My Writing Portfolio Objectification of Women in the Media

Sinara Isoyan
E&C 238: Media & Society
Instructor: Maria Titizian
Date: October 31, 2016
Objectification of Women in the Media
Mass media shapes the world that we live in; it shapes our thoughts, our perceptions and
even our moral standards. It plays one of the most significant roles in the development and
alteration of our culture and moral values, due to our unceasing media exposure. Nowadays,
because of the numerous advancements in technology, information spreads incredibly fast
through the use of media outlets and it can reach a massive number of people in merely seconds,
making it one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Information didn’t circulate as rapidly
fifty years ago as it does now, but the impact it left on people was similar to today. Due to the
massive exposure to a myriad media messages, people are affected both positively and
negatively, depending on the type of messages. After years of development, mass media still
comprises of the stereotypical portrayal and objectification of genders, particularly of women, as
it always did. The female gender has constantly been objectified in the media, and unfortunately,
this is still the case these days. Although some may argue that media’s objectification of the
female gender throughout history is completely harmless, the fact is that this objectification has
essentially shaped the way men perceive women, and this has resulted in perceptible changes in
male behavior, specifically increased discrimination and aggressive behavior towards women.
In the earlier days, women were largely objectified in advertising since they were
portrayed as domesticated objects; stupid and submissive. The advertisements portrayed women
as having a particular set of roles, ones mainly involving housework, whereas men were
1