Smart or Pretty. Choose one.

It’s funny, I loved the movie What Women Want, until I read Douglas’s chapter. And while I am not completely offended by the movie the way Douglas is, and I will still continue to watch it, I understand her point. I originally thought it was a hilarious movie where Mel Gibson goes through a transformation and becomes a better man and father. I never realized how sexist and stereotypical the thoughts of the women are in this movie. It is so interesting reading the examples Douglas describes because I have never thought about any of these shows and movies this way. I have seen and love almost all of the movies she discusses and remember the specific scenes she is describing as well. I have never thought of any of them the way she describes and honestly feel odd about that. Does that mean I am not paying close enough attention and that I am purely distracted by the entertainment factor of the story? I think so.

We discussed in class yesterday the disparity between being intelligent and attractive. It is hard for our society to accept a woman as smart and pretty. Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin is the example we used where Hilary Clinton is seen as smart first, and therefore unattractive, while Sarah Palin is seen as attractive first, and is therefore dumb. Do you think there is any chance that Sarah Palin may have had a more successful campaign if she was not as attractive? Do you think she would have been portrayed more intelligently if she weren’t as pretty? I think it is extremely possible. One of the examples used by Douglas is from the movie, Miss Congeniality. As one of my all time favorite movies, I actually remember having a problem with the beginning.  When they consider Sandra Bullock’s character, agent Gracie Hart, unattractive, I remember thinking “but she’s so pretty!” It bothered me to no end that just because she presented herself in a more masculine way and was the best agent in her division, she was seen as unattractive. I hated how they treated her and didn’t take her seriously. I am now realizing that this happens in so many shows and movies and I just noticed it in Miss Congeniality because I felt like I could relate more to Sandra Bullock’s situation and character. I am now beginning to look back and realize all of the stereotypes I have missed.