Killbourne points out the unrealistic ideal image of a women being presented by the media. She gives examples such as altered pictures such as using different women's facial parts to form one. Example, using eyes from women x, using nose from women y, using lips from women h, etc. She mentions magazines such as Lucy Magazine that used this technique. Her examples of exploiting ideal women appearance also includes her mentioning that women were only considered beautiful if they were in the approximate white ideal. She also mentions how in commercials for example, a bizarre idea of a women turning into a beer keg puts forth the 'maid' sort of figure a women would be.
6.) Killbourne's overall argument is that the representation of women in advertising is unrealistic, given the amount of 'artificial image' they are given from using several different people's features to make one, to having the ideal skin colour of white to only be the beautiful skin on a woman.
7.) Theorist Naomi Wolf in 'The Beauty Myth' argues that beauty is socially constructed and is patriarchal. The fact sheet also states that her theory and suggestions are a follow on from Killbourne's representation of women in the media. She argues that each culture in the world varies in the definition of beauty, and the issue is that the Western society has given off this dominated representation of an ideal and beautiful woman onto other cultures.
8.) Given that women are sexually objectified in music videos, it is not surprising that it is a controversial topic for feminists. Examples given in the fact sheet are Nelly's video for Tip-Drill, which was seen to be controversial given that the music video supposedly had an unattractive woman but with an attractive body, putting forth the sexual objectification of women again.
9.) Artists such as Beyonce and Nicki Minaj sort of do empower women as they given off the impression that they're comfortable in their own skin. However, the exception of Nicki Minaj given her buttock implants, plastic surgery, etc, does trespass the view of natural beauty, and instead says that she once wasn't happy and comfortable in her own skin.
10.) New and digital media has given the Internet as a platform to express their views regarding feminism. They can use a synergy of connected links on the Internet to raise their voice using social media apps such as Twitter and it's 're-tweet' feature. Given this, there are two arguments that are derived from this. While women can challenge sexist views, they can also be harassed or Internet known - "trolled" and oppressed even more.
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