Why do the media denigrate men? Concerted contempt for men now seems to have become pervasive in popular culture, from advertising to political talk-shows. This has very largely been as a result of negative depiction of men by the media and by constant reinforcement. The effects of such persistent denigration have never been independently or adequately studied until now.
The things the media present and the manner in which they are presented - notably on television and in Hollywood films - obviously have a powerful effect in the public mind. When viewers are constantly being bombarded with images of men being put down, subjected to snide 'asides', slapped around, generally treated as idiots, or otherwise abused, viewers eventually come to perceive of this kind of behaviour as being normal and permissible. However, such constant misrepresentations are unhealthy, anti-social, sexist, and completely unacceptable.
And, whereas violence again women is frowned upon by the media, violence against men is taken lightly and often presented as being 'humourous'. In more general terms, the media appear to believe that to depict a woman brutally assaulting a man is 'alright'. This is blatantly irresponsible and sexist and sends out a very wrong message.
Another common misperception perpetrated by the media is that of male cultural and economic advantage. The truth is that while white male billionaires might form an elite superclass, the average male worker is every bit as exploited - if not more so - than his female counterpart.
Don't shoot the messenger? Sometimes the messenger deserves to be shot!
Why do the media persistently denigrate men?
You're right on all counts. Currently media seem to enjoy sending out movies with the message that men are sex machines but also losers when they can't find a woman, or find the perfect woman and act the fool to win her. Examples include Adam Sandler movies, The 40 yr old virgion and Good Luck Chuck. They all encourage women to look down on men as boys in adult bodies who need cuddling and coodling and alot of , well sex. It sends the wrong message to many young women and is completely unacceptable.
Many young men I know are responsible adults who have a balance between career, family and social life. One of them is a law medalist who has constant contact with his family, loves fishing and (ahem) gambling as much as he loves the study of law. He's not one of those idiots indicated in movies.
As for economic advantage - I believe that millionares mainly work for their money, as do females and as should everyone else. Work to reap rewards. If they are criticised only because they are rich and indicate the "all boys club", then these criticisms are unwarranted. As for millionares who marry women in the "sugar daddy" situation, don't blame the men - the women allow themselves to be exploited for their bodies. The man hasn't put any pressure on them - unless you say money acts as a financial pressure. Well its not.
Re the messenger - the media is more than the messenger, they are the horse's mouth in these cases.
I'm expecting thumbs down for this - I don't care.
Reply:Because it's funny when women watch goofy men on TV as they know it's not true most of the time. Show a dumb women on TV and it's not funny because she probably is a dumba*s, the truth hurts ;-D
Reply:I hate the stereotypical sitcom that shows the bungling guy and his wife (who's usually a babe), and she solves all the problems in the last 5 minutes of the show.
Reality is far different from these sitcoms.
I also would like to see violence against men taken more seriously.
Reply:The day I start seeing major league sports male cheerleaders in skimpy outfits gyrating on my television screen is the day I'll take your complaints of sexist attitudes toward men seriously.
Until that day comes, grit your teeth and deal with it, as we have done for DECADES. Welcome to daily messages of sexism. Why do you think we became feminists?
Reply:Because the media are, generally, scum. Any extended analysis of everything from adverts and soaps to newspapers and film will show that pretty much all media is riddled with offensive, steretypical, brainwashing rubbish because, as a previous answerer stated, it's not there to be accurate, enlightening, fair, straightforward or honest, it's simply designed to capture viewers and/or sell products.
Furthermore, many of the decisions taken by the heads of television stations represent their own views of the world. If you want proof of this, simply find an up and coming news story and try to read it from as many sources as possible - the obvious bias of the writers then becomes visible. It does not just apply to men but to everyone, children are shown girls in pink playing with dolls and boys getting muddy playing at soldiers - sexist attitudes to the rough treatment or aggression of boys and men are worldwide and must be the next focus of feminism - for instance, men may be responsible for the majority of violent crime, yet they are far more likely to be the VICTIMS of violent crime than women, especially if they are young men. This constant assumption that men are tough, insensitive, invioable, rulers of the world is a smokescreen that only creates a culture of silence and fear for any boys or men who are experiencing the opposite.
The fact is, this gender dividing and conquering gets us all no-where, no man or woman should feel that they are the particular focus of ridicule, violence or oppression in their daily lives or in the media just because of their gender. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to have much effect on the all-powerful media corporations unless we could achieve mass viewer rejection on single channels, shows or products, so all we can really do is keep it real in our own lives and speak out about sexism and the lies and damage of the media.
Reply:Yeah, you are right. The only denigration of women they do is portraying them in more "traditional" roles in commercials, but that is because most people on those "traditional women roles" are women, so their commercial appeal to them.
Reply:It depends on what you watch. The media wants ratings, men wander off to the internet, downloads computer games etc. so at certain times the main audience is women, if they think men bashing will attract the harpies out of the woodwork to watch some talk show they will use it.
I do take your points seriously, but the media have the right to do everything that will increase their ratings, as long as its legal.
If anything you should feel sorry for the vast majority of women that they feel so inferior to men, that they need the media to portray men as dumb, clumsy and weak to feel better about themselfs.
Reply:There are many examples of men being denigrated in the media in the excellent 'Spreading Misandry' by Paul Nathanson %26amp; Katherine Young.
I think men are supposed to be able to take it because
1/ Men should be able to take a few knocks without blubbing,
2/ Its only payback time. Men deserve it after years of oppressing women, and
3/ Making men look bad or stupid is popular and will sell your product.
The most insidious thing is when men internalise the negative stereotypes and believe themselves to be bad/stupid/worth less than women. I think its also part of the reason that domestic violence against men is not taken anywhere near as seriously as that against women, even by male victims themselves.
Reply:Of course it's reprehensible, but why are you just sitting here instead of doing something about it?
Reply:Perhaps. I'm almost inclind to agree with you.
However one of the reasons this denigration of males continues to be acceptable is ironically, the notion that men are superior to women and can "take it like a man." That's why it's considered humorous to watch a man get beaten up by a woman on screen. At heart it is the very sexist assumption that "well, she can't REALLY do him any damage since she's a woman." This seems to be the case regardless of differences in size and strength between them.
Personally I think the real cure for denigration in the media (of both men and women) is not shooting the messenger, censorship or the like. People need to learn to think for themselves. The characters in Dumb and Dumber are not role models.
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