Unlike the “Like a Girl” commercial, Super bowl commercials reflect the sexuality of women. Super Bowl commercials can be described as the funniest, and most entertaining commercials of the year. However when looking into them they poke fun of women’s sexuality in various ways. The Doritos Super Bowl commercial presents the idea that the only way to get a man to pay attention to you is to offer your body as a prize (Doritos Super Bowl). The whole concept is that a Super Bowl commercial emphasizes the idea in which is supposed to be funny.
This further questions medias purpose in society. Media is forcing the knowledge on society that women are used as props to draw viewer’s attention to the screen. It emphasizes that Women are just toys to play with when they are there, but if they were not there it would not be a problem. Since everyone has ideas about what a woman should look like, certain stars have come out to try and prove the idea that no one if perfect. Over Instagram, Selena Gomez posted a bikini picture of herself. Harsh comments appeared in her feed such as, “fat” or “gained so much weight”.
She explained on Ellen DeGeneres, that every one of those comments, no matter if you do not know who that person is, still hurts tremendously (Ellen DeGeneres). Similarly, Zendaya speaks out in People magazine, when she posts the unedited magazine photo of herself on Instagram. She exclaims that, “These are the things that make women self-conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have” (CNN Staff). Even though it is seen that a few celebrities are able to speak out about their true body, many still remain hidden by the media.
Unfortunately, unlike Selena and Zendaya, the media can strongly take hold of a person causing them to resort to eating disorders and anorexia (Miss Representation). It has come to the point where the stars, themselves, are unknowingly advertising the idea that appearance is more important than health. The expectations of the fans are relied on what they are seeing from various amounts of media. When your entire life is being monitored under the spotlight of a camera; looking as though you are in tip-top shape is a basic requirement.
It is shown that over, “65% of women and girls have an eating disorder” due to the media (Miss Representation). Margaret Cho explains that the media business is hard place to work. She exclaims that when she got the role on her first show she was having many problems with the network because, “they were constantly telling [her] that [she] was too fat” (Miss Representation). Cho went into a stage of anorexia, and was unable to perform the role, as they then hired someone else. The pressures that the Media places on these women are what creates disbelief and invalidates their understandings of who they are as people.
Through living in the era of medias advancement, it is hard avoiding advertisements that portray women in a weaker standpoint. Whether walking down the block or sitting and waiting for a bus, you can look around and spot various amounts of posters, flyers, and store windows that only portray the so-called “appealing” aspects of women. Especially as a young women living in New York City, you are practically living through a world of false advertisement. There are consistent looks that young women get as they walk out of their house in a form fitting dress.
It is the slightest smirk, the soft whistle, and the uncomfortable eye staring that every woman has once experienced. Women are not objects solely meant to be stared at; they have aspirations and futures like everyone else. In Miss Representation it further suggests the future steps society must take in order to deal with these issues. Katie Couric explains that “The media can be an instrument of change, it can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can, hopefully awaken people and change minds” (Miss Representation).
The Media has the potential of awakening people about the problems around the world, but has so far made women only question their potentials. The only way for change to occur is if media is challenged to value women’s smarts, achievements, and goals rather than just their beauty. However, “if the media is solely used to send girls the message that their only purpose and value is to serve the world their bodies, it can only disempower and distract them from obtaining power and leadership in their future” (Miss Representation).
