I recently heard a very empowering interview with Lauren Conrad. I know what you’re thinking, “‘Laguna Beach’ stars can make clever comments?” Yes. Yes they can. If you haven’t been keeping up with with Conrad’s career, you probably don’t know that she is a very successful author, designer, blogger, a positive role model and a favorable public figure.  It therefore came as no surprise to me that when asked what her favorite position is on the on Sway Calloway’s radio show, Conrad smiled and replied “CEO.”

If only more women were brave enough to speak out in favor of female leadership and reject the media’s traditional portrayal of women. In short, I doubt many male celebrities would be asked that question on a live show. Why? Because American media doesn’t seem to care what position a male favors, what he wears during a public appearance, or how his mood may affect public perception. Our media tends to make females especially vulnerable to these factors, so when young Americans are consuming roughly 11 hours of media per day, the message can be very damaging.

It is not just cable television shows and various films which may sexualize women or depict them as weak, or even too powerful (that really makes me laugh), but the news media can have the exact same effect. In a recent Fox Business segment, there was a panel gathered to discuss a study showing that an increasing number of women are now becoming primary breadwinners in American homes. Political blogger and former CNN contributor Erick Erickson remarked on national television that children do best, "in households where they have a mom at home nurturing them while dad is out bringing home the bacon." What kind of message does this send to the American public?

Michael Savage has referred to skilled diplomat and former Secretary of State, Madeline Albright as an “ugly hag.” Jay Leno hosts a segment guessing whether female news anchors are reporters or Hooters waitresses. Perhaps most disturbingly, Sarah Palin was asked by another woman, Greta Van Susteren whether she had breast implants on national television. It will take time to change the conversation and attitudes of many American men regarding women in power, but this change must come from within. If women do not respect one another enough to ask hard hitting questions and make fair judgements, the media’s message will always be a negative one. Perhaps the most frustrating example of this is the attack on female politicos on SNL. 

I’m not saying that male leaders and politicians haven’t taken their fair share of heat on SNL, but I find it especially difficult to watch women like Tina Fey and Amy Poler (whose fame and influence could actually shed light on meaningful issues), use their voices in an attempt to diminish the confidence of powerful women in leadership and shame their names publicly. I would find this inappropriate at any time, but these comedy powerhouses chose to do so during an election year when the public’s attention was largely focused on political issues and consequently very vulnerable to various media bias. 

Regardless of political views, it's time the message is changed. The point is not just that Sarah Palin is referred to as “ditzy,” or Hillary Clinton is referred to as a “shrew,” the point is that when we focus on the negative and dramatized personality traits and appearances of women in leadership, we are not giving enough attention to the thoughts and ideas behind these women who actually have the potential to create significant and lasting change.