Media Representations of Gender

Question 1

Feminist Views of Gender Representations

Answer 1

media representations of women were often stereotypical, reinforcing traditional roles as homemakers and caregivers

Question 2

Postmodern Views of Gender Representations

Answer 2

gender is constructed through discourses and narratives that shape our understanding of what it means to be male or female. These discourses are perpetuated through various social institutions

Question 3

Pluralist Views of Gender Representations

Answer 3

recognise a variety of different media representations of categories such as gender

Question 4

Symbolic Annihilation

Answer 4

Tuchman et al. women’s achievements are often left out of the media and minimised eg. women’s football

Question 5

Male Gaze

Answer 5

a feminist theory that states that women are portrayed in cinema in objectifying and limited ways in order to normalise and perpetuate patriarchal society, also has been linked to body image issues

Question 6

Beauty Myth

Answer 6

refers to the unrealistic beauty standards imposed on women and the relentless pressure to conform to those narrow representations

Question 7

Margianalisation

Answer 7

media usually represents women in domestic and marginal roles

Question 8

Female Empowerment

Answer 8

women increasingly being shown as independent with pop icons such as Gaga and the change in women’s magazines, being shown as more career focused. McRobbie says that equality in media has been overstated and that there’s an illusion of equality

Question 9

Crisis of Masculinity

Answer 9

the precise role for men in society is in crisis, they no longer need to provide for their families and this can lead to hegemonic masculinity being replaced with toxic masculinity (misogyny and homophobia)

Question 10

Metrosexual

Answer 10

The ‘new man’ emerged in media representations in the 1980’s. Magazines such as GQ, Maxim and FHM, aimed at middle class males​, showed men getting in touch with their feminine side. Sociologists refer to this as the ‘metro sexual’ male

Question 11

Hegemonic Masculinity

Answer 11

the particular view of masculinity, or a ‘real man’, in western culture, focused on physical strength competitiveness and success

Question 12

Objectification of Gender

Answer 12

Exposure to objectifying media in men has been found to increase the tendency to engage in sexual coercion and harassment, as well as increasing conformity to gender role norms

Question 13

McNamara

Answer 13

Media representations of men/boys fail to portray the reality of masculine life