Hi everyone,

            The central idea that I would like to convey is that it is unacceptable for women to be treated as if they are of a lower social status, and most importantly to present themselves as sexual objects.  Through the misrepresentation of genders in the music industry in particular, the contemporary society will be significantly impacted.  Music videos and media representations continue to communicate a wide range of false messages to children, all of which indicate that their values are based on their external appearance and overall desirability.  I would like to leave you with one last question to consider.  Are you satisfied with being a victim of sexual objectification, or would you like to be treated with the respect that everyone deserves?  It is up to you to make the North American culture one that you can be proud to be a part of.         

             -Mohaddisa

Hello everyone,

            I hope that my perspective has been successfully conveyed, and has enabled everyone to understand why I strongly disagree with the societal values in North America today.  My outlook has been derived from my Saudi Arabian ethics, which are extremely different from the particular values in the Western World.  I believe that my daughter’s body is sacred and should never be displayed for the approval and satisfaction of others, specifically men.  This brings me to my next issue with Dirrty, by Christina Aguilera, which has to do with the way in which she presents herself as a sexual object.  The artist and her accompanying female dancers are clothed in provocative attire, which sets a particularly negative example for the younger generations in society, as they are heavily influenced by what they witness on television.  If they are raised in a culture where sexual representation is sanctioned, they will also be inclined to view themselves as desirable objects, leading them to constantly seek for unnecessary approval.

            -Mohaddisa

Hello again,

            I would like to build upon my previous comments by continuing to analyze the apparent conventions in Dirrty, by Christina Aguilera.  Throughout the music video, Christina is repeatedly contorting her body through her various dance moves and poses.  This technique is referred to as clowning and exaggeration.  By accenting the idea of flexibility and the capabilities of the female body, it conveys a sexual message, which in turn puts her body on display and allures the male viewers.  As a result, women are commonly regarded as sexual objects that primarily exist for either the appreciation or disapproval of men.

            The dominant role that men play in society leads me to introduce the next prevalent convention, which is referred to as the voice-over of authority.  By incorporating a masculine voice in the music video, it indicates the control that men have over women and how their opinions are most valued in society today.  Near the beginning of the song, a masculine voice is featured primarily to utter the words “filthy” and “dirty,” which portray the idea that the voice of authority typically belongs to a man.  Throughout the music video, the men are deeply drawn to the female dancers, as they nod their heads in approval and evaluate from the sidelines.  This conveys the message that North American girls should constantly strive to satisfy the opposite sex, therefore meeting the female requirements that have already been outlined for them.  In the Western World, people are constantly eager to please, thus not encouraging the great importance of self-respect and dignity.

            I have always taught my daughter to value her body, and not to be influenced by the portrayal of women in music videos that exist today.  The music industry in North America is centered upon the desirability of the female body, and it is absolutely unacceptable how women are continuously depicted. 

            -Mohaddisa

Hello everyone,

My name is Mohaddisa and I am a devoted mother, currently living in Saudi Arabia.  My daughter, Alli is seventeen years old and aspires to attend university in the United States.  I am extremely skeptical of this idea, as I do not approve of the accepted lifestyles in North America, specifically regarding the portrayal of women and gender inequality.  My daughter recently presented me with Christina Aguilera’s new music video titled, Dirrty.  Subsequent to listening to the lyrics and watching the video, I was in arrant disgust.  I will outline the various problems with this video as they relate to the misrepresentation of women in society.  It provoked me to express my opinion as to why the behavior exhibited in the music video is deplorable and would never be sanctioned in Saudi Arabia.

Gender is a trait that individuals are born with and cannot control; however, people are continuously disrespected and looked down upon as a result of their masculinity or femininity.  Women are constantly degraded in society today and treated as if they are of a lower social standing than men.  The representation of women in the music video, by Christina Aguilera is demeaning and undignified.  I would like to discuss the convention of dismemberment, which may also be recognized as objectification.  This is when the primary focus is directed to a particular part of the body, which separates it from the rest of the female figure and sparks interest.  Dismemberment is prominent at the beginning of the music video, when Christina Aguilera makes her initial appearance.  The first body part that the audience is exposed to is her buttocks, which represents how women are constantly viewed as if they are valueless sex symbols.  Furthermore, the strong emphasis on body image portrays the message that females are in need of male approval in society.  This idea is detrimental to the values that we live by, as many young individuals will regard the message as true. 

-Mohaddisa