Tag Archives: institutions

How the Media Failed Women in 2013

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This is a very interesting video compilation of high- and low-points of how women have been represented in mass media in 2013.  Worth watching!

The video was created by the founders of The Representation Project, whose mission statement reads:

The Representation Project is a movement that uses film and media content to expose injustices created by gender stereotypes and to shift people’s consciousness towards change. Interactive campaigns, strategic partnerships and education initiatives inspire individuals and communities to challenge the status quo and ultimately transform culture so everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, or circumstance can fulfill their potential.

Paid leave lets dads build parenting foundation

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Kenya, the Philippines, Columbia, Saudia Arabia…  not necessarily countries you might associate with “progressive” views of gender.  Yet all these country’s governments provide paid paternity leave.

This article demonstrates how fathers and families benefit from paid paternity leave and how the US is one of the few countries around the world that doesn’t offer it typically.

Halo 4 devs speak out against sexism

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All you gamers out there will be interested in this article.  This article talks about how the way female characters are created (e.g., consistently dressed in revealing clothing & very sexualized) promotes a sexist gaming culture.  Emboldened after reading Lean In, one executive spoke out against this and resigned from a high-profile position in protest.

In better news, Halo 4 developers have stated they will start banning players who make “gender-specific slanderous comments” and are working to promote a less sexist online player’s community (which is important from a moral grounds and business perspective too if they want to expand their customer base).

‘Attractive & Fat’ ad spoofs Abercrombie

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In this interview with activist and artist Jes Baker, she explains what motivated her to write a public letter to the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch after he had been quoted saying that they did not offer women’s sizes over a size 10 because “We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”  This is an example of how institutions (in this case business) influences gendered norms because while there are XL and XXL men’s sizes at Abercrombie, you won’t find larger women’s sizes.

Baker has prompted a change.org petition and created a Abercrombie ad parody to “challenge the separation of attractive and fat.”  Check it out!