Oracle Online

Throughout time, women have been subordinate to men. They have been seen solely as objects for men’s pleasure. What is so terrible about all of this is that nothing has changed since those times. There is a stereotypical male fantasy that is continually depicted in all forms of media. Be it advertisements, film, music, music videos, and television, if you look closely the woman is never equal to the male and is seen in a subservient role. While we step closer and closer to equality each day, I question our definition of equality. I rejoice in the fact that I can and will be able to make dollar for dollar what a man does. I also rejoice that I will be able to perform the same job as a man and have just as good of a chance to get that job that a man does. But I detest that I am still considered an object in society. I may have equal pay and equal opportunity regarding politics or professional aspects of life, but when I am allowed an equal chance of life without harassment, violence, or objectification then I will rest easy and assured at my quality of life.

It is not unknown that men are the primary owners of big business throughout the world. These men create images of what they deem should be valued and considered beautiful in society. Through these images of ideal beauty, men also send another message to women: that you are not OK as you are. You, being a natural weight and natural height, are less than a man. You are not beautiful unless you look, act, and behave in this manner. Men could have done this the opposite way and created an image of beauty with obese women who never touched make-up their whole lives. But they did not, and this is the image that women fight, struggle with and endure 24 hours a day for their entire lives. The trauma that these women suffer never ceases. The woman who questions every bite she puts in her mouth, because it takes her further from the ideal and for the woman, who believes she will never be beautiful because she doesn’t have large breasts, this is who I fight for. That woman lives in everyone of us, whether or not we will have the strength to admit it.

If men are the ones who created an ideal image, who have held the power throughout history, than how can we expect that people do not fall into the traps that are set for us? Of course women will continually endorse products, get plastic surgery, and model for this ideal image of beauty. Men created this image before these models were born; men created the low self-esteem that berates these women daily. This is a vicious and violent cycle that we have in our society which runs against equality for women.

It is entirely impossible to escape these ideals. Educated people realize that the media and advertising are pervasive in all aspects of our life. It is impossible to be unaffected by the media. Those who think otherwise are either ignorant or in denial. Eric Whalen, you feel bad for those who enjoy fashion? I ask, Eric, why does your opinion count? Why is it you feel necessary to judge the satisfaction and fulfillment of someone’s life other than your own? I find it hard to believe that anyone can avoid fashion in all ways of life, unless of course they are sewing their own burlap sacks to wear to class.

The dominant source of power will always control the media, be it male or female, black or white. It is inevitable that we will be touched by inequality in our lives. The only way to fight for equality is to become educated about the cycle of violence and on how buying into these stereotypes and telling people that what you think is better, more important, or right perpetuates violence against women.

It is important to hold a solid and educated opinion about such important issues in life, and I hope that in your college career you strive for a bigger education about gender and sex inequality throughout the world. I remind you, that until you live your life as a sex object or until you have had sexual violence personally touch your life, you have no right to tell other people what is most attractive and what is right.

- Melissa Nieting ‘05