So I was watching CSI Cyber with my partner for the first time last night and honestly I couldn't help but feel how badly the media distorts the images of men in society.
This episode featured a man who only kidnaps young woman of age 22 with eyes of blue (lyrics from an old song). He is pursued by the team, led by a steely eyed blonde women who is assisted by a fat, bearded, hairy nerd who sits does all his work via computer. In a side plot, the detective goes to visit a friend who is so overcome with grief at the loss of her sister that she has ended up in psych ward, covered in blood, after trying to dig up her own sister's dead body to "take care of her".
Man = sexual predator
Man = unattractive nerd
Woman = heroine
Woman = victim
So while I don't really appreciate these stereotypes, it is really part of the package with detective shows, so I have to accept it to a certain degree.
Then we cut to the commercials.
Recently the government started putting out new ads about stopping sexual harassment and sexual violence when you see it. Over the span of several scenes we repeatedly see men harassing, drugging and raping young women.
The first time we saw the ad my girlfriend turned to me and apologized, letting me know she understands that men are also victims of harassment and violence and that it's not fair for the ad to be completely one sided.
Put all that together in one hour of random TV viewing and I can't help but wonder WHERE THE HELL IS ANYONE SUPPOSED TO GET A POSITIVE IMAGE OF MEN AND MASCULINITY???
I'm aware of the bias in the media and I STILL felt shame for my gender, despite the fact that I have been victimized by women too.
This episode featured a man who only kidnaps young woman of age 22 with eyes of blue (lyrics from an old song). He is pursued by the team, led by a steely eyed blonde women who is assisted by a fat, bearded, hairy nerd who sits does all his work via computer. In a side plot, the detective goes to visit a friend who is so overcome with grief at the loss of her sister that she has ended up in psych ward, covered in blood, after trying to dig up her own sister's dead body to "take care of her".
Man = sexual predator
Man = unattractive nerd
Woman = heroine
Woman = victim
So while I don't really appreciate these stereotypes, it is really part of the package with detective shows, so I have to accept it to a certain degree.
Then we cut to the commercials.
Recently the government started putting out new ads about stopping sexual harassment and sexual violence when you see it. Over the span of several scenes we repeatedly see men harassing, drugging and raping young women.
The first time we saw the ad my girlfriend turned to me and apologized, letting me know she understands that men are also victims of harassment and violence and that it's not fair for the ad to be completely one sided.
Put all that together in one hour of random TV viewing and I can't help but wonder WHERE THE HELL IS ANYONE SUPPOSED TO GET A POSITIVE IMAGE OF MEN AND MASCULINITY???
I'm aware of the bias in the media and I STILL felt shame for my gender, despite the fact that I have been victimized by women too.
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