Abstract 1- Women and the Media

The article Women And The Media, addresses the on-going struggle with the media to break out of the stereotypical gender roles assigned to women at home, in workplace and society in Poland. In all aspects of Polish media, such as commercials, soap operas, news programs, etc, women are typically shown in traditional or socially accepted roles happily performing duties that are considered gender appropriate. There is also a lack of coverage of women’s issues, such as gender discrimination in the press. Images of women in the media reinforce the old cultural stereotypes that we have been taught at a young age, and continue to hinder the progress for women’s rights.

The authors provide some insight of possible solutions to this inequality in the media. They recommend increasing women’s participation on all levels of decision making in the media, revising existing laws to encourage gender equality, and educating everyone in the media business about gender bias.

I feel that this is a well-defended article about the portrayal of women in the media. The article included many different quotes from various books and experts, and included many different aspects of media to defend its position. One of the major shortcomings of the article is that it does not talk about how the images of women in the media are affecting the lifestyles and behaviors of women in the Polish society, as inferred in the beginning of the article. This article reinforces my belief that the media’s portrayal of women is a problem here in the U.S. as well, and not just in Poland.



Olczyk, Eliza, and Anna Twardowska. “Women and the Media.” Polish women in the 90’s-report of Women’s Rights Center. Women’s Rights Center. N.d. Web. 5 March 2010.
http://www.cpk.org.pl/images/artykuly/attach_166.pdf