User:Klasorsa/Media and gender

TOPIC 1: Harassment in Media Industries: Address the various forms of harassment prevalent in media industries, including exploitation, power dynamics, and childhood actors.

Harassment within the media industry is something that has been taking place since the beginning of its time. We see this harassment take place in ways such as verbal or physical abuse. The harassment creates toxic work environments that ultimately impact the well-being of its victims. Harassment can be seen in all outlets of the media industry. From newsrooms to film sets, journalists, actors, directors, and other professionals often face harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power.

One of the main ways we see harassment in the media industry is through the imbalance of power dynamics. Power dynamics come into play within companies when there are individuals in higher positions, holding greater responsibility and influence over others. Power imbalance becomes harmful when the higher up individual imposes unfavorable conditions on a weaker party. Most of the time this is seen when a man holds more power over his female employees. This can manifest in many different ways, including sexual harassment and/or sexual assault.

In recent years, many women in the media industry have spoken out about the harassment that they have faced in the industry. These women are repeatedly victims of sexism, exploitation, and abuse. Famous women such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Meghan Markle, Taylor Swift and many others have spoke out about how they have been victims in this toxic environment. It is also important to recognize the intersectionality of gender, understanding that women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups face unique challenges and forms of discrimination. The nature of gender-based harassment in the industry reflects broader societal power dynamics, where women are often marginalized and their voices silenced.

There have been many men in power, from a range of industries like film, music, sports, fashion, etc. that have been accused of predatory, abusive behavior. The #MeToo movement played a big role in bringing awareness to these issues in the media industry and even played a significant role in taking some of these abusers down.

TOPIC 2: Feminist Response and the #MeToo Movement: Expand on the feminist response section, particularly focusing on the significant impact of the #MeToo movement in bringing attention to issues of sexual harassment and assault in media.

The #Metoo movement gained traction in 2017 on all social media platforms as a way for people to share their stories of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape. The phrase "Me too" was started by activist Tarana Burke in 2006. Alyssa Milano brought the phrase back in 2017 because she wanted to show society the extent of the issues with sexual harassment. On October 15, 2017 she tweeted “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” As a result of this, the #MeToo campaign soon spread across 85 countries with 1.7 million tweets. This movement displayed the thousands of people that have been victims of some form of sexual harassment. "Me too" gives victims the space to share their experiences and show them that they are not alone. The media has played a crucial role in amplifying the message by providing a platform for survivors to share their stories, have open conversations and raise awareness all over the world.

The MeToo movement is responsible for some key milestones in recent years. It has empowered people to break their silence on traumatic events, it has helped reduce stigma around sexual harassment, and it has taken down many people of power. The MeToo movement has helped change the way we talk about consent and equality. Because of the MeToo movement and its traction on the media, society is able to have a more open conversation about these topics. There are now many support groups and resources for people who may have been victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and/or rape culture.

Social Media and Mental Health
In today's society, mental health issues have become directly intertwined with the use of social media. As technology continues to advance, the more access we have to different social media platforms. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X (formerly Twitter) are all forms of social media that allow for the user to share their lives and opinions while connecting with other users. While there are many studies that show advantages and disadvantages to social media, the statistics that link mental health issues to social media are vast.

According to "GWI 2021; We Are Social 2021", In 2021, 4.3 billion people—more than half of the world population—had a social media account, and the average user spent around two and a half hours per day on social media platforms. The rise in mental health issues is heavily linked to the increase in social media usage since the early/mid-2000s. The World Health Organization reports that in 2019, 970 million people globally were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression the most common.

There are many factors of social media that negatively contribute to a person's mental health and well-being. Users often compare their appearances, and lives to others on social media. This leads to feelings of jealousy, envy, and low self-esteem. Many users also experience cyberbullying. Social media gives users the opportunity to hide behind their screens, making it easier to harass and bully. Another common issue that has been studied is the amount of time consumed on technology, especially social media. Regarding US statistics, California State University reports an estimated 10% or 33.19 million Americans are addicted to social media. This addiction can impact productivity, relationships and sleep, which ultimately impacts the person's mental health.

Studies have also revealed a notable gender disparity in the impacts of social media on mental well-being. Females tend to experience these mental health issues more than males. The majority of social media influencers in today's society are females and the majority of their following are young girls. The pressure that is put on both the influencers and the followers to fit a certain standard and persona results in feelings of anxiety and low self-esteem. Studies have shown that women are more likely to engage in social comparisons on social media, leading to feelings of inadequacy when measuring themselves against unattainable beauty standards perpetuated by images posted online. This can result in issues with body image and potentially eating disorders. Cyber bullying and harassment related to a woman's body is often seen on social media influencer posts.

The relationship between social media and mental health is a complex topic that continues to be studied.