Write an essay on Women’s portrayal in mass media (over sexualization of women)
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Women’s Portrayal in Mass Media: The Issue of Oversexualization
Introduction
The mass media plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes towards various aspects of society, including gender roles and expectations. Unfortunately, women have long been subjected to an unfair and damaging portrayal in mass media, often being oversexualized and objectified. This essay aims to explore the issue of women’s portrayal in mass media, focusing specifically on the problem of oversexualization. By examining the consequences and underlying reasons for this phenomenon, it becomes clear that urgent action is necessary to challenge and change these harmful representations.
The Consequences of Oversexualization
The oversexualization of women in mass media has profound consequences on both individuals and society as a whole. Firstly, it perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes, reinforcing the idea that a woman’s worth is primarily based on her physical appearance and sexual appeal. This narrow portrayal limits the opportunities available to women and reinforces societal inequalities. It also hinders the progress towards achieving true gender equality by reinforcing traditional gender roles.
Furthermore, the oversexualization of women can lead to negative body image issues and low self-esteem. Constant exposure to idealized and unattainable beauty standards can make women feel inadequate and dissatisfied with their own bodies. This can have serious implications for mental health, leading to the development of eating disorders and other psychological disorders.
The Underlying Reasons for Oversexualization
To understand why women are oversexualized in mass media, it is crucial to examine the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon. One of the primary factors is the influence of the male-dominated media industry. Decision-makers within this industry often prioritize profit over ethical considerations, exploiting women’s sexuality to attract viewers or consumers. Additionally, societal norms and expectations regarding femininity and sexuality play a significant role in perpetuating this issue. The pressure to conform to these ideals leads to the objectification and hypersexualization of women.
Challenging Oversexualization
Challenging the oversexualization of women in mass media requires collective efforts from various stakeholders. Firstly, media producers and advertisers must take responsibility for the content they create and promote. They need to critically examine their practices and strive to portray women in a more realistic and empowering manner. This includes diversifying representations of women by featuring different body types, ethnicities, ages, and abilities.
Education also plays a vital role in addressing this issue. By promoting media literacy skills, individuals can develop a critical understanding of the media they consume. They can learn to question and challenge the messages conveyed by mass media, empowering themselves to resist harmful stereotypes and demand more accurate and equitable representations.
Conclusion
The oversexualization of women in mass media is an issue that demands urgent attention. It perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes, contributes to negative body image issues, and undermines efforts towards gender equality. By understanding the consequences and underlying reasons for this phenomenon, we can work towards challenging and changing these harmful representations. Through collective action from media producers, advertisers, educators, and individuals themselves, we can create a media landscape that respects women’s dignity, diversity, and autonomy. It is time for a paradigm shift in mass media—one that promotes equality and empowers women rather than objectifying them.
