Women's Struggle in America
The following is the twenty-fifth in a series of essays written in response to the media analysis assignment described in the January 28, 2000 article on this topic page. Colorado State University student Frankie Schwenk analyzes the media's pressure on women to project a "certain sexual image in order to feel accepted and wanted by the opposite sex."
Women's Struggle in America by Frankie Schwenk
You are sitting in a movie theater with your boyfriend. A love scene is covering the screen, in which a tall, slender, large-breasted actress is almost entirely exposed. You look over at your drooling boyfriend, and then at the screen, feeling jealous that you do not resemble the perfect image of the movie star. In American society today, women are not only pressured to have a man, in other words a partner, at all times to feel complete, but they also need to portray a certain sexual image in order to feel accepted and wanted by the opposite sex. It is difficult enough to go out on a date and watch a movie, having to notice your date gawking and drooling at the tall, slender, "perfect" actress on the movie screen, but then expecting to look like the actress to get the same response is plain ridiculous. Why are women supposed to have a significant other, whether it is a boyfriend, fiance, or husband...at all times? And why do women have to spend an hour fixing their hair, another doing their make-up, about half of that time choosing an outfit, and perhaps an additional couple of hours doing aerobics...so they can look appealing to men? Sad? Yes. True? To a large extent, also yes. Even though a large number of men and even women may not attempt to answer, or even think about these questions during their daily routine, I have decided to do some research as to not necessarily why, but how, where, and by what means this thought process occurs. Additionally, I will attempt to explain how the media is reinforcing this condition in our society, by depicting Ally McBeal, a prime time television show. And finally, I will demonstrate how women in general are affected by the condition, and what the primary focus of relationships should really be.
Women in America, ranging from teens to adults, are being seduced into thinking that a man should be a necessary aspect of their lives at all times. This message seems to convey that a woman cannot function efficiently by herself, and therefore needs to find any possible way to get a man. This message is also pervasive in a number of popular books on dating. How Not to Stay Single, by Nita Tucker "presents a unique plan of action for finding that elusive, emotionally fulfilling attachment." Why is it necessary for a woman to find an "attachment?" This book mentions nothing about the special bond between a man and a woman, or love at first sight. Rather, it conveys the message that finding a mate is an obligation or duty for which this particular author has found a "unique six-week action plan." Tucker's ideas are spread nationwide through her appearances on national talk shows such as Oprah, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Sonya Live. Another similar dating book is Laura Bank's Breaking the Rules: Last-Ditch Tactics for Landing the Man of Your Dreams. Just the title implies that when you've tried everything else, here's some final tactics you can try to get a man. Again, this sounds like getting a man is necessary and should be done as quickly as possible. Overall, these books just reinforce the idea that women need to be with a man, and if they are not, they should find one as soon as and by any means possible.
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