Full Frame In-Depth: Portrayal of Women in the Media

Full Frame

A 2012 study commissioned by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and completed by researchers at the University of Southern California, examined gender roles in media popular with youth. The authors concluded that “…female characters {in film, television, and children’s programming} are still sidelined, stereotyped, and sexualized in popular entertainment content.”

Unfortunately, the same can probably be said about the portrayal of women in many other types of media as well – from advertising, to publishing, and even journalism.

But an effort is being made to change those portrayals and Full Frame brought together three women who are on the frontlines of that effort:

According to Jessica Bennett , the average young woman sees 500 advertisements a day.  And most of the women portrayed in those images are nipped, tucked, photoshopped, airbrushed to perfection.

“We’re suffering from perfection fatigue.  We’ve grown up surrounded by this Hollywood idea of perfection and airbrushed beauty,” Bennett said. “I think on a lot of levels women – young women in particular are saying they’re sick of it.”

The “perfection fatigue” Bennett describes, has encouraged companies like Verily Magazine and American Eagle Outfitters to create content using more realistic standards of beauty.

Full Frame In-Depth: Portrayal of Women in the Media

A 2012 study commissioned by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and completed by researchers at the University of Southern California, examined gender roles in media popular with youth. The authors concluded that “…female characters {in film, television, and children’s programming} are still sidelined, stereotyped, and sexualized in popular entertainment content.” Unfortunately, the same can probably be said about the portrayal of women in many other types of media as well – from advertising, to publishing, and even journalism. But an effort is being made to change those portrayals and Full Frame brought together three women who are on the frontlines of that effort: -Jessica Bennett, Contributing Editor at Lean In and curator of the Lean In Collection on Getty Images -Kara Eschbach, Editor-in-Chief and publisher of Verily Magazine -Dana Seguin , Senior Director of Marketing for the Aerie line at American Eagle Outfitters