Women And The Media
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Today, womens rights are at their height. Even so, a large number of women are emotionally or sexually abused by men. In the United States, “a woman is in greater risk of being assaulted or raped in her own home by someone she knows than a stranger on the street” (Glaser). This violent aggression, by men, may be due to a combination of: societys definitions of masculinity, socio-economic background and pop culture.
In “How the Americans Understand the Equality of the Sexes,” Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat, wrote about the different but equal gender roles in early America. According to Tocqueville, “women of Americaattach a sort of pride to the voluntary surrender of their own will” (418). American society today finds this idea laughable and even insulting. In a time where spousal abuse was not punished, women had no choice but to “surrender their own will.” Society expected this behavior which women, and men alike, complied to.
However, men also felt societal pressures. In fact, the pressures placed on men in the 19th century are the same pressures todays men feel. In America, children consciously and unconsciously absorb information as to what make them a male or female (Devor 424-26). Society inadvertently suggests that males, being the bread-winners, have the most important role. This being said, having a good job and being successful is no joke. As a result, a hierarchy is formed among the men. With only few men having the best jobs, in which they make a lot of money for their family, competition is created. Competition may then require detachment or “emotional insensitivity to feelings of hurt and loss in defeat[ing] others” (Devor 428, 430). Although society establishes the way men define their duties and the root of their more aggressive and competitive nature, it does not explain why they are more likely to commit crimes against women.
An individuals socio-economic background may describe the motive behind violence more accurately. When a mans socio-economic background does not meet societys standard he may show his masculinity by other means, violence. This can be seen in the film “Boys Dont Cry”. Brandon, a woman who outwardly appeared to be a young man, was killed brutally by John Lotter and Tom Nissen. Lotter and Nissen, whose lives consisted of crime and being in jail, could not be counted on for financial support. This, in its self, could lower a mans self-esteem significantly. In addition, Lotters ex-girlfriend, Lana Tisdel, was now dating Brandon. If being financially unstable did not take away Lotters masculinity, having an ex stolen by a woman did. Perhaps by committing such a violent crime, Lotter and Nissen felt they were asserting their masculinity (“Boys Dont Cry”). Were Lana dating another man, it would be more unlikely that Lotter and Nissen would murder him. Why is it that men, in many situations, find it easier to be abusive towards women rather than men? It is easier to inflict harm onto an object; perhaps this is what women are becoming (Kilbourne 456).
Americas pop-culture can be held responsible for this, more specifically through ads and sports. Ads “encourage men to be forceful and dominant and to value sexual intimacy more than emotional intimacy” by depicting submissive and barely clothed women (Kilbourne 457). The women in these ads seem to be inviting, perhaps so much that this is generalized to all women. When this is the case, a man no longer sees women as equal, but more as an object (Kilbourne 456). Another effect of ads is that men may develop an idealized definition of what a woman should be.
Sports, to an extent, can also be a cause for aggressive behavior. Women are practically “absent from sports commentary,” but when present, “it is often in stereotypical roles” being portrayed sexily. Not only are women absent from actual sport programs, they are hardly represented in commercials (Messner 479). Sport programs create a sort of “us against them” attitude. When this is combined with the dehumanizing effects of advertisements it is easier for men to be violent towards women.
Some may argue that societys definition of a man have changed greatly with the introduction of equal rights. Women can now do many of the things men have been doing for years. Likewise, it is tolerated if a man wants to do things considered more feminine. For instance, it is now commonplace for a woman to work and contribute to a households income. Also, Female sports are also more common and, just like mens sports, are very competitive. On the other hand, if a man wants to demonstrate emotions it is socially acceptable. In general, men are no longer considered as aggressive and competitive. Consequently, society is not to blame for violence in men because the differences between each gender are becoming fewer.
If society is not to blame, others may think that male violence is just biological. In any specie that produces only a few offspring in a lifetime, an average of one a year (this includes humans), competition and violence are necessary. This is because females must