thestig, butler

“Women denotes a common identity… it becomes impossible to separate out ‘gender’ from the political and cultural intersections in which it is invariably produced and maintained” (193).

The term ‘women’ is tossed around in modern society in ways in which are demeaning and unfair – when it comes down to the malaise of modern society – to members of both genders. In other words, the word ‘women’ is part of the root to the problem as a whole: that females are reduced to “women.” Why is this the case in today’s society, one might ask, where females are supposedly equal? Statistics do show that the females are getting jobs, some of which are high paying, however when compared to the income of males in equal positions, statistics show females are generally paid less. In addition, even though the glass ceiling effect may not be as evident today as it was 50 years ago, it still exists. The word ‘women’ is thrown around too much, and our media certainly doesn’t help to improve the situation.

‘Women’ are often portrayed as fulfilling the roles of housewives in media. When this notion is consumed, it becomes an accepted ideology. Females are not limited to being housewives, but as Butler presents, it becomes difficult to see the potential of ‘women’ when always portrayed in roles which fulfill the stereotype of the life of a women.

Every once in a while, a movie will come out of Hollywood where there is a man fulfilling the role of what one might expect a women to fulfill. The films identify this paradox, and the result is comedy: i.e. Ben Stiller plays the role of a “MALE nurse” in Meet the Parents. Every scene in which he is introduced or introduces himself, he says, “male nurse.” The fact that he says, “male” further perpetuates the denotation of women. Therefore, ‘women’ are objectified not only through the objectifying females in media, but also through objectifying males playing a character usually expected to be played by a female.