In this week’s reading of Enlightened Sexism, Douglas writes about the role of the media in the early heyday of enlightened sexism. In the first chapter she writes almost exclusively about television shows from the early 90’s centered around upper class white drama such as 90210, Melrose Place, and Murphy Brown. Douglass also discusses the role of musical group Riot Grrrl and magazine Sassy. According to Douglass, Aaron’s Spelling’s television shows were a few of the first to reach teenage girls and exploit the market. Most critics believed the shows, with immature plots and terrible acting, would never last long. However, teenage girls quickly became infatuated with the plots- both because they loved to mock the ridiculousness of the show but also as a form of escapism from their daily lives. Furthermore, Riot Grrrl I almost consider to be a precursor to the Spice Girls. Both groups were interested in reviving the feminist movement and reaching the younger generation. However, I feel that Riot Grrrl may have been more genuine in their feminist intentions. The members of Riot Grrrl were “deeply anti-commercial and especially hostile to how the mainstream media addressed and portrayed young women” (44). They dressed provocatively and did not conform to the traditional roles that women popstars are expected to fill. The Spice Girls however, did fit almost all the molds of tall, thin, attractive females- they just had a bit more attitude.
Chapter Two “Castration Anxiety” addresses many media and tabloid fanfare over such public news stories as the Amy Fisher case, the Bobbit Case, and Janet Reno. Douglass explains that in both criminal cases the women were seen as a warning sign of what was to come when women got out of control. Amy Fisher was seen as a sexual prostitute as well as a media whore; She was construed as promiscuous, violent and money hungry. Her male counterpart in the case was let off the hook and almost sympathized, despite being guilty of statutory rape and possibly forcing Fisher into prostitution. What I found more interesting than the criminal cases was Douglas’s discussion about Janet Reno. Reno had acted in such a way that resulted in the massacre of numerous people at Waco Texas after failed hostage negotiations. Later she took full responsibility, a characteristic not common for politicians, and gained the approval and respect of the American public. Both sides of the aisle commended Reno, she received numerous awards, and at one point had higher approval ratings than the president. And yet, Reno still fell victim to ruthless teasing by the media. Talk show hosts and other television shows frequently joked about Reno’s manlike qualities and ignored her amazing abilities as an American leader. They play her as aggressive, boorish, and somewhat of a lonely geek. Reno never conformed to the typical woman stereotype; she was over six foot, dressed in unflattering suits, spoke in monotone, and had an ambiguous haircut. She therefore had to be snapped back into place by and unforgiving patriarchy.
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Chapter Three, “Warrior Women in Thongs”, discusses the television shows Xena Warrior Princess, Dark Angel, Alias, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Douglas writes that such women seem to have it all; they are powerful, sexual, beautiful, caring, and opinionated. However, Douglas writes, “Warrior women were both transgressive and conformist. They fought like Jackie Chan but cried over romantic betrayal or injury done to others; they were physically dominating yet caring. While they suggested, on one hand, that with enough tae kwon do lessons women could reduce the differences between the sexes even further, their form fitting, skin baring outfits made clear that emphatically marked gender differences were here to stay.” (99). I would like to ask what Douglas would deem the perfect television character. So far from all of our class readings, Douglas has a problem with every female character. She inevitably finds a problem with their social life, career, hyper-sexuality (or sexual repression), or that they are “too” perfect. I wonder what then, Douglas would feel is the best role model for young women. I don’t think any character, female or male, is ever perfect. This pattern of imperfect role models may not be specific to women but humans in general.
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