Feminists and stereotypes in the media The media portrays feminists in unflattering ways. Largely due to media portrayal, the word “feminist” usually conjures up images of crude, butch, man-hating, and very masculine women. Many women believe in feminist doctrine, but would never consider themselves feminists because they cannot relate to images of crude, masculine, man-hating, butch women. In fact, it has only been in the last year that I have been able to accept the fact that I am a feminist and that my preconceived images of feminists are simply media stereotypes. Now I am able to admit that I worry more about my life. my rights rather than whether or not anyone assumes I fit the media stereotype of a feminist. Feminism is the belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. You don't have to hate men, refuse to wear clothes, or be homosexual to be a feminist. Feminism is not about male aggression, but rather about equality. Now I can (and do) freely admit that I am a feminist. People might think this means I'm a lesbian. They might think this means I hate men. They might think I have some kind of secret agenda. They can be as misinformed or stereotyped as they choose, I just want equal rights. Yet now I have to wonder why those stereotypes exist and where they come from. Did early feminists hate men? No. Early accounts from women and men of the time prove otherwise.*...the 1848 Seneca Falls convention for a Women's Bill of Rights prompted editorials about "asexual women"...which insinuated that they had become activists because "they were too repugnant to find a husband....These women are entirely devoid of personal attractions."...When a supporter, Senate......middle of paper......lifetimetv.com /shows/specials /changingface/illusions2.html Services of entertainment for life. 2000Changing Face of Beauty: Models http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/models.html Lifetime Entertainment Services. 2000Changing face of beauty: views. “Sela Ward” http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/views5b.html Lifetime Entertainment Services. 2000Changing face of beauty: views. “Maricia Gillespie” http://www.lifetimetv.com/shows/specials/changingface/views.html Lifetime Entertainment Services. 2000Douglas, Susan J. Where the Girls Are: Growing Up as Women with Mass Media. New York: Random House Publishing, 1994, 278.Starr, Bernard. IT'S NOT JUST PAINT: AGING AND THE MEDIA http://www.longevityworld.com/justpaint.html. 1997Wolff, Naomi. The myth of beauty. New York: Doubleday Publishing, 1991