I have been interested in gender and media for a long time. I recently read a book called “Body Wars” for an eating disorders class. This book contained many facts about media that I found disturbing which I would like to share. 1. Some people are bombarded with as much as 1500 ads a day. 2. 97% of ads on primetime network television containing women showed them in a powerless situation or as sex objects. 3. In 50 years Life magazine had published on their cover only 19 women who weren’t actresses or models. The implications of these aspects of our media may be huge. With children watching more television than ever, what kind of impression will they have of women’s roles in society after being bombarded with these commercials? Further, how will young girls feel after seeing on television that the only way to be famous or gain recognition is through being beautiful and a sex object? I feel that American media is very unfair to women. Young girls and women alike could easily develop a poor self-image after comparing themselves to the subservient, airbrushed, silicone women shown on the media. This is a very important problem we are facing in our media. If our society is going to become gender-equal this should be the first aspect of our culture that is addressed.
Gender and media is certainly a topic that has caught my eye a long time ago. When I was younger, my parents protected me somewhat from the media and its often degrading treatment of women in general. Pretty girls or women have been the focus of many magazine covers, tv shows, advertising and of course, film. If you look back forty years ago, a woman's feminity was shown without having to go over the edge as we see now, with more women exposing more and more of their bodies in order to sell something. What is the message we are sending our young children, both male and female? If you take more off and express sexual overtones you will sell, sell, sell. I like to use Brittany Spears as an example of someone who the media has definitely converted from family entertainment to whatever goes is okay. She was originally a mousketeer, and a symbol for many young girls as she arose into pop stardom. As she began to accept the "anything goes" persona, young girls around our country begun to imitate her in dress and lyrics. It is sad that one must sell our their morals and values in ordered to be valued in any type of media form.
Well said Stephen. I would enjoy reading the book, "Body Wars." I have witness this as a young girl, wanting myself as my classmates to look like all the thin models one sees via the media. Your statistics are interesting. I myself participated in one of the first anti tobacco ads to try and combat cigarette smoking among young people. As you said, sex objects are common in sales and when you saw the sexy female smoking a "benson hedges" cigarette, it made you want to be just like that girl. I agree that many low self esteems are developed because of what the media produces.
--Re: ashley-- I like your using Brittany Spears as an example. The media turns you into what sells. Sex is what sells. When she first came out the media basically turned Brittany Spears from an innocent young 15 year old girl to a 16 year old sex symbol. I think it is disgusting that teen and tween girls look up to her as a role model. The fact that a 16 year old was a sex symbol is equally disgusting. No wonder why so many young girls have eating and body dysmorphic disorders.
--in response to Stephen-- I agree, media is one of the most influential aspects of life on society; therefore it should be one of the first to be addressed if a change in the roles of gender occurs. But I think that will never happen. The big ones of media have long instilled values on how women should be to be able to just change such a thing. Also, I don't think that there are too many out there that care enough about this problem, because in their eyes this isn't directly affecting any of them. More awareness should be raised to be able to fight this social problem.
It is human nature to be influenced by what one is surrounded by. That is why media has the power that it has. Because we are all weak-minded and ready to accept what ever is shown and instilled in us. A perfect example of this can be seen in the way gender roles are affected by the mass media. The way men act towards women and women towards men is greatly affected by what we see on TV, movies, and other types of mass media. Subconsciously we study the interactions between men and women and accordingly, we model them. Gender and media is a topic that has very much to do with sociology, and all that's behind this topic is the weak ideas that we have on what women and men should be in our society.
My issue with gender in media is just that men usually still have the dominant roles. Men hold the positions of power and there is still the common denominator in movies where the man rescues the damsel in distress. What I have noticed is that ocasionally the roles are reversed. I love movies like Ever After where the prince tries to fight for his lady but she saves him by carrying him away from the battle. Or in my favorite show, the OC, the character who plays Summer is constantly getting he boyfriend out of problems, and she is portrayed as the "strong one" in the relationship. If more of these incidences leak their way into media, it would be a good thing.
--in response to stephen--- I believe you are right about the body image issue. I know I grew up with a distorted view of how a woman should look, and I know that pretty much all of my friends have body image issues about being thinner or looking more like the ideal "Jessica Simpson" look. It all depends on the person as to how far you go to look like what you see in your mind as perfect. I think if these ads and portrayals of women being in the state they are, there will be an even greater rise in eating disorders and just depression linked to body image in the women of the future.
Ok, I don't want to just repeat what everyone has said and simply comment on the sexist domination of today's culture through media, but it is there and we should all acknowledge its existence. Further though, I think it is important to realize that individuals often jump the gun and overwrap themselves in a false perception of sexism. Like with racism and other group descrimination, it is common to misperceive a person's actions as racist, semitist, and even sexist. Some people seem to think that, by starring a skirted woman as a secretary in a sitcom, the producers are obviously sexist. Sometimes you simply must realize that most secretaries are women and many women wear skirts. Plain and simple. I only feel that this is another aspect that should be talked about. I know media is flooded with sexism, but this shouldn't undermine those non-sexist personages who are wrongfully accused. In closing though, it is quite obvious that media controls societal perceptions. I only hope that things can change and more positive examples and rolemodels are displayed to help teach a genuine reality to children and adults alike.
---In response to Julia--- It really does sadden me that these young girls have to be bombarded with images rejecting who they are and diminishing their own self worth. To think, so many girls feel as though self-mutilation through plastic surgery will help them become better individuals and earn them a rightful place in the world. It's frightening. Also, it is even more frightening that so many networks think it is OK to promote these ideas such as with "Dr. 90210" or "I Want a Famous Face." I'm sick and tired of seeing young girl's innards as they strive to look like Britney Spears.
Everyone seems to be taking the negative, so I might as well come up with the opposing view. There may be an underlying tone of sexism in the media, but it has also moved toward showing more and more strong females, especially on TV. It could be argued that it started in the 1950s with Lucy Ricardo, though still a bit too subservient to Ricky for today’s standards, she was the first strong female character. That show wasn’t successful because people wanted to see Ricky and Fred, everyone tuned in to see what Lucy and Ethel would do next. That was a giant leap from Donna Reed and Alice Kramden. Today, there are strong female leads on just about every television show. Friends wouldn’t have been half as successful if it weren’t for Rachel, Monica and Phoebe. Sydney Bristow of Alias has actually caused a spike in female interest in the CIA. There’s a female Chief of Staff on The West Wing and a woman President on Commander-in-Chief. On Lost, Kate is as daring and brave as the boys. So yes, there is a lot of sexism in media, but there are also a number of positive role models to be found as well.
In response to Chris Bell: I agree with you that people tend to throw around the “sexist card.” Unfortunately, some of it is human nature. People are definitely starting to get overly-sensitive about sexism. It is legitimate in some cases, but by misusing the term, people are undermining truly sexist actions.
Gender and media is such a broad topic and I had no idea what to write about. I guess the way that men and women are portrayed in media are very different. Women are usually portrayed as sexual objects and sex appeal is a main tool used to grab an audience, whether it's a commercial on TV, an ad in a magazine, or a show (like Desperate Housewives). Men are made out to be stong, with no feelings, and "macho." The way that genders are displayed in media influence society's idea of gender roles. Because a man won't cry on TV, it's unacceptable for a man to cry in real life.
I don't agree that men are always dominant in media. More and more, women are taking charge. Look at the immense amount of power Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart have on media and their shows.
I think I am taking a more post-modern stance on the issues of gender in media. I really have not felt any discrimination as a woman. I always thought that if I got beaten out by a male in any way, it was because he was better than I was at the given task, not because he was a guy. I'm not offended by the Lara Croft game. I think that the game is geared towards men, and I'm ok with that.I don't care to play a game like Lara Croft, but if guys do, more power to 'em. I feel, most of the time, that if someone (mainly of the female persuasion) is offended, they should just turn their heads. Sexual harrassment, of course is the exception, but I think there are ways to handle that as well. I'm a no-nonsense type of person when it comes to that. I think women can choose to ignore lots of issues, and I think women should be empowered enough to separate the good from the bad in their lives. I also take a traditonalist point of view in certain ways: the business woman on TV sort of bothers me. I think that women should still dress nicely, wear make-up, and do the girly things. I almost think the media is starting to make gender too equal, because I think femininity is a good thing, and something women should be proud of and not have to hide. All in all, I think that media is on it's way to balancing out, and I like that. I really don't know how to put my thoughts on this topic into coherent sentences, but I hope people are understanding what I mean by my statements above and what I said in discussion. If not....email me. I don't know!
Gender stereotypes are very obvious in today’s media, from spokespeople, to advertising, and even in cartoons. The big muscley man and the curvaceous woman are seen on tv, billboards, magazines, and video games. Men are usually portrayed to be the heroes while women merely serve as eye candy. These stereotypes of gender in media creates a perceived ideal image of what men and women should look and act like. I think a great example of this subject is the movie, Anchorman. Traditionally news anchors were charming, handsome men that the community could count on to bring them their news. When the news station hired a woman to be the co-anchor of Ron Burgundy, he was offended. The men in the office didn’t think women belonged in their station, especially as an anchor. But, everyone knows that women could just as effectively fill that position. It was just the perceived image of the handsome male anchor that made hiring a woman anchor seem so insulting and emasculating. I think that media creates a false image of men and women that translates into our everyday lives.
I response to Priti-- While I agree that there are definitely certain types of discrimination in media, news media is not one of them. In actuality it is one of the least discriminated fields; the amount of men and women news anchors/reporters are about equal. Maybe because I am in a field that does not have gender issues I feel like it is not as apparent, but I do remain firm that some issues of discrimination towards women are because people choose to think that way. I think some gender discrimination in media you have to look for , unless it is blatant like the movie "Anchorman".
So far by reading the posts and from our in class discussion, I really do agree greatly with the topics of women and the role of women as portrayed in media. I would like to discuss not only gender and media, but gender, media, and sexuality. Within the last two decades, the stereotypes and gender roles have dissipated to become almost nonexistent. I believe this has a lot to do with the progression of society to the extent that we have learned to embrace those different from ourselves. We now see more homosexual roles on television that seemed to be nonexistent a few years ago. Will and Grace and other mainstream shows on Showtime and other channels have become appealing to a wide variety of audiences. Like the advancement of female roles in media, gender and roles including sexuality are becoming more diverse as time goes on. I believe such progression will continue until barriers are virtually nonexistent.
Many of the points made in this discussion have focused on media's portrayal of women as sex symbols and subservient beings. There is obviously a very stereotyped portrayal of women in the media which leans to one side. Although strides have been made in the recent past to present them in a more balanced light, women's diverse lives and contributions to society tend to be widely ignored. Portrayal of women reinforces, rather than counteracts their "traditional roles" as seen by society today. Any deviation from those roles is presented as an exception to the rule. This has an effect on society's view of a "woman" or a "man." Gender is a subjective concept (as opposed to objective, i.e. male/female). Media has a huge influence on the social constructs of gender. In the same light, men are stigmatized and portrayed in an equally limiting manner. These stereotypes are fused into our lives to the extent that "who we are" is defined by "what we watch/listen to/read/see.
--------------------------------- in response to mala:
It could also be argued that "I Love Lucy" employs traditional gender stereotypes. Lucy is portrayed throughout the show as being pretty, nonchalant, and highly irrational. She is a domestic goddess. Ricky, on the other hand, is handsome, responsible, and rational. ----------------------------------
A lot of our discussion has been on women and their presence/portrayal in media. I just want to stress that men are presented with distinctive gender identities as well.
I think that gender in media has come a long way. I know that we talked about the Tomb Raider being really sexist and offensive towards women, but I honestly see it as a small step forward. Not a major leap, as the character is portrayed at an unreachable level, but at least there is a woman as a main figure role. Aside from video games, I think gender in television has come a long way. I think that a lot of different roles are being portrayed on television. Not only in fictional characters, but also in some reality shows. I feel like ore and more networks are pushing the envelope on that. I know a lot of people diagree, and I am no saying that the gender roles in media are all positive. I may just be looking at things optimistically, but I feel like there are slowly being improvements.
i found it interesting to note that not only do the three major networks have men as anchors, but on their executive boards, men have overwhelming majority. for NBC Universal, 12 of the 17 executives are male. for Disney (parent of ABC)and Viacom (parent of CBS), 4 of the 5 top executives are male. the demographics of each of the exec boards contribute to the direction each of these media giants takes in portraying gender identities.
--In response to Cesar-- Homosexuality is what I was mainly thinking of in terms of progression. Whether is be reality shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or even The Ellen Degenerous show. When she came out in her sitcom as being a lesbian, the show got canceled. However, it did help the topic of homosexuality being the prominent in TV shows today.
Cesar opened up a great part of this blog when mentioning his position on gender and media. In media, as with any open topic, there is no set line between genders, especially these days when there is not a black and white perspective on the issue. Nowadays with more awareness regarding the homosexual, transexual and transgendered parts of our society, there seems to be a lot of gray that has formed between the black and white on the issue of gender and media in general. As Cesar pointed out, there have been some great strides as society has progressively become accepting that gender does not only consist of a traditional male or female status. But one has to admit that it has not been easy to identify outside of the stereotypes for any of our denominaitons. From seeing a full-breasted woman acting sub-servient and sexy in a beer commercial, be it a male being the "alpha", or a over the top flamboyant homosexual male, or even a "butch" lesbian, it is the obvious that we are far from being in our utopian media. To say the least, everyone had a share of exposure to the media, but is it fair and equal for all? That one is for us to decide with our actions.
I agree with the fact that you see optimism in the Tomb Raider character. With such issues still being fragile to debate in our society today, gradual steps are the key to change in the future. As with any issue with society, it just takes encouragement, patience, and sometimes a little fuel to spark that fire. In video games, Tomb Raider might have done just been that spark that was needed to make the difference.
I tried to take your suggestions from the last blog on the blog and pick a broader topic that was more inline with class discussion. However, this was the response that I feared (though this is in no way an incorrect response), "Gender and media is such a broad topic and I had no idea what to write about." Do other students feel this way, or was this type of blog prompt more along the lines with what the class wants? Please let me know.
I really had no idea what to write about, I looked at the prompt earlier this week and was gonna wait til there were other comments. Gender and media.... :/
That is really interesting that there is a positive correlation between a woman's appearence and income. I've seen reports where an attractive woman and a not so attractive woman apply and interview for the same job, and it is given to the attractive woman. But I didn't know that there was actually a positive correlation with income level.
28 Comments:
I have been interested in gender and media for a long time. I recently read a book called “Body Wars” for an eating disorders class. This book contained many facts about media that I found disturbing which I would like to share.
1. Some people are bombarded with as much as 1500 ads a day.
2. 97% of ads on primetime network television containing women showed them in a powerless situation or as sex objects.
3. In 50 years Life magazine had published on their cover only 19 women who weren’t actresses or models.
The implications of these aspects of our media may be huge. With children watching more television than ever, what kind of impression will they have of women’s roles in society after being bombarded with these commercials? Further, how will young girls feel after seeing on television that the only way to be famous or gain recognition is through being beautiful and a sex object?
I feel that American media is very unfair to women. Young girls and women alike could easily develop a poor self-image after comparing themselves to the subservient, airbrushed, silicone women shown on the media. This is a very important problem we are facing in our media. If our society is going to become gender-equal this should be the first aspect of our culture that is addressed.
Gender and media is certainly a topic that has caught my eye a long time ago. When I was younger, my parents protected me somewhat from the media and its often degrading treatment of women in general. Pretty girls or women have been the focus of many magazine covers, tv shows, advertising and of course, film. If you look back forty years ago, a woman's feminity was shown without having to go over the edge as we see now, with more women exposing more and more of their bodies in order to sell something. What is the message we are sending our young children, both male and female? If you take more off and express sexual overtones you will sell, sell, sell. I like to use Brittany Spears as an example of someone who the media has definitely converted from family entertainment to whatever goes is okay. She was originally a mousketeer, and a symbol for many young girls as she arose into pop stardom. As she began to accept the "anything goes" persona, young girls around our country begun to imitate her in dress and lyrics. It is sad that one must sell our their morals and values in ordered to be valued in any type of media form.
Well said Stephen. I would enjoy reading the book, "Body Wars." I have witness this as a young girl, wanting myself as my classmates to look like all the thin models one sees via the media. Your statistics are interesting. I myself participated in one of the first anti tobacco ads to try and combat cigarette smoking among young people. As you said, sex objects are common in sales and when you saw the sexy female smoking a "benson hedges" cigarette, it made you want to be just like that girl. I agree that many low self esteems are developed because of what the media produces.
--Re: ashley--
I like your using Brittany Spears as an example. The media turns you into what sells. Sex is what sells. When she first came out the media basically turned Brittany Spears from an innocent young 15 year old girl to a 16 year old sex symbol. I think it is disgusting that teen and tween girls look up to her as a role model. The fact that a 16 year old was a sex symbol is equally disgusting. No wonder why so many young girls have eating and body dysmorphic disorders.
--in response to Stephen--
I agree, media is one of the most influential aspects of life on society; therefore it should be one of the first to be addressed if a change in the roles of gender occurs. But I think that will never happen. The big ones of media have long instilled values on how women should be to be able to just change such a thing. Also, I don't think that there are too many out there that care enough about this problem, because in their eyes this isn't directly affecting any of them. More awareness should be raised to be able to fight this social problem.
It is human nature to be influenced by what one is surrounded by. That is why media has the power that it has. Because we are all weak-minded and ready to accept what ever is shown and instilled in us. A perfect example of this can be seen in the way gender roles are affected by the mass media. The way men act towards women and women towards men is greatly affected by what we see on TV, movies, and other types of mass media. Subconsciously we study the interactions between men and women and accordingly, we model them. Gender and media is a topic that has very much to do with sociology, and all that's behind this topic is the weak ideas that we have on what women and men should be in our society.
My issue with gender in media is just that men usually still have the dominant roles. Men hold the positions of power and there is still the common denominator in movies where the man rescues the damsel in distress. What I have noticed is that ocasionally the roles are reversed. I love movies like Ever After where the prince tries to fight for his lady but she saves him by carrying him away from the battle. Or in my favorite show, the OC, the character who plays Summer is constantly getting he boyfriend out of problems, and she is portrayed as the "strong one" in the relationship. If more of these incidences leak their way into media, it would be a good thing.
--in response to stephen---
I believe you are right about the body image issue. I know I grew up with a distorted view of how a woman should look, and I know that pretty much all of my friends have body image issues about being thinner or looking more like the ideal "Jessica Simpson" look. It all depends on the person as to how far you go to look like what you see in your mind as perfect. I think if these ads and portrayals of women being in the state they are, there will be an even greater rise in eating disorders and just depression linked to body image in the women of the future.
Ok, I don't want to just repeat what everyone has said and simply comment on the sexist domination of today's culture through media, but it is there and we should all acknowledge its existence. Further though, I think it is important to realize that individuals often jump the gun and overwrap themselves in a false perception of sexism. Like with racism and other group descrimination, it is common to misperceive a person's actions as racist, semitist, and even sexist. Some people seem to think that, by starring a skirted woman as a secretary in a sitcom, the producers are obviously sexist. Sometimes you simply must realize that most secretaries are women and many women wear skirts. Plain and simple. I only feel that this is another aspect that should be talked about. I know media is flooded with sexism, but this shouldn't undermine those non-sexist personages who are wrongfully accused.
In closing though, it is quite obvious that media controls societal perceptions. I only hope that things can change and more positive examples and rolemodels are displayed to help teach a genuine reality to children and adults alike.
---In response to Julia---
It really does sadden me that these young girls have to be bombarded with images rejecting who they are and diminishing their own self worth. To think, so many girls feel as though self-mutilation through plastic surgery will help them become better individuals and earn them a rightful place in the world. It's frightening. Also, it is even more frightening that so many networks think it is OK to promote these ideas such as with "Dr. 90210" or "I Want a Famous Face." I'm sick and tired of seeing young girl's innards as they strive to look like Britney Spears.
Everyone seems to be taking the negative, so I might as well come up with the opposing view. There may be an underlying tone of sexism in the media, but it has also moved toward showing more and more strong females, especially on TV. It could be argued that it started in the 1950s with Lucy Ricardo, though still a bit too subservient to Ricky for today’s standards, she was the first strong female character. That show wasn’t successful because people wanted to see Ricky and Fred, everyone tuned in to see what Lucy and Ethel would do next. That was a giant leap from Donna Reed and Alice Kramden. Today, there are strong female leads on just about every television show. Friends wouldn’t have been half as successful if it weren’t for Rachel, Monica and Phoebe. Sydney Bristow of Alias has actually caused a spike in female interest in the CIA. There’s a female Chief of Staff on The West Wing and a woman President on Commander-in-Chief. On Lost, Kate is as daring and brave as the boys. So yes, there is a lot of sexism in media, but there are also a number of positive role models to be found as well.
In response to Chris Bell:
I agree with you that people tend to throw around the “sexist card.” Unfortunately, some of it is human nature. People are definitely starting to get overly-sensitive about sexism. It is legitimate in some cases, but by misusing the term, people are undermining truly sexist actions.
Gender and media is such a broad topic and I had no idea what to write about. I guess the way that men and women are portrayed in media are very different. Women are usually portrayed as sexual objects and sex appeal is a main tool used to grab an audience, whether it's a commercial on TV, an ad in a magazine, or a show (like Desperate Housewives). Men are made out to be stong, with no feelings, and "macho." The way that genders are displayed in media influence society's idea of gender roles. Because a man won't cry on TV, it's unacceptable for a man to cry in real life.
Re: Kate
I don't agree that men are always dominant in media. More and more, women are taking charge. Look at the immense amount of power Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart have on media and their shows.
I think I am taking a more post-modern stance on the issues of gender in media. I really have not felt any discrimination as a woman. I always thought that if I got beaten out by a male in any way, it was because he was better than I was at the given task, not because he was a guy. I'm not offended by the Lara Croft game. I think that the game is geared towards men, and I'm ok with that.I don't care to play a game like Lara Croft, but if guys do, more power to 'em.
I feel, most of the time, that if someone (mainly of the female persuasion) is offended, they should just turn their heads. Sexual harrassment, of course is the exception, but I think there are ways to handle that as well.
I'm a no-nonsense type of person when it comes to that. I think women can choose to ignore lots of issues, and I think women should be empowered enough to separate the good from the bad in their lives.
I also take a traditonalist point of view in certain ways: the business woman on TV sort of bothers me. I think that women should still dress nicely, wear make-up, and do the girly things. I almost think the media is starting to make gender too equal, because I think femininity is a good thing, and something women should be proud of and not have to hide. All in all, I think that media is on it's way to balancing out, and I like that. I really don't know how to put my thoughts on this topic into coherent sentences, but I hope people are understanding what I mean by my statements above and what I said in discussion. If not....email me. I don't know!
Gender stereotypes are very obvious in today’s media, from spokespeople, to advertising, and even in cartoons. The big muscley man and the curvaceous woman are seen on tv, billboards, magazines, and video games. Men are usually portrayed to be the heroes while women merely serve as eye candy. These stereotypes of gender in media creates a perceived ideal image of what men and women should look and act like. I think a great example of this subject is the movie, Anchorman. Traditionally news anchors were charming, handsome men that the community could count on to bring them their news. When the news station hired a woman to be the co-anchor of Ron Burgundy, he was offended. The men in the office didn’t think women belonged in their station, especially as an anchor. But, everyone knows that women could just as effectively fill that position. It was just the perceived image of the handsome male anchor that made hiring a woman anchor seem so insulting and emasculating. I think that media creates a false image of men and women that translates into our everyday lives.
I response to Priti--
While I agree that there are definitely certain types of discrimination in media, news media is not one of them. In actuality it is one of the least discriminated fields; the amount of men and women news anchors/reporters are about equal. Maybe because I am in a field that does not have gender issues I feel like it is not as apparent, but I do remain firm that some issues of discrimination towards women are because people choose to think that way. I think some gender discrimination in media you have to look for , unless it is blatant like the movie "Anchorman".
So far by reading the posts and from our in class discussion, I really do agree greatly with the topics of women and the role of women as portrayed in media. I would like to discuss not only gender and media, but gender, media, and sexuality. Within the last two decades, the stereotypes and gender roles have dissipated to become almost nonexistent. I believe this has a lot to do with the progression of society to the extent that we have learned to embrace those different from ourselves. We now see more homosexual roles on television that seemed to be nonexistent a few years ago. Will and Grace and other mainstream shows on Showtime and other channels have become appealing to a wide variety of audiences. Like the advancement of female roles in media, gender and roles including sexuality are becoming more diverse as time goes on. I believe such progression will continue until barriers are virtually nonexistent.
Many of the points made in this discussion have focused on media's portrayal of women as sex symbols and subservient beings. There is obviously a very stereotyped portrayal of women in the media which leans to one side. Although strides have been made in the recent past to present them in a more balanced light, women's diverse lives and contributions to society tend to be widely ignored. Portrayal of women reinforces, rather than counteracts their "traditional roles" as seen by society today. Any deviation from those roles is presented as an exception to the rule. This has an effect on society's view of a "woman" or a "man." Gender is a subjective concept (as opposed to objective, i.e. male/female). Media has a huge influence on the social constructs of gender. In the same light, men are stigmatized and portrayed in an equally limiting manner. These stereotypes are fused into our lives to the extent that "who we are" is defined by "what we watch/listen to/read/see.
---------------------------------
in response to mala:
It could also be argued that "I Love Lucy" employs traditional gender stereotypes. Lucy is portrayed throughout the show as being pretty, nonchalant, and highly irrational. She is a domestic goddess. Ricky, on the other hand, is handsome, responsible, and rational.
----------------------------------
A lot of our discussion has been on women and their presence/portrayal in media. I just want to stress that men are presented with distinctive gender identities as well.
I think that gender in media has come a long way. I know that we talked about the Tomb Raider being really sexist and offensive towards women, but I honestly see it as a small step forward. Not a major leap, as the character is portrayed at an unreachable level, but at least there is a woman as a main figure role.
Aside from video games, I think gender in television has come a long way. I think that a lot of different roles are being portrayed on television. Not only in fictional characters, but also in some reality shows. I feel like ore and more networks are pushing the envelope on that. I know a lot of people diagree, and I am no saying that the gender roles in media are all positive. I may just be looking at things optimistically, but I feel like there are slowly being improvements.
-----in response to jen swingle-----
i found it interesting to note that not only do the three major networks have men as anchors, but on their executive boards, men have overwhelming majority. for NBC Universal, 12 of the 17 executives are male. for Disney (parent of ABC)and Viacom (parent of CBS), 4 of the 5 top executives are male. the demographics of each of the exec boards contribute to the direction each of these media giants takes in portraying gender identities.
--In response to Cesar--
Homosexuality is what I was mainly thinking of in terms of progression. Whether is be reality shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or even The Ellen Degenerous show. When she came out in her sitcom as being a lesbian, the show got canceled. However, it did help the topic of homosexuality being the prominent in TV shows today.
Cesar opened up a great part of this blog when mentioning his position on gender and media. In media, as with any open topic, there is no set line between genders, especially these days when there is not a black and white perspective on the issue. Nowadays with more awareness regarding the homosexual, transexual and transgendered parts of our society, there seems to be a lot of gray that has formed between the black and white on the issue of gender and media in general. As Cesar pointed out, there have been some great strides as society has progressively become accepting that gender does not only consist of a traditional male or female status. But one has to admit that it has not been easy to identify outside of the stereotypes for any of our denominaitons. From seeing a full-breasted woman acting sub-servient and sexy in a beer commercial, be it a male being the "alpha", or a over the top flamboyant homosexual male, or even a "butch" lesbian, it is the obvious that we are far from being in our utopian media. To say the least, everyone had a share of exposure to the media, but is it fair and equal for all? That one is for us to decide with our actions.
----responding to vanessa c----
I agree with the fact that you see optimism in the Tomb Raider character. With such issues still being fragile to debate in our society today, gradual steps are the key to change in the future. As with any issue with society, it just takes encouragement, patience, and sometimes a little fuel to spark that fire. In video games, Tomb Raider might have done just been that spark that was needed to make the difference.
I tried to take your suggestions from the last blog on the blog and pick a broader topic that was more inline with class discussion. However, this was the response that I feared (though this is in no way an incorrect response), "Gender and media is such a broad topic and I had no idea what to write about." Do other students feel this way, or was this type of blog prompt more along the lines with what the class wants? Please let me know.
I really had no idea what to write about, I looked at the prompt earlier this week and was gonna wait til there were other comments. Gender and media.... :/
--in response to Julia--
That is really interesting that there is a positive correlation between a woman's appearence and income. I've seen reports where an attractive woman and a not so attractive woman apply and interview for the same job, and it is given to the attractive woman. But I didn't know that there was actually a positive correlation with income level.
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