Erin+and+Melisa

[|Does the Media Pick on Pretty Women and Do You?]

Abstract- Keli Goff’s article's "Does the Media Pick on Pretty Women and Do You?” was featured in the //Huffington Post.// This article focuses in on how the media keys in on a woman’ s appearance as opposed to her performance. Politician, Sarah Palin and track star, Lolo Jones are used as examples to show how the media has heightened their appearances. Although in Palin’s case, her looks have aided her career, her great advancements and ideas in the government are overlooked. Many hate and Jones for being so pretty, but what many people forget to take into consideration is that she and just like everyone else had no control over their looks. The natural tendency for a woman to look at another woman who is prettier and more successful, can be disheartening. This natural tendency plus the influence of the media equal a whole lot of jealously. The media today has chosen to focus on the looks of a woman because superficiality and beauty sell.

Erin's Response- I can honestly say that I am guilty of letting the appearance of a person bias my opinions. Judging someone based off of their looks is something that is hard to control. I see this happening even at Iolani. There are certain female teachers who have been noted as "pretty" from male students. I actually asked one of my guy friends what he thought about a certain female teacher and he said that she was "a a good teacher." This shocked me because I flat out thought she was a horrible teacher. I guess my different reaction form my guy friend proves that even without really thinking about it I was jealous of my teacher just because she is attractive. Secretly I wanted to see her fail. Media has done a good job of saying that it is okay to hate on people just based on their looks.

Melisa's response- I agree with the author in her conclusion, I think we all want nothing more than to live in a world where skills and talents are valued over looks and that other girls didn't pick on prettier girls due to jealousy; It's just so messed up! Yet we see it over and over, not only in the media but our everyday lives as well. It is a well known stereotype that the "prettier girls" in school are the known as "popular" and it seems like they have things handed to them; as much as I hate to agree, I find this stereotype true not only in movies but also throughout my years in middle school and high school. I believe that this may carry over into adulthood and affect they way women are treated in the work place. I have to admit, if I were to meet a well-credited business woman, I would be in awe of her, but If I were to meet a woman that was equally well-credited but at the same time GORGEOUS, I would find myself even more impressed with her, and along the way probably mumbling something like "oh wow, pretty AND smart." I'm Terrible, I KNOW! This article just goes to show that this phenomenon is common. Although this article use two women as examples, I believe men can have their looks work for (or against) them as as well. The first televised presidential debate between JFK and Nixon is a classic example of this; through the radio it sounded like Nixon was winning, but through the TV, it appeared as if JFK was winning. Nixon, being the manly man he was, refused to put makeup on for the cameras, JFK on the other hand, with his movie star looks, was a natural.