In chapter 4 of Enlightened Sexism Susan Douglas continues to indulge in her description of how feminism has been lost through the media’s portrayal of women today. She states that the girlyness exhibited in films such as Clueless and Bridget Jones’ Diary creates a “postfeminist triumph,” because it allows for many to assume that the work of feminists is over. However, this media-guided exhibition of artificial beauty and consumerism within young women could not be further from postfeminism. In fact, this display further allows for male chauvinism, and it can be seen as a retrograde from feminist achievements.
Douglas also discusses the role of powerful black women in the media in chapter 5 of her novel. Douglas claims that embedded sexism for black women becomes slightly more complicated than for white women, since it overlaps with racism as well. For example in the case of Miranda Bailey on Grey’s Anatomy, her vocal power and authority over the rest of the cast can be seen as embedded feminism, since it allows for the public to assume that “even black women” are able to take on leadership positions, thus succeeding in today’s world. However, in reality, Bailey’s family life is incomplete, proving that her strength requires major sacrifice (yet another stipulation of enlightened sexism).
One of Douglas’ points that I found interesting within these chapters further regards Bailey. In one episode of Grey’s Bailey’s son has an accident when he crawls into her office while she is at work. Bailey is the one blamed for this incident (solely because she is the mother), even though she was not the parent responsible for the child at the time. Here, Douglas illustrates that often in the media children are portrayed as “neglected” when their mother has a job. This motif appears in numerous shows, and I find it highly disturbing. Why in modern day society is the health and well being of the child solely placed on the mother? Children have two parents, and both should have equal responsibility over the child. Instead, in the media, working mothers are punished for wanting to have a career, since their children often exhibit mental, emotional, or physical problems (just like Bailey’s son). Here, a double standard exists that seemingly shoves women out of the job market. Overall, through the media’s illustration of this issue, women are further discouraged from pursuing work outside of the home.
However, some women have overcome this double standard, and have grown into symbols of strength and love in the US (aka Oprah). Another black woman in power, who seems to have the music industry wrapped on a leash, is Niki Minaj. She is a rap/ vocal artist who recently had a televised biography special on MTV. I think she echoes many of Douglas’ points in the clip below as she speaks about the inequality that exists between powerful men and women in the music industry.
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