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Sexism Critical Analysis


Farris Jones
The University of South Carolina

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Before studying sexism in class, I am not sure I completely believed in sexism as a
pressing issue (largely due to the fact that I had a minimal understanding of the topic). Also,
before studying sexism, I certainly would not have considered myself to be a feminist; I really
gained a new perspective on what feminism really is from the article we read by bell hooks
(2000), especially since I could relate to the women she described as reluctant to advocate
feminism (hooks, 2000, p. 341). What really struck me the most about our study of sexism is
how relevant I find it to be in my everyday life now. I think that before I didnt believe in sexism
as an important issue because I did not recognize it as actually happening around me, whereas
now I feel like I see sexism in play all the time. I never thought that I would say this, but I now
consider myself to be a feminist since I have a much deeper understanding of the term.
When we watched Killing Us Softly in class, I felt like everything Kilbourne pointed
out suddenly made sense to me. Upon being asked whether or not we agreed with her that the
media plays a significant role in determining gender roles and could even contribute to violence
against women, I was surprised that many people in class said no. I know that the film suggests
bold statements about the media, but I completely agree with the films message. When I think
about my own life, everything I know about society (from a social perspective) comes from the
media. From books I read when I was younger, to the thousands of movies I have watched in my
lifetime, to the numerous magazines and websites I often explore, to the thousands of ads that I
am exposed to everyday (whether I pay attention to them or not) the media is vast and
persuasive; it provides a clear foundation about what men and womens roles in society currently
are or what they should be.
Obviously, if someone commits a violent act against a woman, they cant just get away
with it and claim that the media made me do it. Though, I do not feel that saying that the media

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can contribute to the desensitization of violence against women is too much of a stretch. Children
are exposed to violence through the media from a very young age. Young girls are taught to be
objects and young boys are taught to be dominant towards women whether it is apparent or not.
People may not always recognize that they are receiving these messages (I didnt recognize them
before they were all pointed out to me through this class), but once you realize that they are
there, it is difficult to deny the effects that they have.
In the article we read called Out of Body Image (Heldman, 2008), this objectification
of women by the media is made very apparent girls are taught that women must be sexy.
This article also makes it clear how boys come to feel entitled to consume women as objects
first in the media, then in real life (p.348). I know that I see these types of message in the media
everyday - Victorias Secret ads, Miley Cyruss highly publicized new look/behavior, video
games where beating prostitutes is rewarded, etc. With these types of messages constantly
being projected by the media, I am not surprised that so many women suffer from objectification
from men or from themselves, and I am also not surprised that men internally justify the
objectification of the opposite sex. These specific gender roles are internalized and, I believe, can
have an impact on the violence that is taking place against women.
Another portion of our study of sexism that stood out to me came from our reading of
Violence Against Women is a Mens Issue (Katz, 2006). I think that an important aspect of this
class as a whole is the relationship between the agent and target groups in every category of
oppression. People often acknowledge different ways that target groups suffer from oppression,
but it is harder to acknowledge the power that the agent group has to make some sort of change.
I, too, thought of violence against women as a womans issue until I read this passage. Katz
makes it so obvious though the long running American tragedy of sexual and domestic

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violence including rape, battering, sexual harassment, and the sexual exploitation of women
and girls is arguably more revealing about men that it is about women (p.343). This seems
obvious to me now, but a few weeks ago I never would have thought of this on my own.
In order to make some sort of lasting difference in the world of sexism, the agent group
(men) has to be the pioneers of change after all, the agent group is the group that mostly
perpetuates the oppression to begin with. Though since I am a woman I feel like the potential to
advocate for sexism comes easier since I am in the target group it would be harder to fight for a
problem that you dont experience as much. Once you can relate the oppression you feel by
being a target in one category, it is easier to advocate against oppression in another category that
you are an agent in. Im not saying that women should sit around and do nothing if they want to
see some sort of change; I am just acknowledging that men could have a more prominent impact
on the issue at hand being the agent in the world of sexism.
After this study of sexism I feel like I witness sexism everyday. The film we watched, the
discussions we had, the readings we did they all just turned on a light in my brain that made me
aware of sexism in my every day life. The different gender roles that are present in society are
significantly more clear to me now previously I thought gender was defined solely by biology,
now I am certain that social construction has much to do with it. The media and advertisements,
especially, will never be the same to me; they are all tainted by sexism (that may be a slight
exaggeration but sexism in the media is much more prominent to me now). As far as social
work is concerned, I am glad that sexism has been illuminated for me because I am not
convinced that someone can help solve any sort of problem or advocate for something if it is not
apparent to you. If I still didnt recognize sexism or perceive it as an issue, how could I ever do
anything to help fight it?

Critical Analysis
(2 to 5 pages)
Grading Criteria
Total points (100 pts max) ______100____________
1. Format

(5pts) __5__
a. Paper used standard form. Specifically, paper satisfied
requirements for spacing, font, margins, pagination, length, etc.

2. Quality

a. Free of grammatical and spelling errors? Clarity are points


clearly and logically made? Is the paper well-organized? Is the
paper free of expressive quotes? Merely repeating content of the
readings or video(s)? Depth of reflection? Thoughtfulness?
Critical self-reflection? If critical of a position, was an alternative
position presented and well-articulated? Overall quality.

(50pts) __50__

3.
Content
Were major components of the paper satisfied?

(45pts) __45__

a. Answered required question #1

(15pts) _15___

a. Other criteria
*Discussion of the 3 readings, and videos, and/ or class
discussion?
*Addressed how readings, class discussion, and/ or videos
illuminated
the issue of sexism for you
*Discussion of how your own identities (as a target or agent)
may be
shaping your reactions and learning process about sexism
This paper is well-written. Your self-reflection is excellent. Good job!

(30pts) __30__

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