Labels leave little room

Those were the days. And you knew who you were then. Girls were girls, and men were men." These are the great opening lines to the classic 1970s sitcom "All In The Family," which relied on comedy to address serious stereotypes and discrimination. Using humor was not a new concept then, and it continues today. Margaret Cho, in her lecture April 15 at the IU Auditorium, said laughter can save us, helping to rise above our current situations. \nOne direct way comedy has saved society is by promoting the evolution of female roles in each generation. Every battle against oppression has opened the door to more open debate, often giving way to satire. Without this outlet the key issue of sexism might never be addressed in mainstream media. \nIn America, the liberation movement of the 1960s fought social and economic control that tied wives to husbands as property. Despite how far the movement has come, women around the world still have reason to unite. Now, women seem to be holding down their sisters by promoting ideal standards and continuing labels.\nBased on gene-tics, girls are placed into an oversimplified category. The broadness of this group is often underestimated, because no two females are exactly alike. Our society seems to be promoting cut and dry stereotypes, with each person fitting nicely in a group. Cho realized the need to resist classification. After having sex with a woman, she couldn't decide on the status of being gay or straight.\n"Then I realized I'm just slutty…where is my parade?" she said.\nIt is this underlying anger that Hollywood often lacks.\nComics, writers, actors and other artists shape the images of a typical woman. It is by environment, not biology, that masculinity and feminine traits are defined -- leading to differences in many cultures. But the examples in television and film obviously fall short of accurately portraying the average woman. Each year the "perfect" image changes, causing a continuous cycle of new faces, eliminating great talent. Older veteran actresses are shamelessly trying to keep current with the new style (breasts are out this season, but hips are back).\nThe sad reality is female consumers shell out millions of dollars, contributing to these ridiculous images. Stars are willing participants of the oppression, being objectified as products. Opinionated females are often silenced in the entertainment business. In order to have a voice, you must have a certain body, causing many great minds to be doped-up to maintain a "healthy" weight.\n"It mattered more to me to be thin than to be alive," Cho said. \nThe major heartache is having the value of a women based on her attractiveness to someone else. Differences in bodies, from full-figured to petite, should all be enjoyed and seen as beautiful. No changes are required to be happy being you. Your genetics, history and individuality are the essence of you. Andrea Dworkin wrote in the essay, "Biology Superiority," about the horrible pressure of body image:\n"On a pedestal, immobile like waxen statues, or in the gutter, failed icons degraded because our biological traits are what they are"