Why Fixing the Media System Should Be on the Feminist Agenda

WHY FIXING THE MEDIA SYSTEM SHOULD BE ON THE FEMINIST AGENDA
[SOURCE: AlterNet, AUTHOR: Jennifer Pozner, Women in Media & News]
[Commentary] Ask a feminist to identify what the most important issues are facing women, and she might mention reproductive freedom, violence against women and children, the disproportionate burdens women bear in light of the growing gap between rich and poor in America or the many ways in which war specifically impacts women. Chances are she wouldn't immediately point to the media. But she should. Without accurate, non-biased, diverse news coverage and challenging, creative cultural expression it is virtually impossible to significantly impact public opinion of women's and human rights issues or to create lasting social change. Indeed, corporate media are key to why our fast-moving culture is so slow to change, stereotypes are so stubborn and the power structure is so entrenched. Pop culture images help us determine what to buy, what to wear, whom to date, how we feel about our bodies, how we see ourselves and how we relate to racial, sexual, socio-economic and religious "others." The fight for media and gender justice needs you. The right has prioritized media messaging, production, policy and ownership since the 1970s, which is in large part why the American political and media landscapes have become as problematic as they are today. If we truly care about women's rights and social justice, we cannot afford to be overwhelmed by the scope of the problems in our media system -- we must simply roll up our sleeves and begin to tackle them.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/46546/

See also
* Geena Davis at NCFMR
http://blogs.commercialappeal.com/blake/archives/2007/01/cerbin_geena_da.html