González 1

Pedro González Torres

RCoronado
1301.P32
14 October 2024

Women and Men Are Equals?

the same time, the most influential and famous artists in the last 10 years are women like

Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Adele, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Shakira. This is a big difference

compared to the last 50 years when men dominated the top 10 popular music globally.

Female representation has also been growing in the music industry, pop culture, and

mainstream media. This female empowerment is deceptive if we pay attention to the

messages the media continues to promote. In movies, television, video games, sports, and

music, women struggle to be portrayed without being objectified, while men don't face the

same harsh treatment. When we analyze it a little deeper, we see that the gap between the

two genders is still enormous.

Firstly, the differences between men and women in social media are driven by the

algorithm and the content that the apps show you will depend on your gender. For example,

in most cases when you start using Instagram, if you indicate in your new account that you

are a man, the algorithm will immediately recommend women who use their bodies to

attract followers. On TikTok, the types of videos the algorithm shows when you create an

account as a man will feature girls dancing in a sexualized way. The algorithm targets one

of men’s most important human instincts, the sexual instinct. On YouTube, the algorithm

isn't as obvious with sexualized women because its target audience is more focused on kids
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and young men. They recommend more about gaming, technology, and sports. With

women, the algorithm works differently. For example, on Instagram, it recommends beauty

and fitness products and highlights how women are expected to look in society. TikTok

works similarly, but it rewards videos featuring women dancing or making suggestive

movements. This contrasts with men, whose virality depends more on the actual value of

their content. It is easier to be viral if you are an attractive woman. On YouTube, the

comments on women's videos are divided into two groups: women who genuinely enjoy the

videos, and the other group, mostly men, who watch just for the beauty of the content

creator.

In addition, the music industry has one of the most visible differences among men

and women. Gender representation in some music genres has historically been unbalanced.

For example, in rock/metal history 80 % of the popular bands of this genre are dominated

by men, and their lyrics often focus on violence and sexualize female representation. One

of the songs that shows the sexualized tone of women in the lyrics is “Anything Goes” by

Guns N' Roses from their album Appetite for Destruction, released in 1987:

“Panties 'round your knees with your ass in debris, Doin' that grind with a push and

squeeze, tied up, tied down, up against the wall, be my rubber made, and we can do

it all.”

This song contains explicit sexual references and is an example of how in some of

their tracks, Guns N' Roses used lyrics that objectify women, with descriptions of sexual

acts. These types of lyrics, typical of the hard rock and glam metal scene of the 80s, were

viewed positively by the public, helping the band become one of the most famous in the

history of contemporary music. However, female representation in the music industry has

increased in the last years, becoming more powerful than in previous decades due to female
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empowerment. Even in genres like reggaeton, which has historically been dominated by

men and has often been criticized for lyrics that sexualize or degrade women. For example,

artists like Karol G, Becky G, Shakira, and Rosalia, reinterpreted the genre creating lyrics

that openly discuss their sexuality and rejecting being controlled by patriarchal expectations

or stereotypes. Shakira's song “TQG,” featuring Karol G, is part of the album Mañana Será

Bonito, released in 2023, and it talks about their empowerment after ending a relationship:

“Verte con la nueva me dolió, pero ya estoy puesta pa’ lo mío, lo que vivimos se me

olvido y eso te tiene ofendido, y hasta la vida me mejoró.”

In this song, both Shakira and Karol G assert their independence and self-respect,

rejecting the idea of returning to a toxic relationship. They convey the message that they

have moved on, are empowered, and have grown stronger after their experiences. With

these songs, women start using their lyrics to show powerfulness but sometimes the public

reception is not the expected, resulting in sexualized and violent comments.

In the same way the gap between men and women in sports it is very wide. Men

who practice sports professionally have more privileges than women. For example, in

soccer, men have greater popularity in the USA than the current women's national team,

even though the men's national team has never won a World Cup tournament like the

women's team has. In boxing, salary differences are much bigger. Saul “El Canelo” Alvarez

earns around $30 million for a fight, with an estimated career total of $400 million. On the

other hand, Claressa Shields, considered one of the best female boxers, has only earned $10

million in her career. This gap is also seen in the development opportunities for each

gender, including access to resources, equipment, coaching, and support for male athletes

compared to their female counterparts. For example, many collegiate athletic programs give

significantly more resources to men's teams than to women's teams. Another disadvantage
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women face is in sponsorship earnings. Serena Williams, the most important tennis player

in recent years, earned around $30 million in endorsements, while Roger Federer earned

$90 million, highlighting a significant gap. The difference in sports is not only in terms of

resources and money; it is also in the perception of the public. For example, physical

discrimination occurs in boxing. In the last Olympic Games, the gold medalist, Imane

Khelif, faced discrimination for her appearance, receiving comments suggesting she was

not a woman—something that does not happen in men's boxing. Even the women's football

league “X League” is only famous because women are sexualized in the games while

wearing lingerie. In comparison, it would be ridiculous for many people if NFL players

only wore lingerie.

Another example of the difference between men and women can be seen in video

game culture. The representation of men in video games has historically been shown

through the protagonists, who often reflect traditional gender roles in their stories, such as

in Zelda, Mario Bros, and Crash Bandicoot. Their main goal is usually to rescue a princess

from danger. Electronic Sports (E-Sports) still have a significant gap in gender

representation, with almost 90% of participants in the most important tournaments being

men. The dominant participation of men in these electronic sports is often justified by the

claim that there is a lack of talent among women. Even when no physical difference

justifies the superiority of men in video games, until now no woman who dominated the E-

Sports world. With the dominance of men in E-Sports, they receive sponsorship from

companies that provide financial support, equipment, or other resources in exchange for

brand visibility. Historically, female characters in video games have often been portrayed in

stereotypical ways. For example, Princess Peach is shown as a damsel in distress who

needs rescuing, while Lara Croft, who is strong and adventurous, was initially objectified
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in her early appearances. This sexualized image plays into the longstanding idea of women

held by men throughout history. A good example is the story "A&P" by John Updike,

where the protagonist has a sexualized view of the women in the story, ignoring their other

qualities. One of the most important controversies in the video game world is streaming or

content creation, as women content creators are often seen only for their beauty rather than

their talent in video games, unlike men, who are recognized for their skills. This

controversy is linked to online sexual comments and negative community behavior toward

women.

To summarize, the differences between men and women in music, sports, and video

games show a persistent gender gap that still exists today. While female artists like Taylor

Swift and Shakira are making waves on the Billboard Top 10, they often face

objectification and criticism in the media. In sports, women struggle with lower pay and

fewer opportunities compared to male athletes, as seen with Canelo Álvarez and Claressa

Shields. In video games, although women are becoming more visible, they often face

stereotypes and are judged based on looks rather than talent. Social media algorithms also

tend to promote content that objectifies women, while men are often recognized for their

skills. Despite progress in female empowerment, significant gaps remain, highlighting the

need for continued efforts to achieve true equality and respect for women across all areas.