Theory Construction Essay Research Paper Social IssueIt

Theory Construction Essay, Research Paper

Social Issue:

It started by way of messengers and scribes, evolved through the presentation of newspapers and radio, brought us together with television, and now serves us world-wide via the ever-popular Internet. It is the mass media, and even from the earliest days of its existence, it has contributed greatly in ways that both enlighten and enrich society, and ways that deteriorate and perplex it. It is not a surprise to learn, then, that the mass media is the most powerful source of information we have, and nothing else in today s world influences public perception quite as heavily. Unfortunately, however, most of what is broadcast or transmitted in the news today is with reference to the chaotic condition of our planet, or something else that society as a whole sees as detrimental or damaging. But the news on television is not the only type of media taking the criticism of society. Other forms of mass media, specifically movies and television programs containing pornography and violence have been heavily criticized. The underlining concept to be debated here is why is the media blamed for gender inequality, and why is it considered a violent stimulant for men with specific reference to pornography.

Isolate & Define Variables:

Variables, which hinder the media and imply the idea of its responsibility toward violence and inequality with reference to women, include ethnicity, location, gender, physical attributes, and lastly the mass media itself. Ethnicity is defined as a person s shared cultural heritage and determines their beliefs and standards while location is concerned with where they live. Next, is gender and inequality, these terms are defined as those who are considered significant members of society are male or female, and the various indifferences between them (money, power, etc.). Further is the issue of physical attributes, which is a variable related to the human body, apart from mind or emotion. Lastly, in question is the mass media itself. The media is the impersonal communication of images and ideas directed towards a vast undifferentiated audience through different venues (radio, print, television, etc.).

Generalization:

For thousands of years, sex itself has been considered evil and revolting. This is exactly why the concealment of the sex organs and teaching feelings of shame toward human sexuality is so common world-wide (Christensen 1990:4). These same feelings of shame are the chief reasons that sex is considered a personal and private matter. Contrary to the beliefs of many, the mass media did not create these settings; society creates this image. In some societies, women have no reservations with regard to living their entire lives completely naked, while in other societies, females cover themselves from head to toe, only revealing their eyes. This differentiation goes on to prove that while the media can influence, it still cannot compare to ethnic belief or religion, if it did we would all look the same and act the same since we would be defined by a single popular norm.

It would be downright absurd to assume that women in this society are treated as sexual objects only because the media releases or broadcasts pornographic material. A magazine associated with make-up and skin care, for example, will quite obviously not be concentrating on much else. Such a magazine would not display pictures of women who mountain-climb or women who water-ski; only images of make-up and text referring to skin care would be relevant. Clearly, society does not consider women to be beings who s only purpose in life is to worry about make-up and skin care; but why are the complaints only directed towards pornographic media then. The answer to this question may be more complicated, however, what remains obvious is that the media does not portray women as only being able to fill male sexual desires. To say that pictures featuring nudity, etc are making objects out of women is foolish. One should consider females who pin-up posters of male rock stars or children who collect hockey or baseball cards. Society, however, does not say that objects are being made out of these rock stars and sports heroes; pictures of clothed people are no less objects than pictures of naked people. Furthermore, many complaints are also made to the effect that pornography only offers a one-dimensional view to life that women are seen as nymphomaniacs who are hysterically addicted to sex. It should be pointed out that events such as hockey games, boxing matches, horse races and operas all offer a one-dimensional view of life. One does not attend an opera hoping to see a horse race. The underling problem here is that the above mentioned events are socially acceptable; media displaying pornography is not.

It is also said that the media reduces women to a collection of body parts through pornography (Christensen 1990:74). But why then are their no complaints of advertisements in magazines displaying only ears, for example, or a nose, or feet. The reason is a simple one; society considers certain body parts to be shameful or disgusting. Realistically, the only way to prevent women from being seen as sex objects is for them to be seen as other things as well; but to say that women are not sexual beings would be misleading because both men and women are very much sexual (Christensen 1990:42). Simi