Kirstie Alley’s Big Life and Precious

AE TV . (2010). Kirstie Alley’s Big Life. You Tube.[WEB] Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa0rkadan1o.

The media portrays women as unreal, airbrushed, stick figures the majority of the time… However, there has been a recent trend in the media regarding obesity and body image with celebrities. Kirstie Alley has a show called Kirstie Alley’s Big Life. In the previews (I have yet to see it because my DVR has been tied up, but I am interested) it shows a very large framed Alley weighing herself on a scale, having fun with animals, and spending time with her children.

The question is, how much of her show is a reality show and how much is REALITY. Is it an attempt to exemplify “fat tolerance” or another ploy to show how losing weight is done like The Biggest Loser? I am not quite sure, but it raised a question. How many people in the United States are actually clinically obese? According to Cunningham (2010) 35.5% of the population that was obese between 2007-2009 were obese. “An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.” (Cunningham, 2010)

Another example in the media of obese women is Precious.

holleywoodstreams . (You Tube). (2009). Precious trailer hd. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5FYahzVU44

This movie shows the trials and tribulations a 16 year old African American girl faces in an abusive household. Precious was raped by her father and the plot begins with her already having her second child by him. Both her mother and herself are clinically obese and she is taunted by neighbors and students because of it. It is a fantastic movie illustrating the suffering obese women can undergo in a real life setting. Gabourey Sidibe is phenomenal in her lead role and there’s no wonder why Mo’Nique won a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and an Academy Award.

The effects of obesity on American women are a concern of mine because two years ago my life partner weighed over 350 pounds. At the age of 37, she was told by her primary care doctor that due to her weight in combination with her sleep apnea she could die. After several years of weight loss therapy and numerous failed diets, concluded by cardiac arrest while in surgery for another operation, a decision was made for her to have laparoscopic bariatric bi-pass surgery (weight loss surgery).

I was there for her and her mother (who was also morbidly obese) when they had the surgery and they have lost over 200 pounds. It is amazing. In no way am I promoting surgery… what I AM promoting is obesity awareness. Being fat is traumatizing for anyone because these people are subjected to a torrent of abuse due to societies pressures on them to “be attractive by being thinner”. Some people do not have a choice. Numerous reasons cause obesity – mental, physical, psychological, and heredity. Teaching others about tolerating or more politically correct -RESPECTING – another person for their individuality and avoiding destructive criticism and emotional and physical brutality is a goal I hope we all can understand and pass along.

Cunningham , E. (2010). Where can I find obesity statistics?. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110(4), Retrieved from Science Direct http://www.sciencedirect.com.library.esc.edu/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B758G-4YR80Y9-13&_user=683075&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2010&_alid=1295986275&_rdoc=14&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=12926&_st=13&_docanchor=&_ct=1943&_acct=C000037698&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=683075&md5=2097e23636c6a8eaaa27a11657b65c53 doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2010.02.023

Demeaning Commercials of Women

cmmgirl. (You Tube). (2007). Jessica Simpson Direct TV Commercial. [Web]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d18mZzBQf0

ChallengingMedia. (You Tube). (2006). Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women . [Web]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FpyGwP3yzE&feature=PlayList&p=4972CFE852A5BD32&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=10

 

RM2Static. (You Tube). (2007). Best beer commercial ever? . [Web]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S2VUCdbhg0&NR=1

How often do you watch television?  Your family?  Your friends?  How many demeaning commercials of women can you think of?  There are many and they are still growing.  After watching the two commercials within this post, would you want your daughter seeing women expressing themselves the way they do… dressed in virtually nothing?

All these questions are rhetorical of course because no one in their right mind would think they are  appropriate.  Initially, of course, they seem funny.  The subliminal messages they are sending are that it is okay to wear virtually nothing, talk like they have no brains at all, and promote television and beer.  Great messages for the general public.

Women are objectified in the media all over the world and it is a serious issue.  Take, for instance, the importance of the beauty pageant in the media…. commercials flash images of previews for The Miss America Pageant and Miss Universe.  Girls aspire to be “pretty like they are” and it is sad.  According to researcher Beth Dalbey (2006), expresses that these shows influence women and place them in figurative “chains”, branding their minds with false images and creating poor body image.

Beauty pageants have been replaced by reality shows like America’s Next Top Model, while  these kinds of shows are not as blatantly demeaning as the commercials that are posted within today’s blog, they send a similar message to women.  Being stick thin, wearing expensive provocative clothes, and loads of make-up equals fame and is desirable.  It is utterly unrealistic.  As in my last blog, it is obvious that almost, if not all, the women in the advertisement are airbrushed.

It’s difficult not becoming emotional when blogging about the state of women in the media today… hope you all can relate.  I am a feminist and maybe my message can be heard here.  looking forward to your posts.

Dalbey, B. (2006). Beauty pageants perpetuate myths about female beauty. Business Record, 24(31), Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com.library.esc.edu/gps/retrieve.do?contentSet=GSRC&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28K0%2CNone%2C27%29female+body+objectification%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C17%29female+body+image%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=Relevance&searchType=BasicSearchForm&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&searchId=R2¤tPosition=1&userGroupName=esc&docId=EJ3010601207&docType=GSRC  

Google Images . (2010). America’s next top model. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/search?q=The+Next+top+model&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7WZPC_en

America’s Next Top Model

Bristol Palin Abstinence Campaign: Positive Depiction of A Female Youth Role Model?

Women in the media who are politicians should give accurate messages to youth today….

While this commercial does have a message, to some teenagers it may seem unclear. At one point Bristol was stating that promoting anti-sex to teens was not realistic. Is she a proper advocate for abstinence? Personally, I do not think so, but other authors seem to think there “could be worse”(Grose, 2010).

After Bristol Palin’s contradictory messages and appearance on Oprah, some viewers may get the message that she is not is support of abstinence at all, but merely regrets getting pregnant and becoming the scrutiny of the media while her mother was running for Vice President (which is an entirely different story all together – LOL!). Oprah asked Bristol if she intended on refraining from having sex until after marriage and she swore chastity until she gave her vows.

This all seems a bit absurd. I do not agree with Bristol Palin telling youth to not have sex when she obviously did. I think this is a half-hearted attempt by the daughter of a politician to advocate beliefs that she is not is support of, but her family IS.

Researchers say it is possible for an emotional state called being “reborn a virgin” (Rosenbaum, 2006) to occur. Although the teen is no longer a virgin, she/he desires it so much it becomes a reality despite the birth of a child….The tremendous pressures that this teen has underwent may actually be causing her to support a viewpoint she is against and perceive herself as a better person, like nothing ever happened because of her efforts.

Controversy abounds when discussing the Palin family and their portrayal as a perfect family.  There images are splayed across the internet as a sad joke. Is Trig actually Sarah Palin’s daughter or Bristol’s? Was Sarah Palin the correct choice to run as Vice President alongside McCain? There are doubts… not only due to her daughter’s pregnancy, but Sarah Palin’s capability as a politician.

Do you think it is acceptable for Bristol to be against teen sex when she herself engaged in the act? Is she a good role model in the media for your teenager to look up to? My opinion is clear… what’s yours?

Rosenbaum, J. (2006). Reborn a virgin: adolescents’ retracting of virginity. American Journal of Public Health, 96(6), Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/96/6/1098.pdf

Grose, Jessica. (2010 ). Is Bristol palin a good spokeswoman for abstinence?. Retrieved from http://www.doublex.com/section/news-politics/bristol-palin-good-spokeswoman-abstinence

theinsideronline. (You Tube). (2010). Bristol Palin Campaigns Against Teen Pregnancy in New PSA Video. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtcm9R-J3Bk

RHRealityCheck. (You Tube). (2009). Bristol Palin Talks Teen Pregnancy and Contraception. [Web]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FECeRd2kYFM&feature=player_embedded

Airbrushing Equals Aliens, Not Women

Airbrushing Mariah Carey

When we look at magazines, are we seeing a person – or an imposter? When you pick up a magazine, is the image on the cover of the super-thin, gorgeous, young woman staring back at you fictitious or real? Chances are, she is airbrushed into another thing altogether – an image of what the media has driven into our minds from the earliest age we were able to click on the television. Invaders.
It sounds comical when put this way, but while the internet is exploding images into cyberspace, magazines are plastering mannequins morphed from original people into our hands while we wait on the check-out line in the supermarket. They scream out to you, “YOU SHOULD LOOK LIKE ME!” It is an epidemic.
Authors indicate that the media has certainly gone too far with their un-attainable portrayals of body image on women. One such writer cites actress Jennifer Aniston stating:
“The media create this wonderful illusion-but the amount of airbrushing that goes into those beauty magazines, the hours of hair and makeup! It’s impossible to live up to, because it’s not real.” (Rowland , 2001)
and Elizabeth Hurley:
“On my last Cosmo cover,” she explains, “they added about five inches to my breasts. It’s very funny. I have, like, massive knockers. Huge. Absolutely massive.” (Rowland , 2001)
It is deception that has survived decades. While many women say they are aware of this fact, it does not seem it has enough impact on those suffering from anorexia, bulimia, depression, and body dissatisfaction or low self-esteem. What can be done about this problem? Some suggest banning editing programs like Photoshop… but where there is a will, there are other programs and more make-up to replace airbrushing.
The next time you see Vanity Fair or Elle, remember, I told you they were imposters. Be healthy and remain wise! Put down the magazine and pick up the mirror… you are beautiful!

Rowland, H.( 2001) “Obsessed with Thin: Has the Media Gone Too Far?.” Hilary Fashion May 2001: n. pag. Web. 12 Apr 2010. .

Google Images. (2010). Airbrushing models. Retrieved from http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7WZPC_en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=airbrushing+in+magazines&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&start=0

zephoria. (You Tube). (2006). Dove evolution (high quality). [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U&feature=related

Anorexia and The Runway

Google Images

Women aspire to be many things… Who doesn’t want to be considered beautiful? However, there are more and more influences in the media that tell us that SKINNY is “in” and FAT is out. Who is in charge of advising us of what is too fat or too skinny though? The media plays a huge role in portraying the way women should appear and the most scrutinized is the runway.

How often do you read magazines or watch fashion shows on television that depict women as waifs that are six feet tall and weigh a mere 100 lbs? No breasts, no hips, and so gaunt they look ethereal yet eerie… like the walking dead. It is horrifying to see these images and not be offended. It is true that some women have naturally thin physiques, but for those of us that do not, it is sometimes influential in our lives.

Who has not looked in the mirror and said, “God, I could stand to lose a few pounds?” For women in the United States, it is commonplace. Obesity is still on the rise according to researchers (Lin & Reid, 2008) and “anti-fat attitudes” perpetuated in the media contribute to low self esteem and poor body dissatisfaction in women. The runway is gloriously splayed in magazines such as Vogue, Runway, Cosmopolitan, and others.

There are many things that adolescent girls and women must acknowledge about these images. On the runway, often, women naturally have frames that are thin and it is a body type that many of the women in the world simply DO NOT HAVE! Also, many f the models are very young and have not developed into mature women yet. Also, the most important part is that women’s images are airbrushed and critiqued with digital premastering. Half the time, these women no longer look like themselves after it is completed!

Spread the word. You may even want to take a look at the latest Oprah Magazine and see that not all women look like Disney’s Jack Skelington from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Tim Burton draws character’s – not real people. Educate and pass the word on. This kind of behavior is scary. Don’t allow the media to manipulate you or your friends and loved ones.

Lin, L., & Reid, K. (2008). The Relationship between media exposure and antifat attitudes: the role of dysfunctional appearance beliefs . Body Image, 6(1), Retrieved from Science Direct http://www.sciencedirect.com.library.esc.edu/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B75DB-4TVY59H-5&_user=683075&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2009&_alid=1290972572&_rdoc=10&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=13034&_sort=r&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=16192&_acct=C000037698&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=683075&md5=c9025063285efb57905e4a2ecd122ce1 doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2008.09.001

konami99 . (You Tube). (2007). Too Skinny to strut. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkcPeok6B7Q

Google Images . (2010). Anorexia nervosa. Retrieved from http://images.google.com/images?q=anorexia%20nervosa&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7WZPC_en&um=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=vi

Multiracial Women and The Media

A World of Many Races: Not Everyone is Only One

Issues Relating to Identifying as a Multiracial Woman in the USA

 

How often are ethnic women’s issues addressed in research?  Who are these “ethnic women”?  I can say I personally have seen many about African American women, Asian American women, and even Hispanic American women.  However, there is a rapidly growing group of people out there that need acknowledgement and there issues are very important as well.

Multiracial women like Jennifer Beals, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Rosario Dawson, Alicia Keys, and many more are in all forms of media today.  Some people in America today believe that if you are only a “drop of black” in this country that you should identify as ONLY black even if you are more than just that.  What is your opinion on this and why?

I personally think that anyone has the right to identify what they are in whatever fashion they’d prefer, but to truly acknowledge each race that you encompass.  No portion of a multiracial person should be valued as more important than another.  An individual has a right to live life in whatever cultural way they want to as well. 

There is a concept noted by researchers called the “chameleon effect” (Miville, Constantine , Baysden , and So-Lloyd pp. 507-516).  In their research some participants indicated that,” Despite feeling alienated at times because of their unique racial mixture, many participants discussed how they attempted to develop strategies to help them fit in with more than one racial or cultural group (i.e., “both/and” thinking rather than “either/or” thinking). Participants expressed that their approach to social relations was one with flexible, rather than rigid, social group boundaries, and they emphasized their ability to adapt to the cultural norms or demands of the situation. One limit of this approach for some participants was the experience of fitting into both groups at some level but never feeling a complete part of either.”

According to Ivezaj and colleagues (2010), multiracial individuals are effected by many different psychological and physical issues and race is a factor, but due to a low percentage of participants, accurate data cannot be concluded.  Also, women who identify as one of their races rather than being a mixture of the many can affect the results of scientific analysis.  

Ivezaj, Valentina , Saules , Karen, Hoodin , Flora, Alschuler ,Kevin, Angelella ,Nancy, Saunders-Scott, David ^a and Wiedemann , Ashley A. “The relationship between binge eating and weight status on depression, anxiety, and body image among a diverse college sample: A focus on Bi/Multiracial women.” Eating Behaviors 2010.11 (2010): p18-24, 7p. Web. 2 Mar 2010. <http://wk4ky4tk9h.search.serialssolutions.com.library.esc.edu/?sid=EBSCO:Academic+Search+Complete&genre=article&title=Eating+Behaviors&atitle=The+relationship+between+binge+eating+and+weight+status+on+depression%2c+anxiety%2c+and+body+image+among+a+diverse+college+sample%3a+A+focus+on+Bi%2fMultiracial+women.&author=Ivezaj%2c+Valentina&authors=Ivezaj%2c+Valentina%3bSaules%2c+Karen+K.%3bHoodin%2c+Flora%3bAlschuler%2c+Kevin%3bAngelella%2c+Nancy+E.%3bCollings%2c+Amy+S.%3bSaunders-Scott%2c+David%3bWiedemann%2c+Ashley+A.&date=20100101&volume=11&issue=1&spage=18&issn=14710153>. Retrieved from Science Direct.

Miville, M, M Constantine , M Baysden , and G So-Lloyd . “Chameleon Changes : An Exploration of Racial Identity Themes of Multiracial People.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 52.4 (2005): pp. 507-516. Web. 5 Mar 2010. <http://library.esc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.esc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pdh&AN=cou-52-4-507&site=ehost-live>. Retrieved from PsychArticles.

“Alicia Keys – Doesn’t Mean Anything.” You Tube. Web. 5 Mar 2010. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8JR75CbbIc >. Retrieved from Google.

“Multiracial.” Google Images. Web. 5 Mar 2010. http://www.truthbook.com/images/site_images/shutterstock_1560565Multiracial

“Halle Berry, Mariah Carrie, and Alicia Keys.” Google Images. Web. 5 Mar 2010. http://images.google.com/images?q=mariah%20carrey%2C%20alicia%20keys%20and%20halle%20berry%20images&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7WZPC_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

News for Women and Breastfeeding in the USA

*Updated as of 4/14/10

****Women in the media are objectified more as sex objects than they are as caring mothers.  How often do you see an image of a newborn baby in its mother’s arms, breastfeeding openly on the camera?  In America, breastfeeding is commonly not accepted although much of the undeveloped world sees it as a regular wy of life.  I have included a video clip from this month that was covered in the news that is quite interesting….****

There are many things that still remain an issue within our nation pertaining to human rights.  One in particular is geared towards mothers.  Breastfeeding in the United States seems to be an issue that is not openly discussed a lot in the mainstream media… but if you know any one that has had children, you may have encountered a moment of awkwardness when they attempt to feed their baby – or even witnessed someone confronting them and asking them to stop as it is “indecent exposure”. 

There are now laws in New York State that protect the rights of women and their children.  Women have a right to be comfortable feeding their children and not be confined to a bathroom stall that is unsanitary because American people are not aware of the importance of feeding a baby breast milk versus formula due to its nutritional value. Many simply do not care because they have been so sexualized they cannot see a breast as a feeding tool.  Well, my blog today asks that you view what bills have been passed in our Nation and support them. Here is a link to the National Conference of State Legislature’s Breastfeeding Laws that lists rules that are applied to 43 states… New York is one of them!  http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389

According to researcher Judith Galtry (1997) longer tan a decade ago, women were fighting for the right to breastfeed and pump their breasts because it was claimed  not “cost-effective”.  We realize now that this was a violation of our right as women to feed our babies without feeling pressured by corporations or society that it is wrong! 

In a more recent study, Marsha Walker (2007) states that breastfeeding barriers and misconceptions have to be broken and corrected in order for the option for mothers to be available to them without the various stigmas attached that it is no longer socially acceptable.  Please agree with me and be a supporter in the fight for one more right women should have never been denied.

Walker, M. “International Breastfeeding Initiatives and their Relevance to the Current State of Breastfeeding in the United States .” Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 52.6 (2007): Pages 549-555 . Web. 1 Mar 2010. <http://www.sciencedirect.com.library.esc.edu/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W6R-4R1PCRJ-8&_user=683075&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F2007&_alid=1226753744&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=6605&_sort=r&_st=4&_docanchor=&_ct=2484&_acct=C000037698&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=683075&. Located in Science Direct

“Breastfeeding State Laws.” National Conference of State Legislatures. 9/2009. Health Resources and Services Administration, Web. 1 Mar 2010. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389. located in Google.

Galtry, J. “Suckling and Silence in the USA: The Costs and Benefits of Breastfeeding..” Feminist Economics 3 .3 (1997): p1-24, 24p. Web. 1 Mar 2010. http://library.esc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.library.esc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=7620913&site=ehost-live. located in Humanities International Complete 

CBSNewsOnline. (2010, April) YouTube [Web]. Breast feeding saves lives, money. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6QoQQV4vJo

Hello world & Women, Girls, and the Media ESC Class!

Blogging for the 1st time!

First Blog EVER… interesting.  I’ve done MySpace.  This can’t be too hard.