Media representations - Females

Question 1

Tuchman:

Answer 1

Symbolic annihilation of womens’ achievements
EG. Women’s achievements were often not reported or trivialised as much as their looks.

Question 2

Mulvey: The ‘Male Gaze’

Answer 2

Studied cinema films to describe how the camera lens eyed up the female characters for the sexual viewing pleasure of men.
EG. Women are displayed as sexual objects for both the characters in the film and the spectator - so the man emerges as the dominant force and the woman is passive under the sexual gaze of the man.

Question 3

Disney - Reinforces female stereotypes:

Answer 3

Ariel - Gives up her voice to win the prince with her body.
Beauty and the Beast - Endures an abusive and violent beast in order to redeem him.

Question 4

Ferguson:

Answer 4

Media creates a ‘cult of femininity’.
The media constructs the idea of what it is to be ‘feminine’
EG. Focusing on relationships, starting a family and conforming to traditional gender stereotypes.

Question 5

Wolf:

Answer 5

Media creates the ‘beauty myth’ that sees women’s bodies as projects.
EG. Following beauty trends with plastic surgery which is stemmed by the ‘Kardashian’s.’

Question 6

Gauntlett

Answer 6

Media representations of gender evolving.
EG. Female presenters and reporters breaking into sports jourrnalism and reporting.
A03: Still remains an imbalance of power as they appear in smaller roles.