The Picture is Political: Representation of Women in Contemporary Popular Culture

Abstract

Representation is a political issue. Without the power to define our interests and to participate in the decisions that affect us, women — like any other group in society — will be subject to the definitions and decisions of others. These others (men, in this case) are likely to produce definitions and decisions that serve their interests rather than ours. This need not be a deliberate process of oppression: it may just seem to be ‘common sense’ that women should have babies and cook, that women cannot be company directors or bricklayers, that they should wish to totter around on high heels to make themselves attractive to men. This appears to be the natural order of things. So it just happens, ‘naturally’, that men are spared the drudgery of domestic chores, can have most of the best jobs and can expect women to want to please and service them.

Represent, v.t. 1. call up in the mind by description or portrayal … 3. make out to be etc., allege that, describe or depict as … 5. symbolize, act as embodiment of, stand for, correspond to, be specimen of … 6. fill place of, be substitute or deputy for, be entitled to act or speak for, be sent as member to legislature or delegate to meeting etc. by … — Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1995