Female Celebrities vs. Male Celebs (Writing Topic 3)

In the media, female celebrities are exploited and sometimes exploit themselves on purpose. Commonly seen on newspapers, TV, music, movies, commercial, etc. are the 20-30 age range. These role models are involved in selling products, acting, singing, and hosting TV shows. Or, older female celebrities put makeup on to make themselves look younger; producers also use lighting techniques and digital enhancements to make stars look better as well. On the male side, lots of younger entertainers have come out recently and have always been much loved in the entertainment business, so it seems about the same. older personalities in entertainment match with older people, but some projects call for one old and one young person to be a pair. This often happens in movies mostly because it is required for the role(s) or the younger lead dropped out because of conflicting schedules.

I think if there is a gender bias in hiring certain actors or singers for certain things, it's because of that person's tealent and not neccessarily with age. Of course, age is an important factor since the target audience in most cases is much younger than adults. Mostly, products that celebrities endorse are for younger teengage audiences so using someone who is around the same age makes sense. Also, companies want to make money, so they pick younger talented people to sell tickets. I honestly don't think it's that bad, since the entertainment industry is just that. It's about entertaining people, so they might as well use good looking people. This is aside from the fact that many of the films and songs made are actually quite creative and good quality works.

A lot of how the public judges celebrities, especialy female celebs, is based on all the negative dirt and propaganda that goes around in gossip rags. Men aren't put on such a heavy stigma after doing something that's socially scorned, like taking drugs or ging out n a heavy night of partying. it's considered normal and the public forgives more easily men than women in these types of cases. Media coverage in both cases is biased because the gossips magazines also want to make moeny, just like film or music companies, so they always try to find ways to spread or expose rumors about famous people. In a way, it's kind of not fair to them but it comes with the business, so they get used to it, I guess. A lot also has to do with maager and public expectations. Once there's pressure to do certain things by the manager or fans or the reporters say something and everyone believes it, then you're bound to believe and then act accordingly. That's why some celebrities actually get caught in the act of smoking marijuana or doing crazy antic, it's because the public wants and expects it so the celebrity does it. It's psychological conditioning except no one ever sees it! We tend to see what we want to see, so we assume it's the way that celebrities really are. Obviously, it's never really possible to know unless they directly say so what he or she is going through. the old saying comes back again, you can't judge a book by it's cover until you've read the book.

What we can really judge about female and male celebrities then, is the way they dress. sure, a certain degree is also chosen by designers, managers, and peope in charge of their image. Most of the clothes for women are revealing. They want to look sexy to attract fans and look good. if you think about though, which woman under that kind of pressure from almost everyone around them doesn't want to look good? Cameras are everyhere almost 24/7, so if I was one of them I'd definitely want to hide in a bunch of cool looking clothes and make up. Plus, they're famous and rich so their life road is smooth as long as they don't do anything too stupid. If you can make 10 million USD a year and have to deal with all these kinds of pressures, wouldn't it be worth it? Lots of people only look at celebrities superficially and don't take the time to see that most celebrities work very hard to achieve the status that they have and keep on going after they reach fame and fortune because they truly love what they do. How many people can say they're satisfied with their jobs?

Writing Topic 1

Women make 85% of what men make, roughly, as one of our readings states. Statistics of women making lower than what men make as well as getting fewer promotions, less in bonuses and benefits have all contributed in what is now called the glass ceiling. Many women who want career advancement can't get it, or they're picked only as figureheads on the board of directors, for example. Why does this type of sex discrimination occur? The answer is simple: power.

Traditionally, the male breadwinner and female as homemaker roles have been passed on for generations. Women were only expected to be good wives, take care of the kids (one boy and one girl, of course, according to the American Dream), and put family over any idea to pursue a career. Men have dominated society for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Historically, men are the heroes of the country, men bring glory to the family, and men now are supposed to provide for the family. Like, Chinese history or Greek and Roman societies. All of them have famous generals or emperors; women seldom appear in the fabric of great men's lives, and if they do it is as their wives or standing behind them. Women aren't seen as the hero. Some people say it's in their blood because it has been this way for so long. Because of male patriarchy then, for it is the society that decides what people do or at least shapes it and most societies even today are male-dominated, women don't have as much experience in the public sphere. At least, that's what seems logical historically in not getting promoted as often, having a lower salary.

Actually, when women started looking for jobs most often were piece-time or part time jobs, since they were still expected to stay at home and raise the family. Isn't it true today? A double-standard of women exists. Men normally just work, but women who work also have to make sure the kids eat well, sleep early, do the dishes, the laundry, almost everything is still the same as when only men did jobs, except even more tiring. They're on double duty every day, 24-7 365.

It's not just the society that is at fault in this problem. If you look at individual women, some think it's normal that they don't get promoted or have higher earnings. Women praise men, follow them and think they're like gods in some cultures. Well, maybe not today's women, since feminism has started working it's way more and more into society. Also, some women are stigmatized by what feminism is about and what attitudes they should have about themselves. They get constantly bombarded of political correctness, equality, rights, terms that are used so loosely now by almost every faction of society. It's hard to drown out the noise and see who is really speaking and what they stand for. Not all women's rights groups are radical, and that is what women of all ages don't discern.

I think all the preaching isn't working, no matter if you're a corporate executive or a bra burning anti patriarchal feminista. If we want sexism to stop in the workplace, it has to start with the kids. If you give them a bad example, then they're going to be just like they're parents and judge people based on stereotypes that the kids have formed based on what their parents do. Behavioral learning starts early, so good parenting is really essential in creating attitudes of how to treat people. As for the people already practicing prejudiced ways of hiring, there should be a program required for top executives quarterly or every month to remind them of what women face in the workplace. If they don't see it happening or let it pass right under their noses because the managers underneath them are hiring only pretty young women or giving top salaries only to ethnic women so that they don't get sued, it's their fault and they won't even know it. No matter what, the way people think of gender equality has got to change. Traditional views of the housewife or breadwinner isn't going to fly anymore. It isn't a question of how, but when people start to see that what they're doing is wrong.

Women's Rights in Taiwan: First Impression

I'm going to write something more substantial tomorrow. These are my thoughts about the article so far.

I completely agree that education is the way to go on these types of problems. Once people in Taiwan know the history of women's rights and the kinds of abuses women are victims of, it will be easier as a society to deal with rape or domestic violence more seriously. I took a women's studies course last year at UBC, actually, and it really opened up my mind to the kinds of prejudices and sexist beliefs many people still hold today in many parts of the world. Even in developed nations of the world, crimes against women occur almost every day. For instance, the women's studies center on UBC campus, a place considered liberal and open to people of all creeds and colors, was spray painted and the windows were smashed in a few times a year.

I didn't really know much of women's rights in Taiwan. since the course I took mainly talked about Canadian immigrants and places like Africa and the United States, places we hear about more often when it comes to women's rights. I think it's great that legislators are looking into better ways to handle the injustices that women face, because women's' place in society is important in maintaining the balance of everyday life. Taiwan's patriarchal society is too limiting to the young people that are looking for jobs and creating lives that the old standards of Taiwanese life cannot support. Students should be taught gender equality and take women's studies courses in college. At least, they should take one course about women's rights so that such knowledge can be available and their world view can be expanded. Maybe Taiwan's schools can't force children to learn gender equality, but social reformers should look to parents to rear their children to be aware of crimes against women and the wrong ways that men condescend women, as well as women who accept such crude behavior as normal.

Virtual Reality: Healthy to Have a 'Second Life'?

Second life is a virtual reality game that uses avatars (players create their own virtual ID) in real time. The game allows for real people to interact in different facets of Second Life's world as if the events are really occurring. For example, someone can take online courses from real universities that actually have class at the same timeas the virtual class. Lots of companies have also used Second Life to advertise and sell their products, using Second Life's own currency.

In my own opinion, the concept of Second Life is a good premise for future development of companies wanting to expand using online product placement, but the problem is whether consumers and others playing the game will actually want Second Life to be exactly the same as real life. I mean, isn't the whole point of playing games to escape reality and not to relive it again after a hard day of work? Or is Second Life really the game of the future? Personally, Second Life is only appealing in the sense that it is a novelty. Yes, it has cool graphics and you can be anybody you want with the avatar you create, but isn't real life more exciting? Virtual reality can not so easily replace the mystery and wonder of not knowing what will happen in our natural born environment.