Identities: Feminism and new/digital media

Feminism and New/Digital Media

Everyday Sexism:

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

Bates began the Every Day Sexism project because she witnessed on numerous occasions that she and other women from different ages and abilities were facing some form  of sexual abuse. She decided to research, to see if it was just her 'illusion' and the results were staggering. She found that there is more sexism in society than ever, including the country's political system.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

I do believe that judging from the stats gathered in this video and from the anecdotes in which Bates referred to, shows that feminism is still required even to this day. The fact that men believe it is okay to abuse women verbally and physically is something that needs to be aware of and taught to the next generation. Feminism can help the behaviour of both men and women when it comes to sexual assault.
3) How can you apply Judith Butler's theory of gender as a 'performance' to the creation of the Everyday Sexism project?

The anecdotes that Bates used further intensifies that women are being seen and treated as performers for male pleasure. Anecdotes where men discuss a females breast size, is proof that there is a form of performance of women amongst men in society. However, the idea of having a website that acknowledges such crimes can be seen as challenging Butler's theory as women from all over the world are challenging these norms by fighting back at abuse.

4) How does Angela McRobbie's work on female empowerment link to the Everyday Sexism project?

The fact that people are not embarrassed to share their stories with the world is a figure of empowerment in itself. Women are not longer ashamed that such behaviour is happening and demand to do something about it, by raising awareness of it to all women around the world. 


Media Magazine: The fourth wave?

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Networked feminism is ant where a feminist can report as sexist, abuse, misogynist or racist, which are aimed towards minority groups. Networked feminism is simply a manifestation of a feminists ability to use the internet to such an extent that they make use of the ability to share the views of the voices that are rarely heard.  

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

Wave 1: Early 20th century with rise of the Suffragettes for the right to vote
Wave 2: Women claiming the right to an abortion (pills), and equal pay
Wave 3: 1990's to the present, empowerment, raclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality) etc
Wave 4: Use of new technology

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.

Every Day Sexism- this campaign began as a way for women to share their personal relations to the most common form of abuse- sexual harassment or even sexual ideologies. Bates began the site by posting her own involvements with sexual abuse, in hope that other women will view her site and either respond or even, share their personal scenario's. The aid of the internet and its platforms such as social media all played a massive part in 'booming' her website views as her site was viewed by almost 50,000 women.

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I agree with the the fourth wave  The internet has opened doors for many people to express their values and beliefs and be seen by many people. This is more effective than the traditional way ie, setting up a women's club etc. The concept of bloggers and online websites have already been used for this exact purpose.

Identities: applying feminism

Media factsheet: Applying Feminism

#86 Applying Feminism:

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

• Marxist feminism
• Black feminism
• Postmodern feminism
• Radical feminism
• Liberal feminism

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

• Laura Bates: Radical feminism
• Judith Butler: Liberal feminism
• Angela McRobbie: Postmodern feminism

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

• Suffragettes- A more violent approach to protesting such as arson
• Suffragists- Peaceful way of protesting, such as hunger strikes and votes etc

I agree with the suffragette movement, as women were challenging the tradition views of women in the perception of men. To men (at the time), they saw the women as traditional and peaceful, therefore can continue to exploit them because their methods were not having any physical effect on them. It was because of the violent protests that it gained attention to both men and the politicians. Women were challenging the tradition representation of a woman, by doing male acts (being violent), which in turn would create fear and a moral panic towards the future roles of women.

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

Mulvey's argument regarding the representation of women in Hollywood is true to an extent. Now days, women aren't always being used as sexual gimmicks to hook males into watching a film. However that was the case. Films such as Fast and Furious was famous for its representation of sex and women in their movies. Every movie would have a beautiful actress appear as one of the leads, and would be the sexual attention throughout the film. Transformers even did this with Nicola Pelts (Transformers 4) and Meagan Fox and there would be a lot of emphasis (in terms of camera shots) on their body. 

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list five examples she gives of the media objectifying women:

6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

Women are essentially idealised to look like the 'perfect' woman. With perfect cheek bones, and breaths etc. However, this documentary shows that there is more than meets the eye. Women who see these adds with beautiful women posing in them, is essentially giving off the message on how women should look (to look like the woman in the ad). However, the problem is, is that the advert isn't a woman. It is a virtual compilation of many women's face combined to make one. Giving off the false impression of the nature of the models beauty, when it clearly is a false image. 

7) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?

Women such as Nikki Minage and Rhianna are criticised heavily for reinforcing women as sexual objects for men. This is evident through Rhianna twerking on Drake, giving Drake the dominance over Rhinana, which essentially goes against Feminists views. Feminists are essentially trying to combat such views and for a woman to reinforce them, put their efforts in vein. 

8) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?

Although the singers themselves state that they are trying to challenge the stereotype and are in fact reinforcing female empowerment, that isn't the case always. Their videos are very sexual which they are the object for male pleasure. The quote from Minaje's anaconda music video 'My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun' further intensifies the fact that women have to try their best to fix their body in order to have intercourse with a man. 

9) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.

I do believe to some extent, the aid of the internet has allowed women to become more powerful and heard. The internet has opened doors for communication to come across strong and loud as well as gain a lot of attention through 'likes', or of being viral. These are facts that prior to the internet, women wouldn't of had. McRobbie used the internet for its main purpose; to share information regarding the subject of her choice. She received of 50,000 comments from people (mainly women), and this was all due to the internet having the ability to access the right people. 

Feminism

‘Why Don’t You Love Me [Music Video]?’

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

The video produces this theme throughout as Beyonce is the one who is cleaning up the house but performing that role of being attractive by the use of certain clothing being worn. Even the props used such as clothing that Beyonce wears further intensifies the argument that she is seen as a performer as she is wearing clothes that play a part in the sexual attraction that the viewer will view.

2) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

This will be seen as reinforcing the idea of Bulter rather than McRobbie's view of 'empowering'. However, there are some aspects in the video where it can be seen that Beyonce is empowering women. Scene's where she is seen being a mechanic, is seen as a sense of masculinity and showing a woman doing a male job can be seen as reinforcing McRobbie's view. 

3) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I think that Beyonce is mocking the traditional gender stereotypes women face and the male gaze as she is one of the most powerful female artists who can get her voice heard by the public she can be a big influence. Furthermore, the large emphasis on the clothes she is wearing is not just a prop, but to play more of an attraction for male viewers, which links in with the male gaze. The fact that the video emphasises on Beyonce being sexual in the video through the clothes and movement she does, it reinforces Mulvey's male gaze theory. 

Post-colonialism: final blog tasks

1) Summarise the three theorists we have looked at: Alvarado, Fanon and Said.

Alvarado - 4 representations of the black community

Fanon - White mask 

Said - West vs East

2) Watch the opening of Yasmin (2004) again. Does it offer a positive or negative view of British Muslims? To what extent does it reinforce or challenge Edward Said's theory of Orientalism - that the west is superior to the exotic or uncivilised east?

In today's society, we see a positive view of British Muslims as they're fitting into society and we can see this in many films where the young boy who is praying at the start and is wearing British clothing. This is rejecting the stereotypes we have of British Muslims although we see Yasmin stuck between both cultures to fit into society. However, there is a man who is presented as being dirty and uncivilised which is the contrast between east and west which reinforced the negative stereotypes of British Muslims.

3) Finally, choose THREE clips for EACH of the theorists and explain how you could apply that theory to the clip. Pick a selection of clips on YouTube from TV, film, music video or advertising and embed them in your blog before writing your analysis under each clip. Note: this means you need NINE clips in total on this blogpost.

Said 

Alvarado

Fanon