Episode 21: Media Misogyny in the Early 2000s 

This week marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, and to celebrate here at OFFSCREEN, we will be dedicating the month of March to Women. To kick off the month, we will be having a conversation on the topic of media misogyny in the early 2000s.

The new millennium saw the creation of a multi-million dollar industry dedicated to harassing and exploiting young women in Hollywood. Paparazzi who would do anything to get the money shot led many stars to breakdowns and some, tragically to their deaths. And the celebrity industrial complex’s exploitation of young women didn’t just stop there, it cultivated a society that was more than comfortable shaming women and turning vulnerable and talented young ladies into punchlines.

Marked by reigning starlets like Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and Paris Hilton, the early 2000s tabloids and media at large had a special way of sexualizing underage girls, stigmatizing mental health issues, capitalizing on women’s insecurities, and letting men off the hook.