Post 4: Alternative Media

CBS News anchor Julie Chen before and after plastic surgery.

Women in the mainstream media are sexualized and objectified purely as part of the phenomena that exists to please the male gaze. An example of the male gaze at work is news anchor Julie Chen. Initially told she wouldn't have a career in news because she looked "too asian", Julie Chen had to resort to plastic surgery to alter her appearance to appease the masses. This is one of many examples how we still don't live in a post-modern society, and any "triumph" for gender equality is really only allowed as long as it pleases men in some way or another. Men newscasters are allowed to wear suit and ties and remain conservative, while women are having to wear different dresses every night that is assembled by a team for every newscast. You can have the weatherman but if the gender changes, the meteorologist gets demoted to the weathergirl.

With the internet, alternative news allows the possibility of truly unbiased gender representation since anonymity is a huge factor of the internet. Blogs and tweets offer ways to deliver news without needing an attractive face to sell it. Traditional television views are dropping, and more and more people are relying solely on the internet as a medium that delivers all content.

The Daily Show
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A year ago, I had the opportunity to attend a taping of The Daily Show. The guest that day was Malala Yousafzai. Her story was very unique and inspiring and is a excellent testament that you can only oppress for so long until eventually change will be a warcry. I remember being amazed at the fact that not only was she breaking conventions in Taliban controlled territory, she even survived being shot in the face several times. Despite all this, she still advocates for female education and her efforts were acknowledged by being rewarded with a Nobel Prize.