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American Dream: Women and LGBT
History
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American Dream: Women and LGBT
History
Introduction
American ideals center around the
American Dream as its core ideology: freedom, equality, prosperity, and success
through hard work. However, for marginalized groups - women and LGBT community
members in particular - its attainment remains an elusive goal due to various
obstacles standing in their way; this essay will delve into these hurdles,
exploring how women and LGBT community members have utilized various forms of
media as resistance strategies against such barriers and any successes
associated with these efforts.
Obstacles
to the American Dream
Women and LGBT individuals have,
historically, faced many hurdles in their pursuit of the American Dream.
Discrimination, bias, harassment, legal impediments, and social exclusion are
formidable impediments in their search. Women have long faced systemic sexism,
as evidenced by a wide gender pay gap and underrepresentation in positions of
power and influence. LGBT communities have faced discrimination, hate crimes,
and legal challenges which erode their civil liberties - obstacles that stem
from deep-seated societal norms and biases which have persisted through time,
thus making achieving their dreams a daunting challenge for these communities.
Women and the LGBT community have
shown remarkable resilience and creativity when using various forms of media
for advocacy, resistance, and change. From film and TV to print media and art
pieces - they have used media as tools against societal norms, raising the consciousness
of the rights they wish for while advocating for their aspirations and rights.
For example, through Wonder Woman as a Symbol of Female Empowerment, Media has
long been used as a powerful weapon against social norms. One striking example
is Wonder Woman, explored in Jill Lepore's "The Last Amazon: Wonder Woman
Returns." Created by psychologist William Moulton Marston who held that
women were naturally more honest and reliable than men, Wonder Woman was an
inspirational figure for many women who saw her depiction as a strong yet
independent female character as an alternative narrative of what women could
accomplish in society.
Secondly, Craig M. Loftin's
"ONE Magazine and Its Readers" examined by Craig Loftin, was an
important source of hope for the LGBT community during rampant homophobia. The
magazine offered an outlet where LGBT individuals could unite, share their stories,
connect, and push back against societal prejudice. Although frequently targeted
with legal challenges from conservative audiences, ONE Magazine ultimately
helped catalyze the Gay Rights Movement while providing visibility and voice
for an often marginalized and oppressed minority community in mainstream media.
Additionally, Keith Haring: Art as Activism, Visual arts have long been used as a powerful form of media for activism and advocacy. Keith Haring's vibrant, graffiti-style artwork frequently highlighted issues about discrimination and stigmatization of the LGBT community - using visual media as an activist tool to raise awareness. Haring's art was covered extensively in "Art Merchandise and Mass Media as Activist Strategies," offering powerful commentary on society-wide issues faced by the LGBT community, demonstrating the value of visual art as an activist tool. The “Declaration of Sentiments”: Written Word as Advocacy One document that serves as evidence of this power of words as...
