The War on Women

Angella Giannacopoulos Laura Wake-Ramos Preston Barrett

CAS 202 Introduction to Communication Theory

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What is the War on Women?

o A campaign to try and publically humiliate, control, and intimidate women.
o In the past, women have been insulted by sexual slurs or privately degraded. o Now, women are being publically humiliated and offended.

In the case of Sandra Fluke

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o Student Sandra Fluke, of Georgetown University o Embarrassed by Republican Rush Limbaugh in front of a congressional panel o Limbaugh calls her a slut o after her testimony for a federal health-care exemption

Womens health care

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o The War on Women has revolved around the issues of: o Womens health care o The right for women to make their own personal choice

Shocking attacks by the GOP

o In South Dakota, Republicans proposed a bill that could make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care A state legislator in Georgia wants to change the legal term for victims of rape, stalking, and domestic violence to "accuser." But victims of other less gendered crimes, like burglary, would remain "victims. Republicans want to cut nearly a billion dollars of food and other aid to low-income pregnant women, mothers, babies, and kids. In Congress, Republicans have a bill that would let hospitals allow a woman to die rather than perform an abortion necessary to save her life. Maryland Republicans ended all county money for a low-income kids' preschool program. Why? No need, they said. Women should really be home with the kids, not out working. Two-thirds of the elderly poor are women, and Republicans are taking aim at them too. A spending bill would cut funding for employment services, meals, and housing for senior citizens.
Facts Source : MoveOn.org [http://pol.moveon.org/waronwomen/]

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The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Men have reason to defend the status quo.

STANDPOINT THEORY

Majority opinion is the only opinion or is it?

An uphill battle o Examines that groups outside of the majority are marginalized
o Only the majoritys perspective is considered

o Marginalized groups dont get a voice

How does this theory help?

o Marginalized groups often have better perspective than those in power

People and society define what things mean.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

Perception is Reality
o People assign meaning based on their own experiences
o 3 Principles of Symbolic Interactionism o Principle of Meaning o Principle of Language o Principle of Thought

Self vs. Community

o Self can only be defined by comparing self to the community around you
o Community is the socializing effect to determine what acceptable behavior is

Application of Standpoint Theory & Symbolic Interactionism in the

EXPLANATION OF THE WAR ON WOMEN

Language and War on Women

Symbolic Interactionism

o Language used in political debates defines the publics perceived reality o Of the figures and the situation o New tactic in American politics
o slutwhoreprostitutebimbo o Are used openly o Not private insults anymore

Language and War on Women

Symbolic Interactionism

o Image of self is created by imagining ourselves through anothers perspective

o Offending female public figures can offend the female population o Terms specifically targeted towards females o Belittles self image of being a woman

Language and War on Women

Symbolic Interactionism

o Insults become a cycle between parties of political debate o If one party humiliates another, the other party will pick up similar tactics
o To save self reputation o Avoid losing publics support, and appearing weak

1) Men defending status quo

Standpoint Theory

o Men fight for their roles in society o Roles of men and women becoming less defined o More women in male-dominated careers o More Men taking up typical housewife roles
o This is the in-group o Includes dominant male leaders o Most supporters, most voiced opinions

1) Men defending status quo

Standpoint Theory o 1992 - Women encouraged to enter politics o 2008 - First woman to win nomination of a major party in U.S. Presidential elections o A recent change in society o Bound to have opposition

2) Women offended by the control

Standpoint Theory

o Conflicts with in-group

o Offended by policies that control female opportunities or being demeaned o This is the out-group o Difficulty getting opinions heard o Demeaned when they oppose status quo

2) Women offended by the control

Standpoint Theory o 72% of Republican political commentator Rush Limbaugh followers are men o Majority of women do not support his opinions o Yet policies created are specifically targeted for female opportunities

3) Phony political debate

Standpoint Theory
Not the first time the media has used the term war
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart The Battle for the War on Women

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o Not a real war o Simply another debate o Media has escalated the conflict into a war o Conveys a false reality to the public

3) Phony political debate

Standpoint Theory

o Debate is meant to target certain voters and win the election

o Religious (Catholic) voters approach o Republicans hope to gather the majority o Conflict- Solution approach o Republicans are against women, so vote for Democrats instead o More women have voted in Presidential election since 1964

How Standpoint Theory and Symbolic Interaction applies possible solutions

CONCLUSION

Possible Solutions
o Complicated issues due to multiple perspectives o a) Symbol of what means to be a woman o Image of a woman has become hyper sexualized than the past o b) Public figures with voices should focus on the values of the public o Not on winning the election

What is for sure

o The debate will terminate after the years presidential election o Its possible that the voters will not favor the Republicans o Targeted as to have started war However.. The greatest dangers is not what voters remember, but their impressions are. These are things that may be untrue, but can never be erased