TV commercials (& TV programming) show males getting beat up, slapped, yelled at and insulted.?

Question

Why don't feminists (who believe in equality & fairenss) complain about this? Also if TV depicted women getting slapped, beat up, yelled at and insulted, would feminists object?

Answer 1

why don't all the misogynistic males here complain - they sure do enough of it on this forum - your question yet another example ~

Answer 2

-Feminists do complain about violence in the media-do some research before making assumptions or do you really care?

Statement title: NOW Supports Senate Resolution Promoting Diversity in Media Ownership: March 5, 2008:

http://www.now.org/press/03-08/03-05-b.h...

Statement contents: Comments of NOW President Kim Gandy on legislation introduced today by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to reject Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that would expand the ability of media conglomerates to increase their cross-ownership of multiple media outlets in a single community, reducing the diversity of local voices.

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"At the National Organization for Women, which is the nation's largest grassroots women's rights organization, we are extremely concerned about the state of media today, particularly media ownership.

Not a day goes by that women don't call and write to us to express their frustration at what they see, hear and read in the media. *They are outraged by sexist, racist, homophobic comments.* *They are disturbed by the high level of sexual exploitation and violence.* They ask why more women experts aren't featured on news and political talk shows. They are dismayed at the lack of substantive coverage of women's issues. *And they long for better role models for their daughters and sons.*

I believe this condition is a direct result of the lack of diversity in ownership Women own just five percent of commercial broadcast TV stations and six percent of all full-power radio stations. Whenever the FCC allows big media companies to gobble up more stations, it leaves fewer and fewer outlets for women and people of color to purchase. And often the big companies are buying stations from women and people of color.

It is critical that we not let the FCC further relax its ownership rules. If the media giants grow even larger, women and people of color will suffer as their voices and viewpoints become even further marginalized. I applaud Sen. Dorgan for standing up for the people's interests--not for making big business even bigger.

NOW is calling on its members and all women's rights supporters to write to their Senators today, urging them to vote 'yes' on the Senate resolution to reject the FCC's disastrous new rules."

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-Why aren't men's groups (who believe in equality and fairness) complaining about this? What have you done about it?

-I wrote my congressman like I have about many issues I care about-including this one: http://www.now.org/lists/now-action-list...

Answer 3

Some probably do, but not directly as a Feminist group.

In Australia for example, there is the Australian Broadcasting Authority (something similar in US?) where complaints can be made about any sexist or inappropriate violence in ads or TV shows.

It's a fallacy to expect that Feminism is supposed to be for men's rights when quite clearly men's rights activists are only concerned about mens rights.

Until there are changes on both sides, someone willing to have a change of heart, then it will be up to individuals to care about sexism/violence of both genders in the media.

Edit- Supernatural episode I watched last night, where Dean punched a woman in the face without any provocation on the females part.  No-one says anything about that.  Men's groups?  Of course not, but I don't worry about that, it's up to an individual.

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

We do.

But I see far more instances of violence against women in the media. If you were to count every instance of a woman being beaten, victimized, or raped and compare them to every instance a man is victimized or slapped, I'm sure you'd still see much more violence against women.

EDIT-I think it's funny that every whiny "feminists suck" rant that mentions t.v.'s portrayal of men inevitably falls back on "Everybody Loves Raymond." Correct me if I'm wrong...but doesn't RAY ROMANO write all of that? Ore at least most of it. His other MALE WRITERS pick up the slack.

I don't watch the show, nor do any of my female friends, married or unmarried. I know a few guys that LOVE that show, though.

(Oh, and in that "episode" where the husband went on strike...the woman would just go out get a job, wouldn't she?

Answer 6

Can you give me a link to these commercials so I can see for myself?

Answer 7

any commercial that promotes hitting another person is in the wrong, period. i have known a man that was abused by a crazy ex gf. i was so happy when he finally got rid of her.

Answer 8

Feminists don't believe in equality. They want the best for women regardless of whether it's fair to men (or children or unborn babies) or not.

I don't particularly have a problem with people trying to get the most they can for their particular group; it's the lying about it that irritates me.

EDIT: i know what you mean though -  a lot of TV shows are like that. Look at every woman's favourite sitcom Everyone Loves Raymond. There's no violence, but Ray is constantly portrayed as lazy, selfish and incompetent - yet it's him who goes out and works long hours to pay for the nice house etc.

We have a show in the UK called "Mum's on strike"; where the mum (i.e. a housewife) refuses to to do any housework, and it's left to the working dad to make the dinner and wash the dishes. The idea is for the viewer to sneer at the father's total incompetence and worship everything that is female. (in fact, the worst that happens is that the kids would go to school without their shirts ironed or they would eat too much takeaway food).

I would like them to make "Dad's on strike" with the same families. Watch in amusement as dad refuses to go to work! Laugh as the debt collectors batter down the door! Cheer as the family home is repossessed!

These shows are actually demeaning to women as they portray them as defenceless little souls who can't be criticised.

EDIT: wendy: yes, and the husband could have hired a maid and a childminder - wasn't really the point of the show though

kessie: why don't men complain? because no man likes to be labeled a misogynist by people like you simply for defending his own rights