This week's reading of Enlightened Sexism introduced us to the actual idea of enlightened sexism defined by the author as "a response, deliberate or not, to the perceived threat of a new gender regime" Douglas describes the various ways in which the media over exaggerates the actual rate of women in positions of power alluring the general public into believing that sexism is a thing of the past. According to prime time television, Carrie Bradshaws, Miranda Baileys, and Olivia Bensons are popular and so common that we needn't worry. In fact, sexism is so old-fashioned mocking traditional forms of sexism has become another form of entertainment altogether. Therefore, at the same time that we have strong female role models the next channel displays some ditzy twenty-something with fake breasts jumping on a trampoline. Some say that we have come so far that we are not actually watching the woman jump on a trampoline we are instead laughing at the stupid chauvinist stereotype. But Douglas asks, are we really? Can we really watch a marathon of the Man Show and not be slightly affected? Can a woman really watch men ogle Meghan Fox with her 22 inch waist and not (maybe for a second) wish she was five pounds lighter? Douglas says no we can not. The television shows that depict powerful women actually distract us from the fact that women have not really progressed professionally as much as we think and we lapse into complacency. She also argues that we don't laugh at the television shows that parade around half- nude, dumb, and catty girls nearly as much as we think we do. Instead it seems as though we are sucked into their hot and bitchy vortex.
On most points I can agree with Douglas. The media has certainly distracted me from feminism on more than one occasion. Shows like Law and Order, The Closer, Grey's Anatomy, and Sex and the City show women as strong and confident both professionally and sexually. I have questioned, as I'm sure others have, is sexism really that bad still? Therefore, as women we must remind ourselves that the top five jobs for women have not really changed from secretaries and school teachers. We must remind ourselves that white women are still only making seventy seven cents to every man's dollar. And we must remind ourselves that the United States has arguably the worst infrastructure for maternity leave of any industrialized society. With that being said, I feel that occasionally Douglas may over emphasize certain points herself. For example, Douglas writes that Abercrombie and Fitch is a form of enlightened sexism because it subtly forces girls into a world of consumerism focused entirely on appearance. Scantily clad men and women influence young girls into purchasing t shirts that essentially act in much the same way as billboards. Young girls that resist such enlightened sexism are subject to ridicule by their female peers. I think in this instance Douglas over emphasizes the role of Abercrombie and Fitch in sexism. She forgets that Abercrombie sells to both girls and boys. Both genders are pulled in by the techno music and over-perfumed sweatshirts. Men and women are posed half naked on the walls. This is not a sexist problem but more of a teenage problem. Frankly, Abercrombie and Fitch has done a terrific job honing in on a market. They sell cheap products for three times the production price and their customers do all of the company's advertising for free. Furthermore, teenagers hold more buying power than ever before. Also, in most cases the tweens realize they are being duped or adapt their fashion sense and the phase only lasts a couple of years. Douglas also over stresses the detrimental role of harmless shows movies like "My Super Sweet Sixteen." From personal experience I can honestly say that friends and I would legitimately laugh at the girls on the show. Their incompetent, bratty, and unintelligent ways were comical. How can people really function like that? Douglas seems a little out of touch with current events. As a middle aged woman she may not quite understand the passing role of such trashy shows on young women. For 30 minutes her teenage daughter may seem entranced by the show but I am almost sure there will be no lasting damage. Douglas diverges into other topics as well, such as 9/11, which I would argue are unrelated to her main point. Overall, I agree with Douglas's main points but I think that she should reconsider the extent to which enlightened sexism really steeps into our lives and where it really lurks undetected.
Responding to Carolyn:
ReplyDeleteI was highly entertained by Douglas’ introduction. She takes on an interesting perspective on examining the role of modern feminism, as “veteran” feminist in the twenty first century. I can definitely relate to her message, as my mother also closely observed my media intake and questioned their influence over my female ideology. I am openly guilty of enjoying trashy tabloids and shows like Laguna Beach and the Bachelor. Despite my interest in these forms of entertainment, I certainly understand Douglas’ reason for concern. Women like Heidi Montague are setting bad examples for teenage girls. Girls should not be fooled into believing that a healthy marriage is dependent on the wives willingness to undergo excessive plastic surgery to become more beautiful in her husband’s eyes and meet his aesthetic desires. And of course she is going to regret getting size G boobs, especially when their marriage fails despite her “new and improved” Barbie like body. It’s sickening to think that America is so hung up on Heidi’s continuously changing body and what will she have done next. But while condemning reality TV stars like Heidi, Douglas commends TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, which convey women in a power and positive light. She goes on to state though, that roles like Miranda Bailey’s are not exactly an accurate portrayal of the majority of female professionals.
As a child of the Spice Girl era and the rise of mass media, Douglas’ insight of enlightened sexism reaches a resonating conclusion. She writes, “enlightened sexism is powerfully seductive, just the way the Spice Girls were: it claims you can have independence, power, and respect and male love and approval and girly, consumerist indulgences all at once without costs. And images of ever more empowered, confident, independent women are seamlessly accompanied by incessant harangues that we’re still not thin enough, busty enough, gorgeous enough, or wearing the most enviable logo.” This complex relationship between the media and its female audiences is highly confusing and in perpetual limbo. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like things are going to change anytime soon.
By Sara