In our last class we discussed the different stereotypes that exist for various races and ethnic groups, and the roles that they are given within the media. We discussed the black female's role as the "Mammy" figure and the black man as the stereotypical lazy clown, and how even today many minority groups are assigned roles that play into these outdated stereotypes. However, I have a few disagreements with the material that was presented. In class it was stated that in popular TV shows, people of different races are rarely portrayed as friends or acquaintances. The Cosby Show and Friends are definitely examples of that point, but I think that it is crucial to note that Friends
quit airing new episodes in 2004 and The Cosby Show 
quit airing new episodes in 1992!
Although these shows certainly were representative of their time period, I think that our generation and our society is open to a completely new idea of what family life looks like. Look, for instance, at one of the most popular and most highly awarded sitcoms on TV today, ABC's 'Modern Family".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSzTVrP5FQ
The show has won countless Prime time Emmy Awards, yet features a gay couple with an adopted Asian child and the patriarch who has remarried to a strongly-accented Colombian woman. Clearly, the ethnic boundaries and hesitations towards portraying homosexual couples has been long abandoned.
Another example is a show featured on ABC Family called "Pretty Little Liars".
Ask any teenage girl in the country and they will surely be able to explain to you all of the dramatic secrets and ridiculous intricacies that come together to create this wildly popular teenage soap opera. The show centers around four girls- one dates a much older man, another has a fling with an African-American boy, one is Asian-American, and the last one is a lesbian who's girlfriend also happens to be an African-American. The four girls are friends with countless other teenagers of different races and religions, and pay little attention to stereotypes or social boundaries.
What I am trying to get at here is that, sure, in the past TV shows have been largely dominated by white actors and actresses, and minorities have been limited to prescribed roles that oftentimes fulfilled racial stereotypes. That is true. But what, in my opinion, is not true, is that that phenomenon still exists today. All of the major networks run shows in prime time that portray blacks, whites, Asians, and Latinos in every role possible. NBC's 'Parenthood' has a mixed race couple and mixed race children, ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy' portrays several Latinos and African-Americans as prominent, successful doctors who engage in relationships with people of every race and ethnic origin.
There are countless examples of television shows on major networks and cable networks, in prime time and daytime, that are portraying all races and ethnic groups in every role imaginable. A recent article in Variety Magazine discusses the opportunities available for minority actors and actresses, but the positions of power that they still lack:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118037867/
While I do think that these stereotypes were prominent in the past, I don't think that they apply in this day and age. Our local news media are perhaps still ignorant of news events involving minorities, but as far as the movie and television industry, I think that all bias has been eliminated.
Every major news network has at least one minority anchor, prime time TV shows are considered the minority if they have an all white cast, and the new fad of reality TV shows has centered around mixed race families and gay and lesbian couples. We have our nation's first African-American President and many states have legalized gay marriage; we are no longer in an era of American media where minorities are regulated to prescribed roles.
One of the things that is on the forefront of American news right now is the upcoming Presidential election. The Democratic and Republican National Conventions have already taken place, the candidates have announced their running mates, countless interviews and speeches have been given, and the race for President is well under way. However, what I find to be most interesting about this year's race is the focus and attention that the families of the candidates, in particular the wives, have been getting. Michelle Obama has been in the news for the past several years for giving speeches, for hosting events to support her Let's Move! initiative (http://www.letsmove.gov/), but most commonly for her choice in clothing! Recently the Today show posted an article quenching American women's fears- don't fret, Michelle Obama's DNC dress will soon be available for sale!
http://thelook.today.com/_news/2012/09/06/13703094-tracy-reese-michelle-obamas-dnc-dress-will-hit-shelves
Why is it that these women are receiving so much attention for what they wear? Nobody commented on President Obama's choice in shirt or tie, or Mitt Romney's suit color? So why is it that the New York Times wrote an entire article about Ann Romney's red dress?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/fashion/ann-romneys-dress-by-oscar-de-la-renta-starts-the-conversation.html
I understand why some people would be interested to see what the candidates' wives are wearing, sure, it's a lighthearted way to connect with the candidates and their families on an extremely superficial level. It makes them more accessible as real people and seem less like celebrities to be able to share a dress in common, or make your own decision about whether or not you agree with their sense of style. But why is there so much talk about it? Why is it that women in the political spotlight receive so much attention for what they wear?
It honestly doesn't make sense to me! Are we, as Americans, really that obsessed with image that we look at our possible future First Lady and all we can see is taffeta? That when Michelle Obama is standing by her husband's side as he makes his inauguration speech, all we notice is that she made a bold choice by wearing yellow?
In my opinion, women in the media are almost always regarded in a different light than men. Women are immediately judged based on their appearance, whereas men oftentimes will first be noticed for a different quality. Americans hold women to different, higher standards than they do men, though our gender stereotypes and the idea of women as solely intended for domestic purposes has long passed, somewhere in our subconcious we still hold the notion that women should be pretty and proper and presentable, and so when looking at candidates to represent and lead our nation, all we can see in their wives is their appearance. There are several youtube videos, even, that are dedicated solely to the
comparison of Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Romney's choice in National Convention
wardrobes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLbRu8XRnd8
Michelle Obama did an amazing job with her speech at the Democratic National Convention, but it's a shame to me that what most people are talking about is her pink and grey silk.
The popular TLC (The Learning Channel) TV series "Toddlers and Tiaras" has earned incredible fame for its supposed "sexualization" and "exploitation" of little girls. On the show mothers and their daughters are featured as they prepare to enter their daughters in a toddler beauty pageant; the show follows them as they prepare for the big day, as they compete in various events at the pageant, and all the way through the end of the crowning ceremony. In an article (below) published by the San Francisco Chronicle, you can see a list of the arguably "Most Controversial Moments" from the show: a darling three year old named Paisley, dressed up as a hooker from the Julia Roberts movie "Pretty Woman";
a 4 year old girl named Maddy, as Dolly Parton, complete with implants to fill out her costume;
and finally a little girl screaming as a beautician attempts to wax her eyebrows, at her mother's request.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/slideshow/Toddlers-amp-Tiaras-Most-controversial-moments-48302.php#photo-3394196
Another article from the examiner.com tells the story of the latest controversy, a tiny little girl smoking a fake cigarette on stage:
http://www.examiner.com/article/toddlers-tiaras-4-year-old-smokes-prop-cigarette-for-pageant-video
A contestant form a previous episode, 2 year old Mia, dresses up on-stage as Madonna, complete with gold bustier and cone bra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZtttVUJf3M
Finally, an article on foxnews.com and another on The Huffington Post's website chronicle the latest Toddlers and Tiaras scandal: the headlines read "Maddy Verst's Padded Bra on 'Toddlers and Tiaras' Might Cause Her Mother to Lose Custody."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/maddy-verst-dolly-parton-custody-toddlers-tiaras_n_1812317.html
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/08/17/toddlers-tiaras-mom-could-lose-custody-daughter-because-puts-her-in-pageants/
I personally think that the whole issue is a little bit ridiculous. The fact that the media has become so taken with the issue says a lot about the gender differences that still exist in our society today. We have come so, so far in terms of gender equality, but the fact remains that even today women are held to standards that are black and white different from those required of men. Women are still taught that they should be feminine, dainty, polite, that they should be proper and motherly and avoid scandal of any kind. Sure there are a significant number of women who've entered the workforce but there are also still a significant number that stay at home to take care of their house and clean. As far as we've come, you still don't see men as the primary caretaker in homes across the United States.
In terms of this particular case, the media neglects the fact that boys are regularly featured on the show as well. There aren't any complaints when toddler aged boys parade around in swimsuits, or are "forced" to dress up in tuxedos and perform on stage. Sure, the preparations for boys are much less significant than for the girls, but isn't the message the same? When you slick back a 4 year old boys hair, put mascara on him, stick him in a spangly tux, aren't you telling him that this is what is considered attractive? That still, even though he's a boy, he isn't good enough on his own? I can understand why the media and a lot of the American public are upset at the ideas promoted on this show. A lot of people seem to think that some moms have simply taken it too far- a dress is ok, a cone bra isn't- while others think that these moms are living vicariously through their daughters. And my response to that would be- OF COURSE THEY ARE!! And how many fathers on the football field, screaming at their little boy to run faster, be stronger, catch the ball aren't doing the exact same thing?
I think that although it is clear that some mothers have taken their children's beauty pageant careers too far, they aren't doing anything damaging or dangerous. Perhaps their outfits are inapparopriate, but for the most part the children don't realize that! The fact of the matter is that there, in my opinion, isn't anything truly wrong going on. We as a society need to learn to laugh off matters like these and take them for what they are- a silly costume on a little kid, entering a pageant. It isn't a statement about female sexuality, it isn't a lesson in gender roles, its a sparkly costume on a brightly lit stage, and nothing more!
