Thursday, July 22, 2010

Not That Girl



"If I were a boy..." is a famous song written by popular music artist Ciara which discusses the difference between men and women and social constructs of their responsibilities in their respective gender roles. In America there is an explosion of music videos which exploits women for their sexual appeal and portrays the man as the dominant character. Look at the lyrics as some of the songs such as, "Throw it in the bag", "Sponsor", "OMG", and so on. Our culture is continuing to suppress women as a face of intellect and covering their face with a veil of sexual intensity. This culture of hegemonic ideologies is very prevalent in our society because of the image social media attempts to depict. Women have marched for rights to vote, gain equal salaries, and benefit from the from the same education networks and one must wonder when they will stop having to succumb to sexual exploitation? Hegemony is the prevailing force over a less powerful group allowing for exploitation, oppression, and tyranny. Britney Spears, who has since matured from her bizarre hair cut, has tried to subvert against misogynistic ideologies in her video "Womanizer".

Her video "Womanizer" shows Britney in an array of different outfits showing the "gender-specific" roles of a career. Such as in the beginning of the video she is cooking breakfast for her stage lover and he is in the nude reading the paper as if he does not care. She must slave to meet all of his needs. When she throws the egg down on his plate he takes out his cell phone and begins to check he plans for the day showing no signs of gratitude or appreciation. This is clearly a woman working for her man with no such pay except a relationship. In another setting this would be called indentured servitude. A slave is at every call of the master while only receiving a place to sleep and eat while they pay off a debt or they are working to pay for their keep. She goes against this norm by pretending to pour coffee in this cup while singing the lyrics talking about how she will not be womanized.

In the article "Hegemony", James Lull says that "Dominant ideological streams must be subsequently reproduced in the activities of our most basic social units-families, workplace networks, and friendship groups in the many sites and undertakings of everyday life " (62). Lull is suggesting that one is dominated when they are continually put down or placed into a dominant based setting in which the victim feels as if they must either be complacent to the domination, or they must conform their own ideologies to fit within the social norm. Spears is going against this pedagogy and showing her man that she will not be another trophy wife or late night office meeting.

The second scene in which we see Spears rallying for the strength of women is in her workplace setting where she again is playing the "gender specific" role of a woman secretary being scoped out by the men of her office like a tiger stalks its prey. Her dance moves continue to push the man away and she she throws him on the copy machine saying she will not be womanized. She has a more argumentative attitude in this scene fighting against the will of the man. The man sits down and reaches for her waist and again she pushes him away, allowing him to see that she will not be domesticated with dominating morals or be forced to join the current of the normal social wave. "Those who uncritically follow the dictates of media culture tend to 'mainstream' themselves, conforming to the dominant fashion, values, and behavior" (Kellner 10).

Kellner is suggesting that those who are uneducated outside of the social media stay withing the box of the social media in which the only option is to conform to the shape of the box. The walk, talk, and fashion of the media dictates the actions and behavior of the women and as stated early, the actions depicted are clearing a non subversive role for women. Spears, "Who you trying to front, I know just what you are" is claiming that the man is not sly in his quest to try and be on the side of the female. Spears is aware of the charisma game and she is not following the rules, she wishes to be her own woman and not be womanized.

The third scene has Spears acting as a waitress where she says, "say it how you wanna, but I'm never gonna fall for you", directly stating the fact that people may try to spin the truth of taking advantage of woman but she will not fall for that trap. She is letting the male know that she is above the dominant media culture and he can have the education, job, charisma he wishes, but she will not be subjected to exploitation. Spears is allowing herself (in the scene) to become physically close to the man and then pushes him away almost as if she is toying with his emotions. She understands that the man wishes to have her her, but she will not let that occur because she knows the history of his past endeavours. Kellner addresses this when he discusses Gramsci's model of hegemony and counter hegemony "the project was aimed a social transformation and attempted to specify forces of domination and resistance in order to aid the process of political struggle and emancipation from oppression and domination" (Kellner 11).

Throughout this video Spears is demonstrating she is the driving force behind the liberation from oppression because she has been in the waters with it and now she is against. Spears was a popular pop star who started out as conforming to the hegemonic ideologies of women. But now, to be womanized is not on her personal agenda of career aspirations and she can make the strive for accomplishments with the accommodation of sexual exploitation. This video portrays Spears in a new light going against the great and being the golden wheat which shines in a music field dominated by misogynistic ideologies.


"Womanizer". Dir. Joseph Kahn. "Circuis". Britney Spears. 2008.

Lull, James. "Hegemony." Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage Publication Inc., 2003. 61-66. Print

Kellner, Douglas. "Cultural Studies, Multiculturalism, and Media Culture." Gender, Race, and Class in Media: A Text-Reader. Eds. Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez. Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage Publication Inc., 2003. 9-20. Print

47 comments:

  1. Strengths:

    You make strong points and back it up with appropriate quotes from the readings.

    I like the recurring theme of "I will not be womanized" that you've incorporated. It reinforces that idea.

    You've made Britney Spears seem feminist through this. Good Job.

    Weaknesses:

    There are some grammatical errors.

    You can work on your thesis more. Maybe like adding in the specific points you will deal with throughout the essay.

    Some sentences were confusing, like "to be womanized is not on her personal agenda of career aspirations and she can make the strive for accomplishments with the accommodation of sexual exploitation" I don't see where you were going with the "sexual exploitation" reference there.

    Note: "If i were a boy..." is by Beyonce.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Derek-
    I'm definitely in agreement with Henry's comments. I think you chose a great video and you make good points about how it can viewed as a production that subverts the notion that women must be subservient.

    The thesis you've argued needs to be more specific (as Henry mentioned) by pointing out the fact that Spears is countering dominant ideologies about women as objects. The issue of her hair (and maturation?) is hardly relevant; furthermore, it's a way of undercutting her based on her appearance and the tabloid-reported mental heath issues. My goal is not to see your thesis would reinforce a dominant ideology that marginalizes women.
    Having a clear thesis will help you immensely (as I mentioned in the comments on the first post you authored); additionally, structuring your paragraphs to facilitate the analysis on a point by point basis will also be key to improving your analytical writing.
    Be careful with your quote usage; therefore, remember to use quotes selectively to back up specific points. When you jump from a paragraph with a point from one author, directly to another paragraph that quotes a different author, the points the author makes should be backing up the same point you've made in the paragraph preceding the first paragraph with quoted work.
    The following outline can be used as a reference point (the numbers indicate the paragraph sequence) to structure and order a basic, written analysis:
    1. Intro Paragraph (with thesis at the last sentence)

    2. Point A (your first point/assertion that supports your thesis)

    3. Point A with quote from "expert witness" (author cited through the use of a direct quote to back up your point/assertion made in paragraph 2)

    4. Point B (your point/assertion that supports your thesis that can be directly linked with point A, so that your transition from point A to B is logical and adds depth to your analysis)

    5. Point B with quote from "expert witness" (author cited through the use of a direct quote to back up your point/assertion made in paragraph 4)

    ....
    .... repeat the steps above until your points have been made and you've adequately proven your thesis.

    #. Conclusion (after all points have been made)
    :o)
    Jessie

    ReplyDelete
  3. We Provide assignment help for students especially in usa getting brilliant quality reviews writing USA, essays and dissertations.We at Top Quality Assignment believe that there is no shortcut to success and to attain success, hard work, dedication, and commitment must be present.AllAssignmentHelp reviews best in writing unique Assignment.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for sharing the post and it were really nice, and the information in your article was so excellent. We also provide CDR For Engineers Australia writing services online and also giveCDR Report Writing Help for engineers at affordable prices. For further question or query, visit our website.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A high level post with a knowledgeable information .thanks you for giving me such a nice information.
    if you need any academic level Assignment Help at reliable quality with better work.
    kindly visit Assignment Achievers or whatsapp +61 2 80113341

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are sharing a fantastic blog. It is straightforward to understand for anyone. Thank you so much for sharing the post. Moreover, I am a writer at No1AssignmentHelp.com where our team provides No 1 Assignment Help for all Australian universities. If you need any writing services, then you can connect with us.
    Also, visit our website:
    https://no1assignmenthelp.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. TRT, Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu ismiyle yayın yapmakta olan tv kanalıdır. Turkiye'nin ilk kurulan tv kanali olma ozelligine sahip kanali TRT 1 canlı, spor, muzik, siyaset ve daha bircok cesitli alanda tv dunyasina ev sahipligi yapmaktadır.Mobil ve akilli telefonlar uzerinden de TRT 1 canlı yayınını rahatlikla izleyebilirsiniz.

    ReplyDelete


  8. This is the final drive which has driven me to the points it still is effective one to read here accounting assignment help have been one of the most determined things to read here.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good source of information! Your post shares all information of the Assignment Help in a detailed manner. If you want to place your order for assignment completion, browse the website greatassignmenthelp to connect with the highly experienced writers.
    Assignment Help Online
    Online Assignment Help
    Assignment Help Online Services
    Assignment Helper
    Assignment Assistance
    Assignment Help Experts
    Online Assignment Help Services
    Assignment Writing Help

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Livewebtutors aims at providing the students with a one stop solution for all the academic related issues. The company has Livewebtutors is an online Assignment Help and assignment writing service offering expert assignment help. Hire Australian assignment writing experts.
    visit now:- Assignment Help Australia

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great share! Thank you for the post.
    Those looking for MTP kit online can get it over here Just click the link and select buy now option to purchase.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MyAssignmentHelp being one of the most active assignment help websites has a pool of over 4500+ assignment experts from Australia, UK and US.
    A run-on sentence joins two independent clauses without punctuation or proper conjunction. It’s similar to comma splice which uses a comma to join sentences that have to proper conjunction. When you choose our tool for the online grammar check, it’ll not only detect this mistake but also fix it for you. The grammar checker will automatically make the required changes by separating the clauses or adding a semicolon instead of a comma.

    ReplyDelete
  14. A piece of valuable information shared. Thank you for the post.
    Get online abortion kit fast delivery to halt pregnancy up to 63 days with the combo pack of Mifepristone & Misoprostol kit.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Many people are depressed about the problems of essay writing. Well, don’t worry about that because we are providing this service at a very reasonable price.
    Tableau Software Help
    Statistics Assignment Help
    Programming Assignment Help
    Programming Homework Help
    Programming Help

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nice blog, it's so knowledgeable, informative, and a good-looking site. myassignmenthelpau is a great platform that has been performing astonishingly well. If yes, then you are on the right platform to receive the best Statistics Assignment help at an affordable price. They provide transparent and trusted work satisfying universal clientele each year.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MyAssignmentHelp aims to provide unmatched academic assistance in and around the city of Hamilton. From detecting all minor mistakes in the paper to adding relevant references to the academic works, we bring forth a perfect solution. Our team delivers the best assignment help rotorua.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for sharing this Blog with us. You really have a Good Knowledge. I really enjoy your Blog.

    Readers if you want seo company in panchkula


    ppc company in chandigarh
    ppc company in panchkula
    visit Gratissoft Solutions in Panchkula now :- http://gratissoftsolutions.com

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the art of writing you possess. Good job man. The Doctor of Nursing Practice DNP project represents the culmination of your doctoral studies and an opportunity for you to translate your acquired knowledge into practice. It is also the epitome of the practice-focused DNP and an essential part of the integrative practice experience. Preparing your DNP project is an exciting time, as it allows you to lay the groundwork for future scholarship while at the same time giving you a chance to make a potentially meaningful contribution to improving nursing practice and patient outcomes. DNP Capstone Project Writers is here for you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Excellent information Providing by your Article, thank you for taking the time to share with us such a nice article. Amazing insight you have on this, it's nice to find a website that details so much information about different artists. Investmango goal is to offer unique and specialized services to our clients and in return create a long-lasting working relationship. We provide the Best sun twilight villas and 2/3/4 BHK Flats, Apartments, Penthouse, Corporate Properties, Commercial Properties in Noida, Greater Noida West, Delhi NCR with Great Discount and Deals. Learn more about the Investmango visit our website and call now :- +918076042671

    ReplyDelete
  21. People who practice media piracy lack copyright rights because these rights dictate that only the owners of the media have the right to control the reproduction of their work assignment help

    ReplyDelete
  22. Get the best corporate law assignment help by experts at affordable prices. Get the best corporate law assignment writing services from UK by professional assignment writers of UK. On-Time Delivery. A+ Quality.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Get the best online assignment help by experts at affordable prices. Get the best Biology Assignment Help by professional assignment writers of UK. On-Time Delivery. A+ Quality.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba Nezuko Kamado Kimono Cosplay Costume
    nezuko cosplay

    ReplyDelete
  25. You are always at your best to feed your readers with interesting, thoughtful and educative information, keep it up, and thank you very much for a great job always, meanwhile, you can checkout this nmu cut off mark for marine engineering

    ReplyDelete
  26. The best things of reading this article is you gets a lot of information & it is a well written article that is really good. SQL assignment help

    ReplyDelete
  27. Interesting and amazing how your post is set. It is useful and helpful for us visitors. I'm looking forward to Hearing from your next post. visit cut off mark for christopher university

    ReplyDelete
  28. we provide the bestdo my GIS assigmentservices in the market with the best rates

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm truly pleased to have surf  blog posts which carries lots of valuable facts, thanks for providing this wonderful inspiring pack I truly appreciate you for sharing. Also visit crawford university cut off mark for agricultural science

    ReplyDelete
  30. The blog is well organized with content as per reader’s interest, very clear description of terms and valuable source of data, looking forward for more of your useful updates, thanks for sharing. mountain top university departmental cut off mark

    ReplyDelete
  31. Are you looking for Cheap Assignment Help in Australia? We provide cheap assignment writing service covering all subjects. Buy your homework online at an affordable price and secure a decent grade. Order Now!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Our Assignment Help Sydney is the best assignment writing service in Sydney. We are the most trusted and affordable assignment writing service provider.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Get the best Economics Assignment Help in Australia. Our dedicated team of economics experts has expertise in handling all types of economics assignments. Avail unique solutions for economics assignment topics with free editing support service.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Best Place to Get Homework Help from Online Tutors. Also an academic writing Service provider tophomeworkhelper.com a legit company and provide guidance to students with their studies. Students who are looking for professional support must contact With Us. Our Experties:- statistics assignment help , finance homework help online , homework answers , do my homework for me , Calculus homework help etc.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hire the most trusted Business Management Assignment Help at reasonable prices. Our MBA experts work 24*7 to give you the assistance with your business assignments. We are always available to assist you with the best .

    ReplyDelete
  36. Get Online Coursework Help from certified writers under tight deadlines. Get FREE Plagiarism Report. 24x7 WhatsApp Support. Our assignment experts can help you with almost any subject or topic.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wonderful blog, thank you for the excellent write up. check how-to-tell-you-have-diabetes

    ReplyDelete
  38. A very vivid and comprehensive review of the video . Great Job.
    have you checked out the MBA Assignment help. This service of our's is trusted by lot of students.

    An expert written assignment where no plagiarism or error is involved. We provide options of customizing work and deliver it on time .

    ReplyDelete
  39. studying abroad in Germany can be an exciting and enriching experience. Explore universities and programs, check admission requirements, apply for a student visa, and prepare for living in Germany. With a welcoming culture, excellent academic opportunities, and beautiful cities to explore, Germany can be a great destination for international students.

    ReplyDelete