Gender and The Media

The London Public Library recently hosted a seminar for National Literacy Week entitled "Media and Gender." The workshop assesed the position of women in the media and how sexism is still relevant today. Anti-feminist representations can be overt, covert or embedded... and each style has its own effects on women today. After my eyes were fine-tuned to the role gender plays in our community I began to assess the performing arts agendas within London. On the most recent cover of of The Beat magazine there is a picture from a production of "The Producers". A very sexy Ula is wearing a snug white dress and two suited-up business men stand alongside her. Should these sexy images of women in non-authoritative roles be so casually mediated? Probably not. The problem is that "The Producers" has existed for many years, and the creator Mel Brooks has decided on the message of the play. If we are to change the appearance of women in the media, can we keep showing plays which have sexist implications? Probably not all of them. I didn't even realize the implications of this photo right away. People have become desensitized.
At The Grand Theatre this year, the season mainly features male protagonists and heroes. For example, Sherlock Holmes, Frodo Baggins, and Joseph (from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat). All of these males have male counterparts and confidants, such as Dr. Watson, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, and Josephs 11 brothers and the Pharaoh.
The only real female portrayal is of Shirley Valentine... a less-than-inspiring middle-aged woman who is going through a mid-life crisis. Where are the women ole models?
We need to keep a closer eye on media and the portrayal of women in general, or we are doomed to remain in unequal territory.