Objectively, no matter what sex or gender you identify with, it's hard to ignore the stigmas and restrictions society places on being a woman. These restrictions are often in the form of values or traditions women are expected to uphold; a certain way we are expected to lead our lives. In return when these 'values' are not upheld or once a woman goes against the restriction or constraint society places upon her, she is then subject to exploitation.
'Exploitation' doesn't always come in the obvious form of slander or scandal; exploitation can also be employed and disguised through your favorite sitcom(s), hit-serie(s), movie(s) etc. Although infamous tabloid magazine(s), television, movie(s), and music are diverse forms of media, the one thing these media sources have in common is their advocation for stigmas and restrictions placed on media. It becomes hard to pin-point the source of exploitation, or even when exploitation is actually occurring---mainly because we become too distracted in laughing at punchlines, crying in tear-jerkers or criticizing a magazine-article. We forget that the source of our entertainment comes from our culture. I have observed that ultimately, the exploitation of women projected through the media has been derived from the values and 'traditions' of our culture.
The most common 'type' of woman exploited against the 'tradition ' curve is the 'career woman'; this woman is either depicted in two ways: she has a career, four kids (two girls, two boys), a husband and a pet (Desperate Housewives) or she has a career, no kids, no pets, bad smoking and drinking habits and she can't quite get it right in the 'love department' (Sex and the City). As a fan of both of these series, it's hard to criticize the theme I recognize---the exploiting nature of women. However, these series approach the exploitation of women very differently---first, lets retract back to 'Desperate Housewives'; even the title of this light-hearted, comedic/dramatic television series brings an exploiting context to the series, Desperate Housewives. As a viewer, I know that the shows intended purpose is not that of 'exploitation', but more so a mockery of what society thinks a 'housewife' to be. However, even in this instance its hard to ignore the exploiting nature targeted towards women who either have careers and no family, or a family and no career.
'Sex and the City' advocates a different view on women; with the series written and produced by a woman herself, Candace Bushnell. This is a rare case in which women exploit the media---taking advantage of the media by implementing and appealing to the aspects of our culture that society objects. Carrie Bradshaw, 'Sex and the City' main character, plays a 36 year old woman who is a single, sex-columnist, a shopping addiction and marvelous 'sexcapades' and interactions with other single men. The series follows around Carrie and her three best girlfriends who are career women in their late-30s, searching for love. If one were to call this 'exploiting' they'd be right---however, this is an instance in which women are exploiting the media. Though 'Sex and the City' depicts a career woman who has faults and is in her mid-30s in search of a life-partner, this series empowers the idea of a woman who does not lead a 'traditional' life---but simply a life of her own.
In my personal experiences as a woman, I've found myself in instances in which I was told to change, my standards were too high, my dreams were unattainable and/or I won't be able able to do 'something'. I equate this as society again trying to put 'women' in a box and constitute what we should and should not be able to do. I've learned that its not necessarily the fact that women 'can't' do something, but if in-fact someone is able to talk you out of doing something or make you believe you are not able to do something---then you probably shouldn't have believed you could do 'it' in the beginning. I found this statement true in watching Beyonce's documentary, Year of 4. When asked about being an entertainer and managing herself, Beyonce commented in saying, "It was very risky for me to step out on my own; being a young woman I want to set the example that its possible for us to own our own businesses and own our own record labels and sometimes we don't reach for the starts; sometimes we are satisfied with what people tell us we're supposed to be satisfied with and I'm just not going for it."
Although the media has a way of exploiting women, it is possible for women to become empowered through the process; however this takes courage and bravery. Wisdom comes in knowing that if as a woman you are going to step beyond the constraints placed on being a woman in our culture/society, it may be at the expense of your exploitation. I've learned that as a woman who tests boundaries, says and does what she wants that you are going to meet people---even those close to you---that will advise you to be a certain way, or tell you that you 'can't' do or be something; but it takes a brave and courageous woman to do exactly as she pleases and make no apologies about it.
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