Self-objectification: Women’s bodies and the media

MS Magazine is an American feminist magazine that focuses on women’s rights and the feminist movement.   

The current issue ‘What’s the measure of a woman?’ looks at body image and this article ‘Out of body image’ by Caroline Heldman looks the issue of ‘Self-objectification’—seeing ourselves through others’ eyes, which has the effect of impairing women’s body image, mental health, motor skills and even their sex lives. 

Thank you to Andrea for this link

- Cat

Backlash

Kira Cochrane from The Guardian has written some interesting articles about the current state of feminism.

This article on the discrimination of women at work and

This article which discusses the current backlash against feminism.

The WSRC has copies of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities commission papers: ‘Striking the balance: women, men, work and family’ and ‘Its about Time; women, men, work and family’ available from the sex and age discrimination unit.  

Check out our online catalogue to find many resources looking at the current state of feminism. We also have a copy of Susan Faludi’s ‘Backlash’ to give away to an interested reader.

Thank you to Danielle for these links

- Cat

Gender in Hollywood

Danielle has sent us a link to Gender inequity in Whoville – from NPR, Peter Sagal’s piece about Hollywood’s betrayal of female characters (particularly in Horton Hears a Who). Thank you, Danielle

Women vs the Media The objectification and portray…

Women vs the Media
The objectification and portrayal of women in the media, advertising, magazines, music videos and television presents a stereotype of women’s roles in society, which reinforces women’s subordinate status.

“Pretend(ing) to offer liberation in the guise of sexual promiscuity” – Catharine Lumby in Australian Feminism: a companion, 1998.

Female Chauvinist pigs : Women and the rise of raunch culture by Ariel Levy also addresses some of these issues.

Our library has both of these books, and more on women and the media.
- Cat

 

Visitors – new potential avid feminists

Lately the WSRC has been inundated with Women’s Studies student groups, classes from Kildare College and Le Fevre came to visit for an introduction to our library.

A few topics that cropped up in discussion were the new Womens Political Party
(the more well known political women’s group is WEL – Women’s Electoral Lobby - an independent women’s lobby group working to protect the rights of Australian women), and a recent post by Buffy/Angel/Firefly creator Joss Whedon on fansite WHEDONesque called “What’s wrong with women?”.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to attack feminists, the Australian media has been highlighting the Surrendered Wife movement. (More discussion can be found here [the link contains some strong language].)

- Cat & Danielle

"If you’re a busy woman like me…"

Larvatus Prodeo has an interesting discussion about the Advertising Standards Bureau and the current Nando’s ad (YouTube link):

“[L]ooking carefully through their past rulings I am a bit doubtful about the integrity of the complaints process as the ASB actually runs it. There are two factors which seem to make it difficult for sexuality & gender-related complaints against ads to get through: first, the Bureau concentrate on what is literally said or depicted in ads while most complaints have to do with things that are suggested or implied, for example through double entendres, visual puns and camera angles. Second, the Bureau appears to find mitigation in jokes, humour and what advertisers tend to call ‘lightheartedness’ – tendentious material seems more palatable if it’s clothed in some sort of attempt at humour. Putting these two things together I suspect the Bureau runs by a system which the advertising industry finds it extremely easy to game. And the incentives are high: sex sells.”

- Danielle