Essay Example on How Pop Culture Affects Women in Politics

Women are undermined in politics, due to the negative portrayal they face in the media.   Across history,  songs, movies, and advertising portray women as objects, causing a permanent impact on their view in society. As stated by Taylor M. Chapman,  “For instance, in media such magazines where a person relies on an image to relate a feeling, girls are often made to look inferior”(Chapman 4). This portrayal undermines women and their ability to change the world. The lack of powerful women figures in the film has led to a lack of political and social ambition in women.  Women are paid less, undervalued, and face more overall challenges in society than men. As people are becoming more aware of the pay gap, it is important to spread awareness and eliminate gender biases and stereotypes specifically in the media. Pop culture’s wrongful view of women affects everyone, whether the women are undermined or the men persuaded to believe that women hold less potential. This leads to the question, how does the portrayal of women in pop culture affect today’s society?

Amanda Haraldsson and Lena Wägernerud claim that the portrayal of women in media has a direct, negative relationship that affects the political ambition of women in the article“The Effect of Media Sexism on Women’s Political Ambition”(Haraldsson and Wägernrud ). To build the arguments, the authors list commonly misused synonyms of media sexism(Haraldsson and Wägernrud 6). They first argue that the numerous interchangeable words make it hard to define media sexism, therefore people are less aware of the correct term.(Haraldsson and Wägernrud 7) Additionally, the authors explain how their non-conforming definition of media sexism includes how sexism undermines women(Haraldsson and Wägernrud 6).  To further the argument the author describes the qualitative aspect of misrepresentation that women face (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 8). The authors provide a real-world example by comparing how often sexism is used politically against women compared to men to further the subclaim (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 10). Later on, the author refers to a previous study to show the difference in arguments used on men and women (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 11). Media sexism has a large effect on the success rate of women candidates and the decline in women’s political ambition. 

In the article “Invisible Women? Comparing Candidates’ News Coverage in Europe”, Lühiste, Maarja, and Susan Banducci propose the idea that the lack of coverage women candidates receive, directly causes the minority number of women in the office (Lühiste and Banducci 1). To support the subclaim, the authors explain the role media possesses on elected candidates (Lühiste and Banducci 4). Additionally, Susan Banducci shows specific examples of media coverage, in an attempt to prove that candidates, specifically women, who receive less presence in the media have a lower chance of winning (Lühiste and Banducci 4). The idea that media coverage impacts the outcomes of an election is heavily emphasized. Banducci and Lühiste highlight the uncertainty and unawareness that surrounds stereotyped news coverage to fuel their subclaim (Lühiste and Banducci 4). The authors explain how a larger amount of researchers believe in gender news bias compared to being against the idea (Lühiste and Banducci 5). While proving their subclaim, the authors strongly define what stereotyped coverage is, in an attempt to educate the viewers on its consequences (Lühiste and Banducci 5). Later on, the authors explain the significant role political parties hold when electing women (Lühiste and Banducci 5).As a way to further the point, Lühiste, Maarja, and Susan Banducci go into detail on why women run for less-risky roles in politics (Lühiste and Banducci 5).Banducci and Lühiste question if political parties are to blame, rather than journalists (Lühiste and Banducci 5). The number of women holding a political role is trifling because of less political coverage than their male counterparts. 

In the feature “Gender Bias in Media Coverage of Election Campaigns”, Gilardi, Fabrizio, and Bruno Wüest go into depth on how media sexism affects female candidates(Fabrizio and West 2).  The authors list the different ways political candidates are impacted by a gender bias present in the media to build their argument (Fabrizio and West 2). To add to the subclaim, Gilardi Fabrizio and Bruno Wüest explain each bias’s cause and effects on women candidates (Fabrizio and West 3). Based on the author’s conclusions, women are targeted more by gender bias in the presence of media (Fabrizio and West 3).To strengthen the subclaim, the authors reference fellow researchers, Kim Kahn and Edie Goldenburg, whose study proved a decrease in political media bias starting in the 1990s (Fabrizio and West 3). Numerous studies were used that justify the sub claim, media bias is steadily decreasing. (Fabrizio and West 3). Additionally, the authors quote studies that hold opposite outcomes to differ the opinions and bring in new viewpoints (Fabrizio and West 4). To fuel the subclaim, the author explains the different levels of judgment women and men face (Fabrizio and West 4). The author differentiates the two, in an attempt to show the cruelty women face when running for office (Fabrizio and West 4). A cause-and-effect relationship is present to prove that the way women are portrayed in all forms of media, directly affects vote accumulation (Fabrizio and West 4). Media sexism, the act of discriminating against women through forms of media, directly influences the outcomes of a political election. 

Over the years media sexism has become more prevalent in politics, now interfering with election outcomes. In the article “The Effect of Media Sexism on Women’s Political Ambition: Evidence From a Worldwide Study, Amanda Haraldsson & Lena Wängnerud suggest a solution to inequality in media (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 2).To begin, Haraldsson claims the solution is to expose young girls to pop culture that positively promotes political ambition (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 2). The authors predict that the increase in positive figures will directly grow the number of women pursuing a political role (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 2). Wägernud states that although there is a proposed solution, it is crucial to keep researching how media sexism affects political ambition (Haraldsson and Wägernrud 2). The viewers conclude that the best solution can only be found through a thorough examination and further investigation to determine the full problem. Through the exposure of empowering media, girls across the world will not undermine their values but seek equality in the political community.