I was thinking about Women Day today, why is it that we don't have a 'Men's Day'? Why do we need a day to celebrate women's achievements from economic, political and social to general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women?
The reality is that constant polarised gender messages in media have fundamentally anti-social effects.
 |
| Skky Vodka: Passion for Perfection (Source: www.skkyvodka.com) |
Media education can play a crucial role in counteracting the impact of these messages. Helping people to understand that media construct - as opposed to reflect - reality; that they communicate implicit and explicit values; and that they can influence the way we feel and think about ourselves and the world, are vitally important lessons towards achieving a society in which women and girls are seen and treated as equal to men and boys.
According to Media Watch, in everything from advertising, television programming, newspaper and magazines, to comic books, popular music, film and video games, women and girls are more likely to be shown: in the home, performing domestic chores such as laundry or cooking; as sex objects who exist primarily to service men; as victims who can't protect themselves and are the natural recipients of beatings, harassment, sexual assault and murder.
Men and boys are also stereotyped by the media. From GI Joe to Rambo, masculinity is often associated with machismo, independence, competition, emotional detachment, aggression and violence. Despite the fact that men have considerably more economic and political power in society than women, these trends - although different from those which affect women and girls - are very damaging to boys. (Read more.)
There is a place for media literacy
 |
| Every day should be Women's Day... (Source: www.picstock.com) |
It's Women's Day again; Women's Month again - to all out there let's make every day Women's day!
we live in a democratic soiety that is willing to protect women and children as well as celebrate their achievements since they were previously disadvantaged thats the reason we have womens day instead of having mens day because men were always at advantage not women, so its womens day and childrens day on the calender.
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree with this view, but my point that I'm making is that despite having a day to celebrate women, does not change behaviour towards women. Just look at the stats.
Deletewe can not have a men's day, society believes that there is no need to celebrate sacrifices made by men. further stereotyping men. it could also be said that seeing as that there is no men's day, then everyday is men's day. i dont believe that women's day is condescending to women, it recognises the sacrifices and the importance of women, and yes i recognise that one day is not enough but, we had to have a day where the importance of women was highlighted even more...
ReplyDeleteEdwin, maybe we need to do more to change behaviour towards women, than just having one day. We need to look at how we frame women in all content from ads to movies - only then maybe will behaviour against women change.
DeleteWe dont have a mens day because women never had the opportunity to participate and obtain the same opportunities as everybody else, I see no reason for men who have always been in power to be celebrated. Media education can definetly play a crucial role in counteracting the impact of these messages.
ReplyDeleteHi Mpho
DeleteI'm a firm believer that we learn through media, so yes, media has a huge role to play in changing people's behaviour and perception towards women.
I've just read your take on the matter,and what stood out for me is the danger of polarised gender messages ,let alone the polarised celebration or for instance the 'all girl SPECIAL school for girls" it seems as if the goal and hunger is to balance the scales and reach eqilibruim. if my memory serves me right ones that is achieved our little boys will be headed for trouble and thus crave recognition as well! it should be 'take a girl and boy to work' day or celebration of men and women day on same day! true equality will be obtained. then again who will say on the day true equality has been reached as we know human beings defer in outlook thus perfection has different points in nature therefore true egaulity should be an aim but not a neccesity.
ReplyDeleteHi Tebogo
DeleteI think you touch a very important point, we need to be so carefully today that we do not exclude certain groups. It just places more pressure on media to act responsibly when producing content.