Reading the SMH today (6/3), I came across an article that both pleased me and annoyed me:
Pleased because the truth was out about the ways in which the media WILLINGLY manipulates women through tactics of fear, lies and more fear. Annoyed because it is other women as well as men - magazine reporters & editors, TV reporters & interviewers & the like - who are guilty of perpetuating such fear and lies.
I would appreciate discussion on the topic especially from my “virtual female sisters-in -Christ” about the media and how it presents, or rather misrepresents women, and the consequences for us & the community we live in (including the church).
I suspect the consequences also affect men as well. So please contribute too.
In particular I’m interested in what the bible has to say about such things, and how this counteracts & heals such fears & lies. The first passage that comes to mind is 1Pet. 3:1-6:
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Well the first thing that jumps to my mind, which really annoys me about the media’s portrayal of women is the “Desirable Female Form”. Never mind that this Desirable Female Form is never achievable by any of us.
The Desirable Female Form has DD cups, an all over tan, reasonable muscles, no fat, and is about 6ft3, preferably with blonde hair and blue eyes, although the face has to be studied never to smile but always to look vulnerable and empty.
The Desirable Female Form wears only designer dresses (if you can call scraps of fabric dresses… My sister and I went to a wedding gear parade recently and there were some “dresses” there that showed more than the bride would have been showing had she simply rocked up in her underwear :S ). The Desirable Female Form also only wears designer bras, and if she is not wearing a G string you have to question her authenticity as a Female™. Exceptions can be made if the DFF is wearing a very small bikini, especially if she is holding the ubiquitous “Come-and-bonk-me-all-night-on-the-beach” pose.
*snort*
And girlies, if you are not one of those lucky enough to have the DFF (even if it means you have to starve yourself and eat like a sparrow), woe is you, for we all know that men only like easy women, and only easy “sexy” DFFs can sell products using their sexual Thang.
*double snort*
Such pressure the media puts on women. And we are expected not to say boo, because the vast majority of us are not DFFs…
“Deep down, most of our Spin Sisters are just good old-fashioned left-wingers, wired for a liberal response to every issue,” she writes. ”
It seems that the minority, radical elements of society always have the most influence on “the ways of the world”, including politics,social issues etc. We rarely hear from the silent majority.
Nunc I agree completely with what you said also about the Desirable Female Form - DFF. Too much pressure is placed upon women to look desirable to men, and men do not seem to be under the same pressures.
I guess the world places more emphasis on men’s wealth capacities instead. It is so great to have Jesus and God in our lives, and to not be slaves to these types of issues.
Nunc,
oh so true and eloquently described....snorts and all!
But why do women buy into the fears and lies? And why do they assist in the propagation of them, whether they are a model or a reporter or a consumer? So much for the revolution of feminism which has failed, in my mind, to transform women & society from being enslaved by ‘the image’ of the day, whether it refers to clothes, body shape, house furnishings, food & diet, etc.
There is great comfort in God’s words to Samuel:
1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
The quiet, unseen revolution of the Spirit in the life of the believer shows up the falseness of this worldly philosophies and values. Seeing things from God’s perspective really alters what is important and worth having in life. As Paul said to Timothy:
2Tim. 1:7-9 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life --not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Furthermore, to know we have been made in God’s image not only gives us dignity and responsibilty but also frees us to live the abundant life that Christ has called us to. The wordly image-makers of the media, fashion & life-style designers, and the like, brings enslavement to the fear, lies and pride (if you happen to have the body beautiful, the nice house, the right clothes, etc) that they manufacture or project.
One thing that scares me is that I have never met a woman around my own age (I’m 22, peoples I’ve talked with about this recently range in ages from around 18-25) who is truly comfortable with her body, let alone content or happy with her body. This includes all my close, and strong christian friends who know they are loved by a God who doesn’t judge them on body shape, and it also includes myself.
Why do we buy into the lies? I think at the end of the day it’s all about acceptance and issues of identity. Who doesn’t want to be desireable? gorgeous? beautiful? and with a bombardment of images and expectations it’s an upward battle to remember that true beauty isn’t on the outside. And once that’s remembered it’s even harded to actually really believe it and let it transform your mind and attitudes.
Something that I think we must also begin to be wary of now is that male images are starting to get the treatment female images have enjoyed for years. There is increasing pressure upon men to live up to particular, suave images. This can be seen through increased advertising and shop shelf space for men beauty and body products, the rise of the “metrosexual” and makeover shows targeting guys such as queer eye for the straight guy. Like their female counterparts, these are all aimed at making the subject more desireable to the opposit sex- wear product X and the gals’ll go wild. Marketing peoples know that with one sex roped it, why not increase the money factor by playing upon the insecurities of men. I don’t think this media manipulation is at a critical level yet, but… anyone trust the media to put sanity ahead of money?!
Hi Angela and other gals (and guys who are reading this thread to try and steal a peek into the inner workings of the female brain:) ),
Thanks for the link to the article. The author (of the book) is certainly making a brave move!
A couple of things in response:
I think most women already know about the spin doctoring the glossy magazine industry is based on… but they choose to ignore it and in doing so continue to buy (into) it. And it is not just the non-Christians - I know Christian girls who spend large amounts of money on glossy magazines (although not suprisingly they are the same girls who spend even more money on clothes and beauty products and who resent gentle encouragement to consider what they wear when around their brothers in Christ). I guess there has always been ideals of beauty within society and that in our generation it is largely the ‘glossies’ and, of course, the advertising industry, which drive those ideals.
What annoys me to no end is when the glossies run their usual “Try this new diet- guaranteed to make you lose 30 kilos in under 1 day and all you need to do is exist on a combination of juiced wheat grass and celery stalks and spend 5 hours per day doing jumping jacks- so you too can look like Nicole Kidman” and then in the same issue express ‘concern’ (and I use that term losely) about just how thin Nicole Kidman is looking these days and how she really needs to stack on a few kilos, eat some meat and look after herself better. It drives me crazy! I was flicking through one whilst waiting for an appointment a few weeks ago and laughed when I read a letter to the editor on a story in the previous month’s mag about Susie Maroney and the fact that she lost something like 50 kilos and how inspirational she was (for losing the weight that is - not for her swimming achievements). According to the healthy weight range, the author of the letter pointed, Susie Maroney was now significantly underweight and was the magazine deliberately encouraging women to strive to be underweight also?
Secondly, Angela you wrote:
The quiet, unseen revolution of the Spirit in the life of the believer shows up the falseness of this worldly philosophies and values. Seeing things from God’s perspective really alters what is important and worth having in life…
...Furthermore, to know we have been made in God’s image not only gives us dignity and responsibilty but also frees us to live the abundant life that Christ has called us to. The wordly image-makers of the media, fashion & life-style designers, and the like, brings enslavement to the fear, lies and pride (if you happen to have the body beautiful, the nice house, the right clothes, etc) that they manufacture or project.
Christian freedom is a wonderful thing!
I couldn’t agree with you more!
However, I think we Christians buy into the spin doctoring (and yes, I include myself in that) almost as much as the non-Christians. As much as we all (both girls and guys) protest against the ‘DFF’ and ‘DMF’ etc. I can’t help but feel that much of the time our protesting is fairly superficial in itself or easily swayed when presented with the ideals of our society. I see it happening not only in holding each other up to the ideals but in holding ourselves up to them as well ... rather than finding and grounding our identity in Christ. We all say that it is what is inside that matters, and we all point to passages like 1 Peter 3 (not singling you out in anyway Angela!!! I would have posted the same passage because it is completely relevant!) but then the pervasivness of what the world says is desirable, beautiful and acceptable takes the fore.
I think Bec is right - we all want to be loveable, wanted, worthy, accpetable, beautiful and we know that in Christ we are those things. But the world has us fooled into thinking that we find our worth in the acceptance of others (particularly those of the opposite sex) and we buy into it time and time again- because we long for that acceptance. At least, I know I do… I read that female beauty
should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight
... but then really doubt that we Christians girls… and the Christian guys looking on… actually do find beauty in that rather than in our physicality. And so, disillusioned with the fact that we all really only seem to be paying lip service to what is beautiful in God’s sight, I turn back to the ‘beauty’ of the glossies and the video clips and the billboards… and long for the resurrection.
Maybe (hopefully!) it is just my cynicism rather than the reality. I’d really like to stand corrected :)
Oh so sad and true....and still the lies continue doesn’t matter how educated & wealthy the woman.
It is interesting to hear how women in their late teens & in their 20’s are unhappy, or is ‘discontent’ a better word, with their bodies. Twenty years on (I’m 43) the story doesn’t necessarily change for women around my age. Try complimenting a friend on her appearance or a new item of clothing that looks good on her. SO many times the compliment is brushed aside and something derogatory or unkind is volunteered. Oh dear! Why the discomfort with our bodies and how they look in clothes? Why the put downs from our own lips?!? How I would love to hear a simple “Thank you”.
It is hard to escape the invasion of THE latest image where ever we go. The visual pollution of advertisements courtesy of street ads/bus ads/shopfront windows/billboards assaults the senses & successfully sends its message. And this has been achieved before getting to your morning destination like uni or work! Having lived in Sydney till 1993 before moving to Wagga, it is one of the things I’ve noticed on each visit. Where ever you turn the body beautiful, or acquiring the latest consumer product or service is on display. No wonder the feelings of discontent. And that’s before turning on the TV or reading a magazine.
Ecclesiastes definitely has something to say to all this:
“ Eccl 1:2-10: Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.”
If we keep our eyes firmly lowered to what is happening ‘under the sun’, I think dicontentment & despair are a consequence of whatever we try to achieve whether it be the body beautiful, the nice house, satistying relationships,the perfect career, etc.
How transforming it is when our eyes & mind are raised, so to speak, to the cross, to the empty tomb, to our true perfect home in heaven, to..... (fill in the rest in for yourselves). I find that any feelings of discontentment & dissatisfaction are put in their correct place and are no longer worthy of further entertainment by me. It is all part of what Paul says in Philippians
Phil. 4:6-9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable --if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me --put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I know that I need to be encouraged by my sisters & brothers in Christ to live the thankful life, not be anxious, to dwell & meditate on our Lord Jesus so that the things and distracts of this world do not get a foothold in me.
Besides there is nothing the wonders(!?!) of age and their effects on the body to make me appreciate even more the incorruptible work of the Spirit preparing me to be a beautifully adorned bride for our Saviour on His return.
Jason,
My fellow Greek brother-in-Christ, I could kiss you (on both cheeks of course!). Like you & others, I love it when the bible is quoted as it is God speaking to us.
So, you have got me thinking. Stay tuned for my thoughts in the next few days or so. I hope some of the others will contribute as well. How about it, Nunc (snorts and all), Becaila & Dani? All welcome!
How about it, Nunc (snorts and all), Becaila & Dani? All welcome!
What, an orgy of Greek-style kissing? ;) :P
Only if we can have stuffed vegetables, and spring salad… mmmmmm And those tasty meatballs, and stuffed vine leaves/cabbage leaves… Greek food is *Heaven*.
Sorry to intrude with only a red herring to contribute, but I’d like to ask a couple of questions about the Greek text above. I am not very familiar with modern Greek, but nonetheless it looks a little odd. Perhaps you modern Greek speakers can clarify some points:
[list=1][*]Most of the nouns look nominative to me. Am I missing something? I would’ve expected “of Jesus Christ” in the third line to be in the genetive (unless the case is determined by the verb, although in koine Greek it would be very unusual for the case to be nominative).
[*]The Greek contains no conjunctions at all. Is this normal in modern Greek?[/list:o]One observation as well: the third line doesn’t include the word “Jesus” but the translation does. Am I being picky or what.
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