The media's portrayal of women

I'm finally getting chance to continue sharing my experience from the women's equality event I attended on Tuesday. I am writing this as I sit in my mother's garden after a very delicious Sunday dinner. 

As I mentioned in my last video post, we women have a power to influence others and we must use it to make a positive impact in other women's lives. The event was more like a workshop because we all had to participate and share our views and ideas. There were more than 25 women of different age  groups and from different areas and backgrounds. We were encouraged to not judge each other's opinions or views and to allow each one to speak and express themselves without jumping in or trying to correct or even impose our own views on each other.

 I learned that we should not be ashamed to have our own opinions and views neither should we be afraid to voice them. Even if no one believes in what we believe in, we shouldn't compromise what we stand for or lower our standards. Women with high standards, morals and values are  greatly admired. They stand out from the crowd and although they face a lot of adversity and hostility from others because they are different, that doesn't stop them from being who they are. These women make the difference - and we need more women like this in our society. 

 Something that some of the women picked up on which I didn't realize at first was how older women are viewed as past their sell by date and viewed as not having anything to add in journalism, TV and film, music, certain job roles and positions in politics or society. They are indirectly and at times directly discriminated against and not taken seriously when in truth, mature women have accumulated a wealth of wisdom and invaluable experience over the years that they can pass on to younger women and the wider audience. Because they no longer look young and sexy, they are dismissed, again, showing how the media unfortunately favours beauty over brains and intellect. 

The opposite can be seen when it comes to males who are the same age as these older women. Have you noticed how veteran actors such as Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and George Clooney still get starring roles in blockbuster films and even have young women half their age as a love interest, but you don't see a lot of actresses their age getting big roles? 

That's why many women end up having plastic surgery and non surgical treatments to try and look young. They end up losing their identity and are allowing the media to dictate their self worth and value. The different ideas of how to positively campaign to promote women growing old gracefully and how they shouldn't be judged because of their age or because they've lost their youthful looks was interesting. I really hope some of the ideas are implemented.