November 30, 2001

by Lisa Bennett, Communications Director

The media--including TV, movies, radio, magazines, newspapers and the web--have a tremendous impact on U.S. culture, including people's attitudes about and toward women and girls. Here's NOW's take on the good, the bad and the ugly in in this week's media.

The Good
The West Wing (NBC 11/28/01)
This Wednesday's episode of the typically illuminating drama was a stand-out, and not just because they mentioned NOW. The discussion of feminist efforts to keep coercion from being a requirement for the prosecution of sex traffickers would have been enough to rate our merit. But the storyline with the great C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney), White House Press Secretary, taking on the administration's decision to sell arms to a country that condones widespread abuse of women was both moving and timely. How unusual in television to see two powerful women (Cregg and the National Security Advisor, played by Anna Deavere Smith) debating such a crucial issue. And then to see a third woman, a feminist leader no less, explain so succinctly some of the conditions that lead to prostitution and the effects on women and their families -- kudos all around for the creation and airing of this show. We can even forgive the only-in-Hollywood posh offices of the women's organization. And a second thanks goes out to ABC's 20/20 which aired a segment, directly after The West Wing, on anthrax threats at abortion clinics.

The Bad
NBC deal with Amazon.com (as reported by TV Guide and internetnews.com)
Proving no network is perfect, NBC just partnered with Amazon.com to promote books and other products featured on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC news programs. Here's how it works: Commercials airing immediately after products are featured on shows like Today or Dateline NBC will direct viewers to a special section of Amazon.com where, if the items are purchased, NBC will receive 10 percent of each sale. Executives at both companies insist that this will not affect editorial decisions, but media activists know better. Clearly, increased profits can only motivate NBC to include more and more product placements and less serious content. Media moguls and advertisers are working day and night, not to inform or entertain viewers, but to get their hands on more and more of our money.

The Ugly
The Mind of the Married Man (HBO)
The Mind of the Married Man just completed its first season and I tuned in to the last four or five episodes to see if it was as bad as I suspected. It was worse. It's sort of a male Sex and the City, except that most of the men are married, making their sexual escapes truly pathetic. One character cheats on his wife constantly and without remorse. The one happily married man is heckled by his friends for being such a wimp. And the lead character, Micky — what can I say about him? As is the fashion in TV and movies, Micky is unappealing, both physically and personality-wise, but he is married to a smart, beautiful blonde. He spends much of the show lusting after his young assistant and going for massages from a stereotyped Asian masseuse who is often topless and eager to offer sex. Meanwhile, his wife is at home with their child wondering when Micky will come home and worried that she might be pregnant again by her selfish, immature husband. Oh yeah, and it's supposed to be funny. HBO can and should do better than this celebration of sexism and deceit.

A comment from a reader about the overall media trend of workplace relationships relates well to the scenes of Micky and Missy, his assistant:

"I believe the media needs pressure to stop this promotion of a modernization of the 'sexualize the secretary, straight out of the 1950's, office affair.' That's all that is going on here, a woman is hired and viewed as a sexual object instead of being perceived as an equal among her colleagues."
Roberta Eklund, San Francisco, Calif.

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