IndexResultsPretty WomanShe's All ThatPersonal ReflectionConclusionWorks CitedOne of Americans' favorite pastimes is watching movies. Whether that takes the form of going to the movies or simply staying and watching from the comfort of your own home. It's an activity that many use to bond with each other. On the contrary, it could be one of the many things that pits us against our peers. Does it ever occur to you, when you watch a movie, how the movie depicts women versus men? Have you ever noticed the roles that women and men play? Something that attracted me to this topic is the fact that it is something that goes unnoticed. For this article I decided to create a space that would lead the way in shedding light on prejudice on screen. By analyzing two popular blockbuster films and studying an in-depth researched article, I will provide clear examples of how the media uses sexism and gender norms to reach audiences. The choices that individuals make in the media industry are by no means random. They are well calculated and the article explains how audiences can be internally influenced by how women, men, sexual activity and body expectations are presented. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayResults After figuring out what topic I wanted to explore, I came across “The Media's Sexual Objectification of Women, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Interpersonal Violence” ”. In this article, the authors point out that “people who view women as objects or as less than human likely justify treating them as less than human through emotional abuse, physical violence, and rape. This piece draws attention to how the use of controversial and provocative images not only generates distorted images of women in the eyes of men, but also how this can result in domestic violence. Their study was conducted on participants who were subjected to numerous different tests and questionnaires to receive the feedback on rape, dehumanization and objectification that they were looking for. The authors note that women are often used to create capital to sell goods at the expense of their bodies. Since our world has become so technologically inclined, these tactics are effective and leave us vulnerable to developing a distorted lens. The aspect of this article that I think is critical to this topic is the fact that it uses college-aged individuals and real-life situations. It establishes credibility through direct contact with those questioned and a relatability factor for almost everyone who watches films. Pretty Woman To further support these claims of sexism and objectification, I went to the big screen to do a little exploration. Two films that explicitly show examples of this are Pretty Woman and She's All That. As I was evaluating films that fit the project description, I came across Pretty Woman. I chose to observe and analyze this film because it is a film that I have seen a million times, yet every time I see it I notice new and unknown details. I chose this one specifically because it revolves around a prostitute who meets a rich businessman who needed a date for a big event; when he came onto the scene, he essentially "changed his life." Depicting her as a damsel in distress who needs saving. It's worth mentioning that he gave her money and basically "remade" her. Not only that, but before she was transformed into this “beautiful woman” no one wanted to respect heronly as a woman; but like a woman who earns by doing something she likes to do. Even if it is simply his idea of ​​making ends meet as a means of financial survival. This film shows how society has unrealistic beauty standards that are almost impossible to meet; as well as unspoken guidelines on what careers are acceptable for women. This film takes a rather well-known plot in which there is a wealthy male who is essential to the success and happiness of a poor and troubled woman. Because he is kind enough to lower his standards and be open-minded, they find love and she finally gets her "Prince Charming". She's All That The writers and producers of She's All That flip the script and throw audiences for a loop. In this film, the male lead plays the desperate athlete who has everything in life except the girlfriend. This leaves the female in the role of the evil heartthrob who is cold and selfish while the male is showered with praise and makes females swoon. Not only does he essentially play a good guy, but he also gets the girl of his dreams. All while Laney must not only change her appearance, but also her values ​​and self-view. She's All That is based on the story of high school seniors and young teenagers trying to get through the holidays. These young, athletic high school seniors make a bet among their group of friends that recently dumped heartthrob Zack Siler can not only get any girl, but turn her into prom queen. They refer to this as their “project” and their “purchase”. Their eyes are set on the quiet, art-obsessed Laney Boggs who doesn't fit the standards of their popular group of friends at all. Laney, unlike the other main female roles, is strong-willed and stubborn. At the beginning of the film she wants nothing to do with the senior class president but, as expected, she soon gives in and becomes fond of Zack. As if it were expected to fall directly into human hands. However, she is not the only female protagonist to have been at the center of reverse gender norms and sexist portrayals. Taylor, Zack's ex-girlfriend, is portrayed as a self-centered, abnormally tough, and stupid young woman. Much like Julia Robert's character in Pretty Woman, Taylor is easily influenced by money, power, and the attention of men. Taylor meets a young TV star during spring break and clings to him in hopes of climbing the latter. Only to rush back to her Prince Charming when the big plans she has for herself don't work out as planned. Something that unites Laney and Taylor is the fact that they are seen as objects by the men in the film. Zack, the so-called nice guy, even refers to Taylor as if she doesn't matter to him at all. Going so far as to say that she's basically nothing without her attitude and looks, aka her beauty products. Throughout the film we see men competing to make Laney the prom queen. However, what we don't see is that they are respectful of his feelings. Laney is seen as an object in this film, just like many women are treated in the real world. She's All That is a perfect representation of how men see women as "things" available to them instead of human beings. This ties directly into the article based on the fact that these women's feelings are completely overlooked when men hit the road. to achieve their goal. Whether their goal is status, winning a bet, getting a date for an event oralso self-esteem; the women in their lives are simple accessories that can be put on and taken off as they please. We see in Pretty Woman when Edward Lewis chooses a prostitute as his date because he believes she is easily superfluous and needs money. While it is true that Vivian Ward inevitably needs money, have you ever considered that she is a woman who has feelings and that the actions she takes to make her more attractive to supposedly prosperous beings could hurt her and damage her self-image? The creators of Pretty Woman were clear that sex appeal attracts viewers and can be extremely profitable. By having the female protagonist work as a prostitute, they use the provocative nature to sell the film. We also see examples from this article in She's All That when boys are in the schoolyard chasing women. The young woman they are looking for must meet certain conditions and then undergo a transformation just to gain a title. Laney was seen as a source of ruin for Zack's friends and as a source of fulfillment for Zack. Laney was wanted and eventually fell victim to a false flirtation at the hands of Siler. At the end of the film, Zack's supposed friend tries behind his back to play with Laney in the hope of achieving his "sexual conquest"; not to mention that he is not only Zack's friend, but Laney is also a human being who is much more than just reproductive organs. Dean, played by Paul Walker, tries to force himself on her despite her giving off many signals and warnings that she is not interested in sexual activities. Going back to the point made in the article that because Laney Boggs is seen as an object, it "excuses" her actions of attempted rape. While many would consider these two films to be great works, it is undeniable that they both display various illustrations of sexism. Personal Reflection Before this lesson I would never have thought about these plots and the characters that help tell these stories. However, with a little knowledge under my belt, I couldn't help but question every single detail of these two sexist films. Why did they choose a woman to portray the prostitute? Why not a boy? Why wasn't Laney's original look good enough to be seen with this Zack? I have so many questions I would like to ask the creators of these films. As someone who was once ignorant of the fact that sexism and prejudice against women is so widespread, I have a completely new understanding and outlook on media. What struck me most was the fact that these producers, writers and directors feed on our oblivion. Our society has become so obsessed with this idea of ​​a perfect world. The only way to change this situation is to normalize the concept of imperfection and respect. If we respect each other we will be more open to accepting the flaws of our colleagues. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Participating in watching movies can be harmless. However, if we do so without understanding and analyzing what is being shown to us; we will always be defenseless against the clever tactics used by the media to convey a message to the public. Both Pretty Woman and She's All That use normative gender roles and sexist language to create a narrative that appeals to a civilization with a distorted view of the world. As “The Sexual Objectification of Women, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Interpersonal Violence by the Media” states, individuals who do not value others will treat them as if they are not worthy of even animal treatment. Unworkable expectations will result in., &, 31(1), 1-15.