Color Definition in Journalism

During class the past week, the issue of nonexistent minority journalists came up. It was interesting to learn how from 2010 to 2011 the number of minority journalists in newspapers dropped almost 1%. I'm not sure the exact statistics for the number of minority journalists in television, but I'm sure the statistics are slightly similar. However, I do believe that change is evident. My mother was a Mexican American TV anchor for the ABC affiliate station KVUE in Austin, TX for sixteen years. Through my investigation on the topic, I found an article titled "Are Minorities Getting a Fair Shot at Journalism Jobs?" through the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.

My mother, Olga Campos Benz

The article opens up with a story about a young graduate journalism major's struggle to be taken seriously as a writer. The lack of diversity that I learned in class is clearly shown in the article as the author, Carolyn Toll Oppenheim, pushes to increase job opportunities and internships for minority journalists. Her drive and passion for this cause stems from her own experience working at The Chicago Tribune where diversity was appreciated. Much of the article contains commentary about the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) and their failure to identify solutions to the minority dilemma. Even the few minority students that make it through the journalism curriculum still have pressures of being understood by the majority of white journalism students. I believe an overall change to the entire journalism system needs to be put into effect in order to help speed up the pace of change of diversity in journalism. A good example of a successful school implementing diversity acceptance is Wayne State University's Journalism Institute for Media Diversity. I included a diversity promo video that I found that truly captures their success.

Fashion: Stretching the boundaries of Gender Roles

Although I didn't meet with my Race, Gender & Mass Media class this week because of the labor day holiday, I could not help but continue my search about how gender roles are shaping up in the last decade. Yesterday, on September 6, the Nation celebrated Fashion's Night Out! At work we celebrated the our love for fashion and allowed our customers to see an exclusive first look at one of our local designers, Three Bishops, new fall collection. In conjunction with the world's most iconic fashion extravaganza, I found an article from one of my favorite blogs, CollegeFashion. The article focused on how gender roles are being challenged in the 21st century in the world of Fashion & Modeling. The main point of the article was to show the timeline and progression of gender stereotypes in fashion and how companies are using models to change these roles.

Writer Carrie, explains how designers have always searched for avant-garde and unconventional looks compared to the time period. Fashion is known for continuously changing and this evolution would not be present without designers looking to constantly change the norms. Back in the 50's this meant finding models who weren't exactly "beautiful" according to society's standards. However recently this means finding models who cross a fair line between feminine and masculine. I've noticed that before 1990's models were always distinctly female with very feminine traits like long eyelashes, curvy silhouette and dolled up faces. However more recently women with masculine traits have been used in runway shows to keep the audience "on their toes." Messy hair, elongated faces and strong jawlines have been present. The most radical change is happening now in the fashion world though. Today transsexual models are being used to match the innovative and unpredictable personality of the fashion industry. I am personally thrilled at the industry's acceptance of all people and their push for social change. Regardless of gender identity, designers and top fashion houses are stepping outside of the gender stereotype boundaries. I do know that no matter how innovative these runway shows are with models, it will take a drastic amount of time for the world to be "gender/color blind." However, fashion is a powerful influence over how the world views what exactly is considered "normal" and "standard" for that time period.

Masculine Models

Short Hair and Strong Jawline

Accepting change and originality is exactly what Fashion's Night Out is about. It's celebrating fashion's influence on the creative arts and for men and women all over the world to express their passion for being unique.

Here's an interesting website that shows famous transgender models, including Lea T and Claudia Charriez.

Model Claudia Charriez

Model Lea T

What I've Learned from Disney

Throughout my life I've considered myself a true southern belle, and I'm sure you can tell through that title that I love all things country and Disney. I stumbled across an article on livescience.com called "Disney Princes and Princesses Still Slaves to Some Stereotypes" that opened my eyes to the foundation that Disney has set up for me about certain stereotypes regarding gender. I grew up watching every Disney movie known to womankind and that truly built the basis on which I view male/female relationships. The article centers around how although gender roles for females are continuously changing, Disney still portrays the typical "pretty princess" role for almost all their protagonists. The article questions Peggy Orenstein, the author of the book "Cinderella Ate My Daughter," about her views towards Disney's messages about gender roles. Although I love each feel-good, happily-ever after princess story, I completely agree with what Peggy articulates. The idea that women should focus on their outer beauty instead of what's inside their heart is teaching kids the wrong message at a young age.

Through the years you can see Disney's development of a stronger more assertive female role in movies such as "Mulan" and "Pocahontas", the overabundance of feminine roles seen in earlier Disney movies like "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Snow White" trumps these stronger, more confident roles. Little girls don't want to dress up as Mulan or Pocahontas. Each girl wants to identify with all the other "girly" princesses that are the majority of the Disney Princess Collection. Only two out of the nine princesses have these independent personalities. However when looking at the male prince characters of Disney movies, the men have recently showed both masculine and feminine traits. Not only are they strong and disciplined, but they also show emotions and are sensitive. They have had a more significant change in attitude as opposed to the women. Many young women, including myself, grow up watching the Disney movies and get their first grasp on relationships and gender roles through television and specifically movies like these. I definitely believe that Disney needs to produce more independent princesses to show children that it's okay if you don't fall in love with the first guy you meet. Within the next decade I believe Disney has the ability to move away from the traditional gender stereotypes that were created years before. 

I found the following pictures from the The Society Pages.org. I believed they show a similar belief of what Disney Princes & Princesses have "taught" young women.