Mitzi Caryl Encarnacion

GENTOOL
Reflection Paper - Misrepresentation of Women in the Media

Media has ignored women and neglected the unique representation that young women
have constantly yearned for. It has boxed women into playing the sexy wife, the mean teenage
girl or the woman who realizes that the missing part in her life is a man. It has repeatedly
described women as sex bait for men or portrayed as the gender that is only proved to be
strong and resilient with the help of the male counterpart. The video exposes these mistakes
from media and demands to disrupt the narrative by pointing out that women have been
misrepresented for too long and it seriously needs to be stopped.

Personally, I agree with the video. The provocative interviews and true to life events that
were mentioned in the documentary truly made me think about the invalid and irrational
representation women receive from the media. Based from personal experience, I have always
looked up to animated Disney shows and adventure-centered movies growing up. Cinderella’s
worth was validated and her miserable life finally goes through a 360 degree turn after the
Prince Charming chooses her over all the other girls in their place. In Sleeping Beauty and
Snow White, Belle and Snow go through a life altering experience but to their rescue was, of
course, the force of a man -- a man’s kiss. Basically, from a very young age women are taught
that in this lifetime, men play the leading role while we are the supporting actresses.

The constant underrepresentation and misrepresentation makes gender mainstreaming

far-fetched. If the stigma continues, women will not be encouraged to hold high positions not
only in the household but most especially in the government. In turn, policies and programs will
fail to be gender sensitive when there are no women in the process of formulation. The video
already showed the imbalance in the number of male politicians and female politicians and it is
extremely alarming. It is too obvious that this has become a problem because an election of a
woman is highly celebrated when in fact it should just be a norm. The mere idea of including the
title “first women to…” in a description for a remarkable woman presents the idea that it is
unusual when in fact it should be ordinary. Society has reached to a point where gender
mainstreaming is regarded as achievable as long as there is a clause that tackles women but it
fails to realize that it does not only inclusion that is regarded as important but gender equality
and equal representation.

CEDAW presents three main principles namely substantive equality, state obligation and
non-discrimination. If I was part of the lawmaking body I would advocate for the three
approaches under substantive equality, the formal, protectionist and corrective. The basis of the
law should erase the notion that men and women are different. In most cases, women are
deprived of basic opportunities because of the circumstance and not their gender. Therefore,
certain policies should be made where the environment is corrected making it more safe and
livable not just for women but for all people alike. Furthermore, I recommend that the body
reviews discriminatory laws, create due punishments for discriminatory practices and repeal all
discriminatory laws because these are the barriers that divide men and women achievement of
equality. Moreover, abuses and discriminatory practices also happen in private companies. In
this light, the government should be able to regulate institutions and individuals, most especially
the big and established private companies in the capital. Finally, women who were not given the
opportunity to receive an education more often than not do not know their rights as women
under CEDAW. This is why awareness building measures are not only vital but necessary
because this creates empowerment and empowerment leads to change.