Spring Break
Insight to the modern woman
Gender equality has improved greatly, but it is an ongoing endeavor
Amber Dillon
Issue date: 3/5/04 Section: Lifestyles
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MEDIA CULTURE
Though there are many positive aspects to the forward movement of women today, Marren said, there is definitely more to accomplish by way of women's liberation, as women are still made sexual objects in today's culture.
"We have a long way [to go with] liberating women, especially [taking] young women from the grip of these tyrannical beauty ideals," Marren said.
These beauty ideals, stemming from television to magazines, often make it hard for the modern woman to focus on her accomplishments and not just her waist size.
Some say television not only portrays unreachable beauty ideals, but it's also wishy-washy in its portrayal of independent women in general.
It is true that these days one finds more Mary Tyler Moore-types than Million Dollar Man-types, a la Sex and the City, but Marren said the producers not only make them single, but they also write them as thinking that there is something wrong with that.
Turn on any modern program with a single woman as the lead and there is still some sort of stigma.
They're neurotic, they cry to their friends and they bounce from relationship to relationship.
But is this trend happening because popular culture is trying to fuel the changing demands of women, or are they a reflection of the times?
It is safe to say that young women today aren't heading to universities to find and marry would-be doctors and lawyers.
They are going to school to become them - but will their drive soon give birth to a world full of singles, leading to another option to that of the nuclear family - the lone woman?
"I guess the ideal is that the possibilities are expanding for young people [and] what kind of lives are acceptable to lead," Marren said. "Women can imagine more alternatives."
Though there are many positive aspects to the forward movement of women today, Marren said, there is definitely more to accomplish by way of women's liberation, as women are still made sexual objects in today's culture.
"We have a long way [to go with] liberating women, especially [taking] young women from the grip of these tyrannical beauty ideals," Marren said.
These beauty ideals, stemming from television to magazines, often make it hard for the modern woman to focus on her accomplishments and not just her waist size.
Some say television not only portrays unreachable beauty ideals, but it's also wishy-washy in its portrayal of independent women in general.
It is true that these days one finds more Mary Tyler Moore-types than Million Dollar Man-types, a la Sex and the City, but Marren said the producers not only make them single, but they also write them as thinking that there is something wrong with that.
Turn on any modern program with a single woman as the lead and there is still some sort of stigma.
They're neurotic, they cry to their friends and they bounce from relationship to relationship.
But is this trend happening because popular culture is trying to fuel the changing demands of women, or are they a reflection of the times?
It is safe to say that young women today aren't heading to universities to find and marry would-be doctors and lawyers.
They are going to school to become them - but will their drive soon give birth to a world full of singles, leading to another option to that of the nuclear family - the lone woman?
"I guess the ideal is that the possibilities are expanding for young people [and] what kind of lives are acceptable to lead," Marren said. "Women can imagine more alternatives."
