Women and Media Fall 2018

Monday, December 10, 2018

FINAL PROJECT

My final project is a slideshow of illustrations with quotes from different women about stigmas surrounding womanhood.

I got the idea because I have too many people in my life who aren't "woke." Like, my mom always tells me to sit with legs "closed" because I'm a woken. My friend's mom told me "women don't have messy rooms." One day when someone said "if you take so long to wash the rice, how will you get married?" I responded with "I'm more than my rice washing skills" because honestly...it's the truth *imagine shrug emoji*

So, that's basically the main root of the project idea. To get more perspectives, I posted this on the hunter page and directly used some of the comments/used them as inspiration:

Here's the outcome:
FINAL PROJECT

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Know Their Rights

My final project is zine that can be used as a tool to educate people on the fine line between empowerment and exploitation in the field of sex work. I am interested in giving this marginalized group of people a voice in the media. Also I am to uncover how certain forces of the law effect these people in their field, such as the FOSTA and SESTA.

For those who are unfamiliar SESTA stands for Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act and FOSTA stands for Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, both of which were passed in 2018. Although these acts are completely valid to try and put an end to sex trafficking, they also impede certain rights that consenting sex workers should have. For instance, FOSTA makes it a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison to operate “an interactive computer service” with “the intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person.” This is a good thing for victims of sex trafficking, but harmful to the sex worker. Instead of being able to screen clients through the internet before meeting with them for a session, they are now forced back out on the streets to look for their clients. This could put these people into very dangerous situations that could potentially lead to rape and other physical abuse.

Another point that I want to make is to address the stigma of the line of work in general, and advocate that sex workers have rights as well. In our society this line of work is is frowned upon and slid under the rug, but in reality it is still a job. A lot of sex workers do not feel safe being publicly out about their career choice, and this is due to the stigma attached to it. These people deserve to have their stories heard and to be taken seriously. Over the summer activists gathered in Washington Square Park to celebrate National Whoresday, a movement to give a voice to the struggles that these people have to deal with in their line of work. FOSTA/SESTA not only impede the rights of sex workers but is also a direct violation of our freedom of speech. These laws threaten many online platforms to place strong restrictions on their user generated content. In doing so they have silenced a lot of marginalized voices in the process. Without the use of these internet communities, sex workers do not have a space to communicate safely. These acts are intended to give prosecutors the tools they need to find justice for victims of online sex trafficking, but in turn they have become harmful to the consenting sex worker, forcing them back on to the streets and into dangerous situations.

The intent of this zine is to shine a light on the issues of the FOSTA/SESTA acts and to give a voice to this marginalized group. Here is a link to the documents in a google slide presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YNRTS0_IhAbbBq6i4IQ54cORPCenkyNZPU-yRHVNwJY/edit?usp=sharing

Bibliography:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Decency_Act#Section_230

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Enabling_Sex_Traffickers_Act

https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/4/13/17172762/fosta-sesta-backpage-230-internet-freedom

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1865/text

http://www.hips.org/about.html

https://www.thedailybeast.com/sex-workers-fear-for-their-future-how-sesta-is-putting-many-prostitutes-in-peril

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-yorks-sex-workers-rally-to-take-back-international-whores-day-let-us-survive

https://stopsesta.org/

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Final Project: A conversation with Devin.

For my final project I wanted to explore more in depth what it means to be a transwoman, and how that identity intersects with modern day feminism and media. I have made short video where we meet a dear friend of mine by the name of Devin, who is currently on her journey in transitioning into female. The video centers around a conversation with Devin, where we discuss her identity, and what it means to her, how she’s evolving with it, and the struggles that it encompasses. I wanted the film to feel like we were having a personal discussion with Devin, where it mimics the structure of just asking questions. By choosing this path for my film I realized that although it is important to hear other people stories and perspectives, one person cannot solely represent an entire community. Devin has helped curate the conversation in the film, as well I used my research to structure the conversation in a way that we don’t lose the intimacy of Devin’s story, but is informative and accurate of the struggles of trans women. The film further explores themes we have discussed this semester like what it means to be a woman in media, what does it mean to be a woman in the dynamic of society, how has the patriarchy affected women- specifically their self image, and how the lgbtq+ circles and narratives intersect with what it means to be a woman.

Devin Film

I have learned a tremendous amount about what the trans experience is like, and want to give this identity a platform to inform others of what some marginalized people face in society. The research done to prepare for this film has centered around what questions I already had pertaining to this identity. I used various of our class readings as a foundation for my research, as well as scholarly literature, and media.

Work Cited:

“Feminism, Gender Justice, and Trans Inclusion: Web Resources.” Barnard Center for Research on Women, bcrw.barnard.edu/feminism-gender-justice-and-trans-inclusion-web-resources/.

feministfrequency. “Trans Women Are Women: Carolyn Petit on the Feminist Answering Machine.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 Nov. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1cNGMLfyj0.

Hooks, Bell. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Simon & Schuster, 2005.

Hooks, Bell. Black Looks: Race and Representation. Routledge, 2015.

Kilbourne, Jean. Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising. Simon & Schuster, 2000.

“Viewpoint: Understanding Anti-Transgender Feminism.” Discover Society, 3 Sept. 2018, discoversociety.org/2018/04/03/viewpoint-understanding-anti-transgender-feminism/.

Final Project: 30 & not married?

For my final project I am discussing the pressure of marriage that society puts on woman entering their 30’s. I interviewed a couple of my family members from different generations. I had one aunt specifically that interviewed who firmly believes a woman should be married by her early/mid 20’s. Society pressures woman to accomplish certain things by a certain age, marriage being one of them. Woman are expected to graduate from college by a certain age, get engaged, then married and have children following a specific timeline. But, if I don’t aspire to marriage while entering my 30’s is something wrong with me? I believe social media also plays a huge role and has a great impact on this pressure put on woman entering their 30’s. I find myself scrolling through my Instagram feed constantly being bombarded with engagements, weddings, gender reveals and I start questioning and putting in pressure on myself. If I don’t get married or have children, am I considered an “incomplete” woman?

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VpMmNia-Sk

Sources:

Leftover women: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irfd74z52Cw&index=5&t=9s&list=LLfR71NB-hxzUdPmhnrUYljw

Monday, December 3, 2018

Sexism In Sports: Improper Compensation

For my final project, I chose to write a paper on sexism in sports especially in particular with basketball. I wanted to bring awareness to the unfair and outdated compensation going on within the women’s league. Basketball is my favorite sport and my two favorite female ballers are Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx and Elena Delle Donne of the Washington Mystics. Both of their salaries combined don’t even match up to what my favorite player Lebron James makes in the NBA. When A’ja Wilson, on the Las Vegas Aces made a tweet about the recent signing of Lebron and his hefty contract in comparison to the players in the WNBA, with the proper research you’d see she was not exaggerating. Not one WNBA player has saw a $1Million Dollars while Lebron alone is now currently playing in his 1^st year of a 4-year $154 million dollar contract.

Maya Moore(Left) Vs Elena Delle Donne(Right)

I think the blame here should be properly placed on owners and the league rather than the players from either league and I can see how numbers like this can be a slap to the face for women athletes in basketball and other sports around the world. In 2018, on a list that was compiled of the highest paid athletes around the world that included 23 countries, not woman made the cut, and prior to that year, in 2017, only one woman made the cut and she happened to be Serena Williams. I feel the only way to combat this issue, is to continue the talks surrounding it, especially as a male being that sports are so male dominated. As we talk and acknowledge the problem, hopefully it can be come the starting ground to seeing a real solution. I think women should be encouraged to do sports as much as men and it seems like male athletes feel the same way. Lebron has supported his baller sisters in their fight for better pay as well as other players. Steph Curry received a letter from a young girl baller who felt his shoes didn’t represent girls like her and his response was the type of example that I think all men should take when changing how we view women in sports. Deep down inside I have faith that women in sports will get their dues given to them, and I stand by them one hundred percent.

List of References for Paper

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/12/06/for-the-wnba-business-isnt-as-bad-as-it-looks/?utm_term=.af7103fcb11b

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/storm/more-money-would-be-good-but-wnba-nba-wage-gap-is-about-economics-not-gender/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/plamonier/2018/07/02/the-business-of-being-a-wnba-player/#e81260a5af12

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2017/06/15/full-list-the-worlds-highest-paid-athletes-2017/#4cacba8ed583

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidberri/2018/06/24/yes-wnba-stars-should-be-paid-more-than-nba-referees/#3b6eaf346db1

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/women-in-sports-the-ugly-paradox/article4285973/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/04/20/adam-silver-one-of-the-wnbas-problems-is-that-not-enough-young-women-pay-attention-to-it/?utm_term=.738bc05ebe68

Creating Gender- Causing Traumas

For my final project, I originally intended to tackle the topic of Toxic Masculinity by focusing on the experiences my male friends had when they were growing up of times they were called out for pursuing an interest that was outside of the male gender normalities. However, after attending my Aunts baby shower, I realized how early we begin to place gender ideologies onto children. Everyone was talking about what sex they thought the baby was going to be and sharing their hopes for either a boy or girl. After this event, I decided to open up my topic and ask all of the individuals in my friend group. My friends and I do not see gender in the realm of friendship and we have the best times when we are all together. From the results of this project, I am at awe of how vividly we all remember the exact moment we were corrected for a habitat that was considered for girls or for boys. It was interesting to see what they felt about the correction and how their personality today reflect those moments. Although, I guarantee that they had more experiences, I felt that the first one they mentioned had to have been the most jarring. I created a video through iMovie and included their words, with visual representations behind it. After we all discussed our experiences, I explained to them the teachings of this class and the assignment. They all agreed to allow their names and some dug up for me the items in the past that were targeted for discipline. Here are some stills from the video to help understand the topics talked about in the video below. I'll be forever grateful that this class allowed me to understand more about what makes me the person I am today, allowing me to work on demons I did not even know were there.

https://youtu.be/RevJOSYDyGE

Final Project: Black Female Voices

Don't Call It A Podcast!

For my final project, I created an audio presentation with my best friend about important issues that affect the black community and approached the dialog using an intersectional lens. We discussed Imposter Syndrome, Police Brutality and Media Representation - the Single Story. This project was intense and emotional at times. The point was to express ourselves and make sure that our voices as young black women are heard. As we discuss in the first episode of our short series, we'd been told in so many ways that our opinions didn't matter and so this presentation is our way in dismantling that kind of patriarchal thinking.

No Longer Silent

Don't tell me to shut up.

Even if you don't get what I'm getting at...

Don't tell me to shut up.

I know my place and my place is here.

My voice is meant to be heard.

No longer mute.. acute..

Don't you see what's going on?

They tell you that you're small for long enough and you begin to believe it.

They tell you that you don't belong.

And have you feeling like a fraud.

No honey, you are enough.

And you always have been.

Your body is yours. This body is powerful.

This skin is resilient even when they try and take away your sun.

Try to make you bleed out...

Tell you that you aren't a priority

Try to stay calm but vigilant.

Although you have a right to be.

To feel.. MAD. you're sane

Stay calm. Stay black.

Be loud. Be quiet. Be whatever makes you, YOU.

Secure. Black. A woman.

A black woman. Your story deserves to be told.

ALL of our stories do.

References

Structural Realities Black Girls and Women Face In America - Jamilah King

https://mic.com/articles/122870/17-structural-realities-black-girls-and-women-face-in-america

It's Time to Listen to Black Women - Andrea J. Ritchie

https://www.theroot.com/it-s-time-to-listen-to-black-women-we-ve-been-talking-1830074000

Chimamanda Adiche Ted Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en#t-283627

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Due 12/3

FINAL PROJECTS

Final project presentations will be on 12/3 & 12/10. All projects are due on the blog by class time on 12/3! I will choose the order in which you will present.

It's a party!! Bring snacks or party supplies to share :)

*if you are able.

Be prepared to present your projects to the class in approximately 7-10 minute presentations. Visuals are a must. Feel free to bring physical props and handouts if appropriate. Presentations should be structured as though you are ”pitching” the project to the class. Prepare a succinct and exciting summary of the project that is clear and makes the class want to look further at your project and potentially share the project, promote it and even get involved!

You must create a POST for your final project on the class blog. This is a portion of your final grade. The post must include a link to your project, a clear and well written summary, images and/or videos. You will present from your post. Your project must live in the world (online or not) but all components of your project and presentation must link from the blog post somehow. Your resource list/bibliography must be included in your post.

Print projects: papers, zines and pamphlets must be physically handed in to me on the day you present. This is only for print projects. Of course you must create a blog post from which you will present the project as well. Whenever appropriate & available (for zines and pamphlets especially) print several copies to pass around the class or print enough for distribution.

Checklist for posting your project to class blog:

-link to your project which lives elsewhere in the world must be clearly included in your post

-presentations (7-10 minutes) will be from your blog post and must be linked directly from the post PLEASE CHECK YOUR POST and be sure LINKS and images are working BEFORE ARRIVING IN CLASS.

-research must be handed in to me as resource list/bibliography or included in the blog post

Due 11/19

NO READINGS DUE!

Post 5 due

Choose and research a female/femme identified author, artist or film director/screenwriter and a single work or several works that you consider a feminist work. In a short post of approximately ~600 words describe their approach to storytelling. Explain the work and the importance of this story(ies). How does the artist explain their work and their process? How are the works and the artist received by audience and critics? Last post! Find someone wonderful that you may have never heard of or share with us your feminist art or film heroes!

~600 words include images and links. See previous checklist for guidance on format. Be sure to cite from 2-3 previous readings and any other additional sources you use in the research on your artist. Include works cited at the end of your post.

3 comments on other students projects (if you have not already done so)

Due 11/5

READINGS on Google Drive :

Audre Lorde, The Transformation of Silence Into Language and Action from Sister Outsider AND

Melissa Harris Perry, Crooked Room from Sister Citizen

Peggy Mcintosh, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack

Watch:

Chimanda Adiche Ted Talk

http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story?language=en#t-283627

Post 4

Using knowledge from the readings, links, class discussion, and additional research/personal experience develop an essay addressing the policing of women's bodies and the impact it has on the way women are valued in society. What is the goal of these types of legislations/policies/ barriers? What kinds of messages are being sent by the enforcement of these barriers for women? Who is leading these efforts to restrict women's agency over their bodies? How does media impact the way we view these issues and how they are legislated? What is media doing to help combat negative views of women's bodies/sexuality? What does media do to hurt how women's bodies/sexuality are viewed?

*~800 words. Include citations of at least 4 of the overall class readings in your post, at least 2 images, and 2 links to additional resources.

3 comments on other student project proposal posts

Please leave feedback for 3 other student projects. Help with resources, links to inspirational examples, other projects, articles, books, scholars, and any other resources that might be helpful for various topics. Leave helpful criticism about narrowing of ideas, production direction or tips, distribution ideas and any other help you can provide. Spend time on these!

READINGS: Body Image: Google Drive

Susan Bordo -- "Hunger as Ideology" from Unbearable Weight

Maggie Wykes/Barrie Gunter --"Conclusion" from The Media and Body Image

ONLINE:

Pretty Unnecessary: Taking Beauty Out of Body Positivity https://bitchmedia.org/article/pretty-unnecessary-beauty-body-positivity

Here's What Bothers Me About the New Dove Ad

https://bitchmedia.org/post/heres-what-bothers-me-about-the-new-dove-ad

Roxane Gay Takes Down Netflix Insatiable as "Damaging"

https://www.refinery29.com/roxane-gay-insatiable-review-fat-shaming-essay

READINGS: Politics of Sex

Roxane Gay The Alienable Rights of Women

Jennifer Nelson Introduction from Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement

‘Hobby Lobby,’ and a Woman’s Right to Sexual Exploration

http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/07/10/hobby-lobby-womans-right-sexual-exploration/

Post 3

Using all of your readings, class discussions and additional research develop a short essay addressing gender, sexuality and advertising images. Look at the larger picture of the systems that advertising supports and the relationship of ownership and power between advertisers and media (old and new). Look at ads themselves. Analyze the sexism, racism and power hierarchies found in so many of these. What is the purpose of these images? What unintended effects might these pervasive images have or reflect? Is popular culture found in these? Learned? Critiqued? In addition to this analysis choose 5 favorite media examples that you consume: a tv show, newspaper, magazine, novel, podcast, radio program, blog, instagram account, website etc. (at least 1 news source) and analyze the ownership structure and advertising model of these. How does the ownership and advertising affect the content? Does it? How can this change? Can it?

~800 words. Include citations of several of the reading. At least 1 image, 2 links.

Final Project Proposal

Semester project topic due - printed and handed-in and posted to the blog

~1 page explaining your semester project idea as well as any research and resources you have already discovered. It must be printed and handed in to me. See syllabus for semester project description. Be as specific and clear about your idea and research so far, include a project timeline and as clear a description of your intended final project as possible. What are you making? What is it about? Why are you making this? Who are you making this for? How will you distribute/share this with your audience? Where will it be published? How does this fit into your portfolio of work? How can this grow and progress after the semester is over?

Also share your project proposal on the class blog. ~2-3 paragraphs, images and links to resources. From this post the class will give you feedback in the comments.

Due 10/15

NO CLASS 10/8

READINGS: On Google Drive in folder "Due 10/14"

Advertising, Magazines and Women

from Gender Race and Class in Media

Sex Lies and Advertising - Gloria Steinem Ms. Magazine

Beauty and the Beast of Advertising - Jean Kilbourne

Commodity Lesbianism - Danae Clark

Group 2 Presents

ONLINE:

FreePress Media Ownership Policy

https://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart

Diversity in Media Ownership & Employment

http://www.civilrights.org/media/ownership/

WATCH:

Reel Girls Media Consolidation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Kq5H_5hDg

Due 9/24/18

POST 2 - On ways of seeing/viewing

Please answer the following questions based on your readings and class discussion. Use your own experiences and realizations to help illustrate your understanding of the material - cite from the readings.

What is the male gaze and why is it a pervasive form of vision in popular culture? Give illustrative examples in a variety of media. What is the oppositional gaze and why (as described by bell hooks) has it developed? Give examples. How have you come to understand these structures and in what ways has this understanding changed your views about various media examples and of your own identity and role in these structures?

5-6 paragraphs. Include citations of the readings (Berger, hooks, Mulvey) in your post. Please include at least one image and one link.

READINGS: Google Drive in the folder "Due 9/24"

Cutting Girls Down to Size by Jean Kilborne

Poetry is Not a Luxury by Audre Lorde

The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Due 9/5/18

POST 1

Who do you think you are?

What is your role in media consumption, critique and/or media making. How much of who you are is measured against media examples? How much of our common experience involves shared mass media events? How does the media fit into your life and your identity? Use several media examples to illustrate your description of your relationship to media. Your blog post must be at least 3 paragraphs and you must include at least one link and one image.

READINGS: available as pdfs on Google Drive (week 1 only)

- let me know IMMEDIATELY (via email) if you have trouble accessing the readings.

John Berger - Ways of Seeing

Laura Mulvey - Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema

bell hooks - Understanding Patriarchy/The Oppositional Gaze

bell hooks- The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators

Syllabus and Class Discussion Guidlines

Link to the Syllabus

Discussion guidelines

The course material and discussions can often be provocative and challenging. We must therefore be careful to be respectful of each other and all of our viewpoints. No student shall ever be made to feel uncomfortable because of race, gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

We must come to class prepared and ready to discuss the readings!! Please keep discussions focused on the readings and class materials and keep examples relevant and appropriate. If you have not done the readings you are not to participate in the discussion.