How does hegemony affect the portrayal of women in the media (Everyday pornography)

     What really got my attention while watching the video about the portrayal of women in the media was mainly the reoccurring pattern in which women were represented. It is shocking to see that we are exposed to these types of messages on everyday basis but do not realize how to content can alter our own thoughts and meanings.

            While looking at the ads in the magazines or in the newspaper I could not help but think about music videos and the portrayal of women on the screen. It is particularly the rap music videos I am talking about where women are mainly seen as objects not capable of rational thought and their only desire is men or sex with men. It is also portrayed, as women are lonely and not capable of living without men. It is shocking to see how acceptable those messages are among people. Women are also often being portrayed around money. It is mostly in the context of women wanting men with money and power and for that money they would do anything.  Another very striking idea that is being sent to us through these videos is the behavior of women. I am now specifically referring to the submissive behavior women have as they often have to wait their turn to get to the men. To be more specific, there is usually many women in the video surrounding the man. It is necessary for the women to know their “place” and wait there turn to get to the man. So in other words they share everything. I cannot help but think of pimps while seeing this type of a behavior. It is exactly what they do. One man has power over these women.

            So how is it possible for people not seeing this pattern until it is pointed at? I believe that we are already so saturated with the media and constant advertising that we do not read much into these types of messages. We also may just see it as pure hegemony. Or in other words something that is “normal” in our culture and it is normal to have music videos such as I described earlier. It is sad but obvious that at this point it would take a lot to change all this. It is not only the responsibility of the media but also the women who choose to be seen and portrayed in certain ways in the media. Most likely I do not think women realize this until it is pointed to them.

References

Dines, G. & Humez, J. (Eds.) (2008) Gender, Race, Class and Media (Third Edition) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage           

Caputi, J. (2007). The pornography of everyday life. In Dines, G. & Humez, J. (Eds.), Gender, Race and Class in Media (311-320). Location: Thousand Oaks,CA: Sage.

Pornography of Everyday Life (2006). movie