Gender in Media and Language

In class this week the one think that really caught my attention was in the clip from Scrubs when the nurse is in a bikini all oiled up. Then someone commented that you rarely see men in Speedos all oiled up. It's true, rarely is a man objectified in popular media. Granted it is present in some newer films and shows, but not nearly as much as women's objectification. In addition to visually representations of women there are also the verbal descriptions of women that in general are more objectifying and sexual. Like in the 40 Year Old Virgin, almost every monologue between the men is about women and sex. In comparison there aren't many monologues between women talking about men as conquest and so forth. The one exception I can think of is Sex in the City. Of course that is the whole basis of the show "having sex like men."

The more I think about it the more I notice that the things we consider normal can be sexually bias and/or often objectifying women. Take the Declaration of Independence for example, "All men are created equal" (but not women). There are also countless other examples of sexual bias that we use in our everyday language such as; businessman, mankind, human, fireman, policeman. Not only does this trend exist in English, but it can be much more pronounced in other languages such as German. For example a male teacher is Lehrer a female is Lehrerin, and a male professor is Professor a female in Professorin. In the German language every title has two gendered words. This to me suggests a difference or inequality between the people in those positions and there abilities.

It’s the simple emphasis that we place on titles which suggests inequality. Why can’t all food servers be called waiter or host? Why must we say “female doctor” instead of just doctor, is the fact that a doctor is female change her medical expertise? I highly doubt it! All of this seems so simple and stupid, and yet it frustrates me.