Exploring Representation 2 Gender

Learning objective: To find examples of media texts that represent gender in the different ways discussed. 

You will research texts dealing with the issue of gender and comment on how they have been represented in the media.

Key words:  Stereotypes, cliché. Representation. Gay. Objectification. New man.

Recap:

Stereotypes are:

Simplified representations which focus on certain characteristics of the group and assumes these to be shared across all group members. Inherent within a stereotype is a judgement on this characteristic (usually negative – but not always).

Stereotypes are often assumed to be negative as:

1 The judgement making the basis of the stereotype is usually a negative one.

2 They do not allow for individual traits to exist in members of the group.

3 They are created by those outside the stereotyped group and are often seen to be an exertion of power – the stereotyped group often has no way to answer back.

4 The stereotype gives a ‘complete picture’ about the group and implies that a knowledge and understanding that can be applied to all members of the group.

Gender Stereotypes

Before any discussion of the representation of gender in the media

can begin, it is important to be clear on the difference between sex,

gender and sexuality.

• Sex refers to a person’s biological sex, whether they are male or

female.

• Gender refers to the roles or behaviours a person is socialised

into according to their sex, it is about masculinity or femininity.

• Sexuality refers to a person’s sexual preference, whether they

are heterosexual (straight), homosexual (gay) or bisexual.

British Gender Stereotypes likes and dislikes:

Men like:	Women like:
Technology (cars, gadgets and computers)	Fashion (shopping, clothes and make-up)
Casual sex with many partners	Committed relationships with one partner
Comedy and practical jokes	Celebrity gossip (which can be ‘bitchy’ or mean to women)
Drinking to get drunk (beers and spirits)	Drinking to be sociable (wines and liqueurs)
Computer games like Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty on consoles like Play Station 3 or	Computer games like Brain Training on Nintendo DS or Wii Fit
Action / adventure films	‘Chick flicks’ and romantic comedies

Appearance and behaviour stereotypes:

Men are / should be:	Women are / should be:
Masculine	Feminine
Tall	Short
Big (muscular and broad)	Small (thin and petite)
Dominant	Submissive
Strong	Weak
Aggressive	Passive
Breadwinner (goes to work)	Domestic (stays at home)
Competitive (works against others / cares about self)	Communal (works with others / cares about others)
Intelligent (thinks about things)	Intuitive (feels things / spiritual)
Rational (solves problems by thinking of solutions)	Emotional (solves problems by comforting others)
Active (does things)	Communicative (talks about

Different types of male and female stereotypes

Male Stereotypes

·       Traditional masculine man – often shown as being muscly, strong, brave, heterosexual, working in manual jobs such as building, plumbing etc.  They are often aggressive, tall, and dominant over women, works to provide for family, does no cleaning, cooking or childcare

Task 1: 

Define the traditional traits/characteristics of masculinity shown in early representations of men.

Use the films Dirty Harry (1971) and The French Connection (1971) as examples.

·      'New' Man – Often shown as being less masculine but still heterosexual, very peaceful, looks after the family, stays at home to look after family, does cleaning and cooking etc, shown as equal to women. Think David Beckham....

     This is from a site called Best Daily:

     Does your man prefer bubbles to beer? He's not alone.

      A new survey reveals the rise of the Metrosexual that shows most blokes now swap the pub for a pedicure and shun traditional 'man's man,' interests.
Face masks, manicures, bubble baths and baking list high on male pampering pursuits and now Lambrini has launched a new drink Ladbrini to meet their changing tastes.
Best list our top Metrosexual man.
David Beckham

Task 2: 
      Research and list other examples of new men, list specific examples, their appearance, behaviour and media texts that they have appeared in.

·      Gay Man – Often shown as being very feminine, weak, working in jobs such as fashion or hairdressing, bitchy, etc

      Queer Theory (Judith Butler) explores and challenges the way in which heterosexuality is constructed as normal and homosexuality as deviant.

     Task 3: Research and list gay men in the media and write a paragraph about how they challenge traditional notions of masculinity.

____________________________________________________________

Patriarchal Society

Traditionally, men have held the power in our society. 

The system where men have power and control in society is called patriarchy.

It is understood as a society run by men for men.

The result of patriarchy is that traditionally male qualities and attributes are generally seen as superior to traditionally female qualities and attributes.

Rupert Murdoch

The CEOs and heads of most big businesses are male, including those in the media. They naturally (unconsciously?) promote their own qualities as superior through the ideological makeup of the texts they produce.

Action films often link to patriarchal ideas about gender

Female stereotypes

·       Traditional feminine woman – often shown as being girly, likes pink, wears dresses, does feminine jobs such as working in fashion, hairdressing or stays at home to look after the children, needs a man to cope, weak, scared of things, needs rescuing, pure and innocent.

Two of the most common traditional roles women were represented in under patriarchy were the happy housewife and the sex object/ glamorous ideal.

     Task 4: Research and list traditional feminine 'types' of women in today's media list specific examples, their appearance, behaviour and media texts that they have appeared in.

·      Sexy woman – very flirty, dresses in a revealing way, more powerful than traditional women, uses      ..men to get what she wants, no loyalty to other women, bitchy.

Task 5: Research and list of 'flirty' women in today's media list specific examples, their appearance, behaviour and media texts that they have appeared in. Music industry is a good place to start.

·      Lesbian Woman – Often shown as dressing in a masculine fashion, doing masculine roles, hating men, looking masculine.

Task 6: Research and list lesbian women in today's media given specific examples, their appearance, behaviour and media texts that they have appeared in.

From the 1960s onwards, feminism challenged patriarchy. Feminism sought to gain equality for women and argued that changing representations in the media was vital to do so.

Feminism resulted in anti-sexism legislation and increased respect and opportunities for women. Suddenly gender roles were less defined in real life and this was reflected in media representations.