Gender inequalityWomen have been stereotyped in America for centuries. A woman was, and still is, seen simply as an accessory for a man. Throughout history, we can see that women are represented as housewives, not as successful entrepreneurs of a part of the elite class (GSDRC et al., Gender and the Media). In the past, society has created a standard for women that, to be honest, is simply unlikely to be achieved. Society and the media in particular have set an unrealistic standard and vision of what a woman should be. Men are seen as overly masculine and are expected to be callous and harsh. Gender in the media is a very real problem in today's society and deserves attention because it is harming the lives of thousands of young men and women. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There is a clear and definite link between the media and the portrayal of women. There is no doubt that every form of media today will feature some sort of gender stereotypes and generalizations about male and female roles. Stereotypes are false assumptions about people based on traits such as race, gender, and age (UN Women). A common stereotype about women is that the woman is the housewife, the one who takes care of the children, cleans and cooks for the whole family. This stereotype has existed for years and no longer represents what the modern woman has become. Not only are women seen simply as housewives with no greater aspirations, but they are also highly sexualized through the media. The idea of ​​the perfect female body has consumed our society and has immensely affected the physical and mental health of thousands of women (UN Women). The pressure to conform to unrealistic expectations affects not only women but also young men. Men are typically stereotyped as powerful and dominant in society and towards women. Our society's idea of ​​what a man should be has been blown out of proportion in recent years. Women aren't the only ones who feel the pressure to have the perfect body. While women feel they have to be thin and perfect, men think they have to be athletic and physically strong to be desirable. Men and women strain themselves to conform to these ridiculously unrealistic expectations (McSweeney, Gender Equality in the Media). Men are shunned or despised if they don't fit these masculine ideals. We have created competitions and TV programs that support and reward people who follow stereotypes (Thoman, How to Break the Stereotype). The media tends to belittle men in caring or domestic roles, or those who oppose violence (GSDRC et al, Gender and the Media). The most shocking aspect of these stereotypes is that there is no way to escape the influence of the media. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In today's society the media surrounds us everywhere we go. The media conveys these expectations through TV, magazines, movies, advertising, social media, and almost every form of entertainment. These representations can influence people's perceptions of what they expect from men and women and what they expect from themselves (GSDRC et al, Gender and the Media). The media falsely promotes unbalanced views of male and female roles in society and physically and emotionally harms men and women. The negative influences of the media must be addressed by the government before it becomes even more out of control and further sets unattainable standards and.