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Are women in the media only portrayed as sex icons? Statistics Show a Massive Gender Imbalance across Industries. This site touches on some really central issues women in our society are collectively faced with, - with no fear change in the near future. The Women's Media Center has provided dismaying statistical data on the status of women in U.S. media. The report draws attention to the striking underrepresentation of women who determine the content of news, literature, and television and film entertainment, as well as the negative portrayal of women in entertainment television and film. As a consequence, the role of women has had major societal effects, including gender inequity. MissRepresentation.org, an organization that "exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women and girls' value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality," is campaigning to shed light on this issue and empower women and young girls to challenge the limiting media labels and recognize their other potentials. The goal of MissRepresentation.org is to expose how media influences youth in America into believing that youth, beauty and sexuality are the driving forces behind a girl's values. The media is a powerful instrument of change and change can only occur once we are able to see the type of force this tool has cast on society. It's up to us women to use the force of media to influence positive change and correct the representation of women. Lastly, stated in this article by Marie Wilson, Founding President of The White House Project, an organization that seeks to get more women into elected office, says, "You can't be what you can't see." This site is useful in exploring this week's image because it describes the leading force that drives the culture of society and the accepted notions constructed towards "woman"; the media. Heidi Beckles

This article outlines the work of the Communist party in 1930s America. The Communist party was integral in mobilizing the unemployed working class in an effort to get fair and secure pay as well as jobs when unemployment drastically rose during the great depression. The Communist Party lead marches and protests, though they sometimes ended in bloodshed as the media depicted these demonstrations as riots. The party also provided an alternative to the exclusionary American Federation of Labor. It also provided framework for the mobilization of the black worker during this time.

American women have struggled historically against certain paradigms of inferiority that all women experience. The female identity is different according to each culture and their customs, but many cultures are based on a patriarchal past where men exercise more power than women. Women worldwide experience subjugation in the form of jobs, education, sexuality and reproductive choice. American women have strived to overcome these stereotypes and have gained a position of near equality in many societal constructs. In the United States today, men and women enjoy almost equal social standing. Women can and do vote, own businesses, hold political office and have a full spectrum of rights. Even though they hold powerful jobs and play valuable roles in a variety of social constructs, the paradigm of the American housewife still exist. With the above mentioned it is important to know that western culture is prevalent worldwide and imposes both the positive feminist ideals and the conflicting negative media messages on third world and developing countries. The impact of Western culture in the specific realm of feminism and female stereotypes globally establish common goals and difficulties for all women. As a dominant culture, the United States must be aware of the media messages it shares with the rest of the world and the examples it promotes as not all are accommodating with other cultures. This site is useful in exploring the image because it paints exactly what the poster of Donna Gottschalk holds, denying women equality, but at the same time practicing America's freedom of speech and expression, forbidden by women in many countries. It's funny that women worldwide continue to experience subjugation in the form of jobs, education, sexuality and reproductive choice. Those countries worldwide that strive to be like us, from a moral point of view should without a doubt accommodate all positives attributes that the America culture places impact, leading to

I love NPR!  For those of you who do not know NPR stands for National Public Radio: an organization delivering news over the airwaves, and now in many other waves as well.  I have the application for my iPad and absolutely love it.  This webpage is a memorial dedicated to the life of Rosa Parks at the time of her death in 2005.  Here you cannot only read about her accomplishments, but hear Mrs. Parks' voice from several recorded interviews.  Simply click on "Remembrance by Cheryl Corley" and a media player will appear and begin playing the broadcast.

This article gives more insight into Rosa Parks' character.  It seems that many of these type of articles, stories, plays, etc., come out years after people pass away or fade out of the public's eye.  I think in some cases the media has tried to vilify people like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Medgar Evers--to name a few.  The book mentioned in this article gives a personal account of Parks' heroic stand against inequality.

This was an interesting article as well.  I did not know that there were people before Rosa Parks that refused to give up their seat for a Caucasian patron.  I think the media wants us to believe this as well.  Would the picture in this week's assignment be as important if other people like Claudette Colvin would have been given more publicity or coverage?  There probably are many other pictures like the one in this week's assignment, but American history really only uses this picture. As I mentioned in another link, the United States of America has a terrible problem of forgetting, and also being content with being ignorant to other cultures, experiences and lifestyles.

Discusses the legacy of Walker Evans's and James Agee's collaboration in documenting what they saw in Hale County, Alabama. I liked this piece not only for the detail it gives in the controversy that surrounded this project, as well as its legacy, but how it felt from the perspective of the subjects and their descendants (specifically the controversy and sentiment in publishing their names). The piece shows the sort of embarrassment and shame the subjects felt in sharing with the world what their lives looked like, what dire poverty in America looked like during the great depression.

This article gives a perspective on the progress of the Gay Rights movement from the perspective of a newer member to the marches. They reflect on the early start for liberation in 1965 and the first Gay Rights marches in 1970. This was a chance for many of the sub groups to join together to strengthen their cause and how far that cause has come today.