The Relationship between Appearance Objectification of Women and Wages in Film

According to Chemaly (2014), there are 2.24 male actors for every female character in an American movie, with a negligible 17% of women appearing in crowd scenes. However, a generation of gifted and attractive people who have recently graced the global film industry have emerged as icons and representations of perfection among the human race for their performing prowess and the beauty of their outward features. Notable figures include Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Reese Witherspoon, Johnny Depp, and Jennifer Lawrence and many others who have become over time fan favorites for movies and series show enthusiasts. It is vital to note that while acting involves different roles during the creation of a film, there is a glaring contrast between the pay of the actors and actresses in the industry. Males are paid more than their female colleagues despite the fulfillment of similar jobs, done using the same set of tools, and done within parallel periods.

Furthermore, women in the film industry are intensely scrutinized on their appearances in movies more than their male colleagues (Stacey 2013). The issue of beauty, appearance and toned bodies among actors is increasingly becoming a trend in the film industry since these factors have been known to dictate the pay of some of the actors involved in the creation of movies. The audience and the movie creators of most productions expose the female actor to scrutiny and objectification for their appearances in the films. The film industry has been critiqued in recent times for its appreciation of good looks rather than the talent and capabilities of its actors and actresses. Beauty seems to attract movie watchers more than the content itself, and so, the film industry has become an environment that only values and encourages beautiful women to become actresses to work in the field. There is the need to change these perceptions and provide equal pay to women in this fast-changing society where women and men exist equally.

Thesis statement: I predict that in movies, the female actors are paid less compared to their male counterparts based on the critique and objectification on their appearances they receive.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The issue of pay has raised eyebrows in the entertainment industry because female entertainers across all sectors often receive little payment compared to the male entertainers (Adamczyk 2016). The issue has not affected the film industry alone but also been a concern in most women professions in various areas of the society. According to Adamczyk (2016), women are often undermined for their efforts and contribution to the community, compared to men who receive massive pay packages based on the efforts they put at work. The issue of gender has played a significant role in the determination of pay in most professional and fields of employment, and the film industry is no exception. Female actors are being paid less compared to the male actors despite the similarity in roles performed and the number of work hours each has to take at a film set. The women in most movies are objectified continuously due to the perceptions held by the society of women being inferior to men and the bias that most audiences have towards the appearances of the female actors. Realizing changes in this sector is required in the push to address the gender inequality issues of the world.

Objectification of Women

There are quite many perceptions of women in the society that has been existent since time memorial. As discussed by Moradi, Dirks, and Matteson (2005), women in the community are misperceived to be represented by the parts or function of their body. This misconception is based on the idea that some features of a female person give power or credibility to their role in the society more than the other parts of the body. These include the notion that the women with some particular features have more attractiveness and are accepted in the community than those that lack these features. Sexual objectification of women has become a universal norm that has affected the women in the society since they are associated with their attractiveness and body features rather than their capabilities and contributions in the broad confines of the nation. Objectification has led to the insistence of the importance of women's bodies, looks and appearances in their profession, which has led to most women being unable to get equal opportunities and pay in some instances.

Furthermore, sexual objectification of women has also given rise to the self-objectification by women to meet the opinions held out by the society. Women have faced the challenge of body shame, beauty standards, and the need to look in some particular manner for opportunities to come their way since they are objectified. Moradi, Dirks, and Matteson (2005) note that women and their bodies are viewed as objects by the society, and even themselves since most people including the women consider the feminine individual based on their appearances more than their abilities. Most women are forced to create their bodies into objects to match the expectations of the society, which held that a woman is attractive, beautiful, intelligent or smart based on their looks, beauty and body shapes. The effects of objectification have affected the women’s careers, as most are unable to receive equal opportunities as their male counterparts, gain some qualifications to specific positions, or be compensated as per the role they play based on merit, since they do not meet some objectification criteria and portrayal.



Society’s Influence in Women Objectification

Many argue that the community is to blame for the continuous case of women objectification that has affected people's perceptions towards the female species. Morrison, T., Kalin and Morrison, M. (2004) point out that the representation of women in the society in a sexual manner has been the cause of the persistent view of women as objects. Women are represented in advertisements and many commercials as either half-naked persons, who are regularly showing off their body parts and beauty to promote products and influence some cause in most areas in the world. In films, women are equally objectified to attract the viewer’s especially the male viewers by exposure and nudity of the women’s bodies, which consequently creates misleading perceptions about women. While men have also faced the problem of sexual objectification in the mainstream media, women are the most objectified persons, as they appear most in sexualized depictions of the media (Hatton and Trautner 2011). The increased perception of women in the society based on their body features is far prominent than those of men; however, it is incorrect to say that men's objectification is non-existent.

The increased cases of female subordination in the society are also attributed to the constant objectification that is taking place (Hatton and Trautner 2011). Women are often seen as inferior in contrast to their male counterparts in most areas of strength and wit comparison due to unproven perception in the society. Most men are viewed on a superior pedestal due to the opinion that male figures are stronger and intelligent than women. These wrong views have been held by most including a large number of women in the society and have resulted in the male persons being afforded more opportunities compared to the woman. Equally, gender stereotyping of women based on their appearance has led to the objectification of women due to the backward beliefs by most personas in the society. Hatton and Trautner (2011) observe that the stereotypes attached to women are responsible for most of the perception of women in the society. The conventional image attributed to women in the community is misleading and a conservative opinion that has been existent in the society. Women are regarded as symbols to please the man, and incapable of making decisions that are better than those of the man are. These views have influenced the negative insight on women and caused the objectification of women in the society.

The emphasis on Appearances

Saporta and Halpern (2002) believe that the social yardsticks have created misleading perceptions that those persons who are considered less attractive in the society are often perceived as less competent and accomplished than those considered beautiful. Those considered attractive usually find favor and opportunities in the society easy to come by compared to those said to be less attractive. These misconceptions are based on the perceptions that have been created by the human being over time with the consideration of appearances of people in the society. Physical looks have held significance in the society due to the critique on impressions, which categorizes people as either with good-looking or unpleasant looking. Saporta and Halpern (2002) also note that there is a resonant dislike of some groups of people in the society associated with their physical appearances. Those in the society considered to be different in the society are often hated on for being obese, overweight, black, thin, tall, short and so much more, based on physical appearances.

The film industry is no exception; in fact, most of the people in the society and the heads of the film industry are responsible for the stereotyping based physical appearances of the actors and actresses working in the sector. Women are affected the most since they are assessed regarding the set standards of presentations that they are required to meet to work in the industry that mostly prefers a particular physique (Fouts and Burggraf 1999). Pingitore et al. (1994) report that the association of physical appearances to willpower, character, and responsibility in the society is responsible for the emphasis that has been attached to appearances, and it has forced many to try to conform to the standards set by the society. Most female actors encounter the challenges of being required to have a specific body type, height, complexion, looks, and other physique requirements to have a chance in featuring in some of the movies being made. While the same case applies for the male actors, it is not as frequent as that of women since men can work in the film industry with their qualifications and experience in consideration, compared to the women in the same film production environment.

Gender Gap in the Film Industry

It is a known fact that fewer women feature in many blockbuster films in comparison to male colleagues in all areas of the film production. This glaring statistic is attributed to the fact that most men receive more opportunities to be part of film creation, while women are given limited roles that come with exhaustive grilling and selection. Simonton (2004) argues that women face a disadvantage in the film sector in contrast to their male counterparts regarding the opportunities, whereby men have more opportunities, which increase over time, compared to women, whose prospects are reduced as they progress in their film careers. The factors of being enhanced by the gender bias and stereotypes that affect the women in the society, which creates career barriers for most in the movie business. Also, the objectification of women has a close association with the limited opportunities that the women receive, since women are seen to be required for sexually oriented scenes in movies and the connections with their body parts to the creation of entertainment for the masses of male viewers.

Wilson (2015) has the view that women actors experience a faster decline in their careers as they age in comparison to their male counterparts whose careers peak as they continue to age. The number of roles available for women of old age is minimal compared to the male actors who receive more opportunities at a similar age of women roles decline. The decline of women’s roles is credited to the insistence on appearances and the objectification that women receive. At old age, women are unable to maintain the demands of body physique and complexions attached to their image due to aging taking place (Bazzini et al. 1997). As women in the film industry become older, often, they are replaced by the younger and more attractive looking women due to the stereotypes demanded in the production of movie scenes. To satisfy the audiences need for “sexy” women in film, the older women lose their opportunities to younger actors and men in most instances. It is essential to note that these factors rarely apply to male actors who are given more roles as they age based on merit, their experience, and relationships they build in the film industry.

Wage Gap in the Film Industry

Baum and Ford (2004) note that the issue of wage discrimination is attributed to some perceptions on appearances in the society that creates misconceptions on employees such as overweight and obese workers being seen as less productive compared to their athletic counterparts. These observations are also evident in the film industry where women actors are subjected to wage discrimination based on their appearances, age, perceptions by the society and other factors that do not resonate with their qualification and talent. Most female actors receive less pay compared to their male colleagues, despite working in similar environments with, like equipment, hours and featuring in parallel roles. The women in the film are forced to take less pay due to the disregard of the woman’s work, which is hugely undervalued in the film industry (Adamczyk 2016). Actors and actresses often receive different pay that is rarely base on merit and the sum of work that they are required to undertake, the parameters of compensation in most cases are determined by the appeal the actors have towards the audience at the specific point in their careers.

For women, when they are good looking and at the stage where they are perceived as attractive and appealing in beauty and physique, they receive the most pay, which is almost the equivalent of what male film career starters receive. Women objectification is the cause of most of the wage gaps present in the film industry since the more appealing a woman is to the viewers, the more they are likely to receive more money and more opportunities to feature in several movies. Taylor and Setters (2013) think that the stereotyping of the feminine gender roles is a result of the depiction of the female protagonist with attractive appearances compared to women who are less attractive. Women in the film industry are given positions based on their appearances, which determines their pay and objectification of the women is received as a plus for the film due to the ratings and sales that it will attain. These conditions of objectification and the insistence on appearances among the women actors have created the perception that women are required to meet specific physical requirements for achieving better pay. However, the male actors face no conditions of physical appearances and the need to be objectified to receive better wages.

DATA AND METHODS

Participants

The research focuses on the objectification and critic of the appearances that the female actors receive, which results in less pay compared to their male counterparts. Therefore, it is essential to collect data that reflects the differences in wages between female and male actors in the film industry, to provide adequate comparison statistics for the research. The collection of data for analysis is vital to decide the variable involved in determining the outcome and the factors that influence the outcome (Johnson and Turner 2003). A sample of 100 actors (50 men and 50 females) will provide perspective on the issues addressed in the research. The target group is actors who are present, actively involved in the film industry, who will provide the foundation of the data for the analysis. Additional data to be collected will be found from secondary sources present in the library and online articles and journals to assist in the collection of relevant material for the study. It is vital to note that, before commencing the data collection, it is crucial to determine the nature and amount of information to be gathered. It is essential in avoiding wastages in time and resources as well as ensuring that adequate information is collected.

Measures

It is vital to take into account the test of the data to provide quantification of the issue of the study and qualification of the collected results. Of note is that the nature of the received information will provide the determination of the method to use in analyzing the data to produce suitable results.

Dependent Variable Measure

The dependent variable in the research is the wages of the actresses in the film industry. To determine the wages the actresses receive, the sample data has 50 female actors who will provide information on their wages per film that they make. These wages will be averaged to determine the mean figure to provide the standard wage that the actresses are given while working on a single film. For example if 50 actresses make $50 million, collectively, ($50 /50 actresses) = $1 million each. The estimation provided shows that each actress receives $1 million per film they play a part in creating.

The same measure applies for the 50 male actors to provide the average figure a male actor collects per film to give the data for comparison with those of the actresses. The data for the actors provide the information required to determine the differences in the wages between the male and female actors in the film sector. Additionally, the report will also assist in proving the credibility of the hypothesis of the study.

Independent Variable Measure

The independent variable in this experiment is the objectification on the appearance of the women that affects the actresses in the film industry. To determine the influence of the objectification on arrival, on the wages of actresses, the sample data of 50 women will be analyzed. The 50 women will provide insights on their salaries and their popularity in the film industry. Using the popularity index based on the scale of 1-5; (1 – Very popular, 2 –Averagely Popular, 3 – Moderately Popular, 4 – Less Popular, 5 – Not popular), the determination of the popularity will be determined. Since the reputation is based on the objectification of women in the film sector, the correlation between prevalence and objectification will be parallel to each other. This means that if an actress is very popular, they will have a high rate of objectification among the film audiences, and if not popular, they will receive less objectification on their appearances. Therefore, the determination of the relationship between objectification and the wages of the actresses will be possible to realize.





Control Variables

The number of actors (50 men and 50 women), is used as the control variable in the research to provide a constant figure to determine the measures required for the experiment. While the focus on female actors takes precedence in the paper, the use of a fixed number of 50 women enables the scope of the research to focus on the issues that affect these women that provide importance to the research being done. A constant figure also offers consistent results since the experiment is controlled and helps in the determination of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables of the research (Germann et al. 1996). Also, the use of the film sector acts as a control variable of the experiment in determining the relationship between appearance objectification and the wages of actresses found within the acting environment. Lastly, the need to have a control variable will ensure that the results obtained during the research are valid and present the relationship between independent and dependent variables being tested.

Analytic Plan

Kantardzic (2011) points out that the analysis of the data is done to inspect, clean, transform and model the collected data to the purpose of the research to provide useful information to assist in decision-making. The data that is obtained from the variables of the experiment will be tabulated in tables, which will be categorized in rows and columns. The dependent variables will be recorded in the cells of the rows and columns based on the correlation between the independent variables that are predetermined in the experiment. The data collected in the research will be added to a spreadsheet application software to assist in the processing of the information and creation of diagrams to aid in the determination of the results of the experiment. According to Kantardzic (2011), the processed data may contain error, duplicates or may be incomplete; thus, the need to clean the data to eliminate the mistakes and duplicates that may arise. Other activities conducted while cleaning data include but not limited to; identifying incidences of inaccuracy in the data, record matching, deduplication, assessing the overall accuracy of the data, and column segmentation (Embley et al. 2006). Equally, it is essential to present reliable results by testing for reliability through repeatability of the results. The study should yield similar results even when conducted several times without altering the conditions such as the levels of objectification if high for one actor, the wage similarity should be evident.

DISCUSSIONS

The issue of wages in the film industry has been a topic that has dominated the sector for a prolonged period, yet no viable solutions have been met. Fast forward to the 21st century, and the issue of wage injustice still affects the modern woman despite the efforts in the society to bridge the gender gap that is prevalent in the critical areas of the community. Actresses have been affected by the existing wage gap in the film industry that has male actors being paid more than the female actors despite featuring in parallel roles fulfilled in the same period, using similar toolsets and working within similar environments (Adamczyk 2016). It is important to note that most of the women in the film sector are performing related tasks if not more than male actors; however, the discrepancies on their salaries is evident with the male actors pocketing more than the female actors. This contrast is attributed to the issues of stereotyping and objectification that women face while working in the movie production scene.

According to Harper and Tiggemann (2008) sexual objectification are directly related to the levels of internalization by the society of the standards of beauty, body shame, eating disorders and body surveillance. As much as it cuts across all gender, the women are affected the most since they are susceptible to unequal treatment regarding opportunities in the professional world. Landing a job for a woman is based on the judgments of beauty and attractiveness instead of considerations for experience, capabilities, and expertise in performing the task. Actresses are profiled in the society based on their appearances, with those considered attractive and good-looking often preferred for lead characters and protagonist roles in movie making (Taylor and Setters 2011). The association of beauty and physique for these women actors also dictates their influence in the film industry. The attractive actresses are given more opportunities compared to their less attractive colleagues and given more pay than the average looking associates. Harper and Tiggermann 2008) note that the categorization of actresses based on the physical appearances that they have often subjected the female actors to objectification by the society.

Objectification is the perception drawn towards a person’s body, physique, parts or appearance to their personality by the society and reduced to representing their capabilities and wit (Moradi, Dirks and Matteson 2005). Not only is this perception old-fashioned but also an offensive analogy of any human beings since every being is equally capable in their right. Sexual objectification is a common practice in the film sector since most of the women actors are portrayed as "sex symbols" due to their attractive bodies and finely toned physiques that are an attraction to most audiences. The more an actress is perceived as being sexy, the more they are popular in film production and so does their wage package become plentiful. This objectification provides the actresses with more opportunities compared to their lesser objectified colleagues. Additionally, the differences in wages among the actresses is based on the objectification of their characters, with those seen to be sexier receiving bumper pay packages in comparison to the less hot feminine actors (Lincoln and Allen 2004).

Another issue that arises is the duration of the careers of female actors in the movie business that affects their ability to make the most income while in the film industry. Bielby, D. and Bielby W. (1996) note that the women in the film industry have short careers due to the objectification of their appearances that as one gets older, they lose some of their beauty and body physiques. These developments in a woman's body are because of age that equally affects the male actors, yet the female actors are replaced or offered diminished roles compared to their male colleagues whose careers peak as they age. While the considerations for male actors are based on experience and their talents in the industry, women are given roles based on their sexual appeal to the audiences. Women are sexually objectified into being portrayed as sex symbols and worshiped by some film aficionados in most of the blockbusters that are produced in the film sector. It is also important to note that objectification has undermined the work of the women actors since most of their prominent roles feature in lesser films compared to the performances by men found in most successful movies (Sarpota and Halpern 2002). This fact also leads to the inequalities in the wages between the male and female actors.

Objectification by the society has affected the women in film with most being forced to measure up to the demands of the society by using uncouth methods and procedures to achieve the body sizes, complexion and physique required to work in the film industry. Women in the film industry have become malnourished in their efforts to restrain their eating and adoption of poor eating habits to manipulate their bodies too thin and slim physiques that is a moneymaker in the film industry (Anschultz et al. 2008). Moreover, some actresses have used surgical approaches to modify parts of their bodies to appear more attractive to earn more and feature in more roles in the movie business. In other worse circumstances, the attempts to modify their body by actresses has backfired and made them lose their jobs in filmmaking, while others have been affected by depression due to the nature of the requirements of the film industry. The media is to blame also for the portrayals of thin and lean bodies in a positive light thus encouraging the stereotype of appearances and has adversely affected the society's views on the body images of people (Harrison & Fredrickson 2003). According to Fouts and Burggraff (1999), exposure to stereotypes of thin models and characteristics such as physical attractiveness, success, and personal self-worth has been associated with women in the society.

The push to have gender equality will only be realized if some of the critical sectors such as the film industry recognize the importance of women in the society and provides them with equal and matching payments as those of men. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has championed for the need of equality in the society in all sectors of the community to provide women with equal pay and opportunities that at present are rather minimal (Deepta and Muller 2016). Objectification of women is instigating the society to perceive women as inferior because of their portrayal in film and the media that has become a part of the society. Despite the efforts to realize change and empower women, the society has labeled women in cinema as sex symbols due to the objectification of appearances that is taking place. The need to have a culture that treats women with respect is paramount in the realization of gender equality; objectification only adds to the perception of women as inferior personnel in contrast to the men in the society (Johnson and Gurung 2011). The policymakers and influencers in the film sector should take the lead in condemning the acts of objectifying women based on their appearances that have limited the roles of women in film and affected their opportunities and subsequent remuneration for their efforts. The selection of actors and actresses should be based on the passion and desire of the interested persons; careful considerations should be founded on the principle of hard work and experience in the film industry.

CONCLUSION

The issues of women objectification and stereotype of women's appearances have been the cause of lower wages paid to women compared to men in the film industry. This unfair practice is a result of the perceptions and notions attached to the women in the society, which portray them as weak and inferior to the male beings. The widely accepted objectification of women bodies has also resulted in a negative culture in the film industry that demands a particular body type, physique and appearance to provide roles and opportunities in the creation of movies for women. The categorization of women’s appearances has equally been a challenge to the feminine gender with the adoption of labels such as attractive persons and less attractive persons. These names have created differences and animosity in the society aimed at those who are perceived as different and non-conformers to the standard requirements of the society. The depiction of women in the community as objects with visual appeal due to their features has been noted to increase the pressure of some women to modify their bodies to meet the demands of the society. The need to have equal opportunities and equal pay to those of women has created the conventionality to alter appearances and have good looks, and particular body shapes a priority among most women. These changes to the body have some significant effects on the women age and affect them significantly. However, the future has some light due to the new voice of action against the injustices committed to actresses in the movie creation world. It should be realized that indeed what a man can do, a woman can equally accomplish.





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