The Muted Group theory was created by Cheris Kramarae and defined as people belonging to low-power groups who must change their language when communicating publicly, thus, their ideas are often overlooked”. In this theory, women are the muted group because language is a man-made structure. As being part of the muted group women engage in sexual harassment which means unwanted imposition of sexual requirements in the context of a relationship of unequal power. In most cases it men harassing women because of the power levels are different.

Cheris Kramarae’s Muted Group Theory is defined as “people belonging to low-power groups who must change their language when communicating publicly, thus, their ideas are often overlooked.” According to Kramarae, women’s words are discounted in society, women are the muted group in society, and language is literally man-made. As a result, women experience the Muted Group Theory and then sexual harassment, which is an unwanted imposition of sexual requirements in the context of a relationship of unequal power. This is because people with the power are intimidating to the people with less power, in this case men vs women. For example, bosses in the workplace are usually sexually harassing their employees, solely because women are regularly ignored and the man is in power.

According to Cheris Kramarae, language is a man-made construction, thus “women’s words are discounted in our society; women’s thoughts are devalued.” So, women are the muted group in this muted group theory. Muted group is defined as “people belonging to low power groups who must change their language when communicating publicly, thus, their ideas are often overlooked.” Kramarae lists three women’s stories about how they have to change their style of communication so they are heard and respected among the other men. Kramarae states that women with less self-confidence than these three women have a tough time working through the system organized by men. This relates to the events in The Devil Wears Prada. Andy lands the job that every girl in New York wants to have. However, she does not fit in at the workplace at all because of the way she looks and the fact that she doesn’t understand fashion. Along with everyone else she works with, Andy’s boss, Miranda, treats her poorly and makes fun of her terrible outfit choices. Miranda also makes Andy do almost impossible jobs, for example, assigning her the task to fly Miranda home in a huge thunderstorm. Although Miranda is a woman, Andy is still part of the muted group because she doesn’t speak up and say anything to defend herself.

http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1220608025/

In Cheris Kramarae’s muted group theory a muted group is defined as, “people belonging to low-power groups groups who must change their language when communicating publicly, thus, their ideas are often overlooked.” In this theory the low-power groups he is referring to is women. Women are always seen as being lower than men in various aspects of life.

Sexual harassment is “an unwanted imposition of sexual requirements in the context of a relationship of unequal power.” In most cases women are the ones being accused of this act happening to them. Normally a person who holds a position of high power are either sexually embarrassing, humiliating, or traumatizing a person who holds a lower position.

This reminds me of a scene from the TV series, One Tree Hill, when Peyton Sawyer works for a high end record label. The owner of the label is a man who doesn’t treat Peyton in a very nice way. He is always putting her down and making her do the dirty work. Peytons biggest aspiration is to be an owner of a record label and wishes she could get into the huge meeting thats about to take place which could make it all come true. She is told that the only way she is allowed to set foot into the meeting is to “drop a couple buttons on her shirt.” She is appalled by this statement and feels sexually harassed by her male boss. If Peyton had been a male, this definitely would not have happened.