Definitions:
- Sex: Refers to biological and physiological characteristic that define men and women.
- Gender: Refers to socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.
- Transgender: Denoting or relating to a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender.
- Misogyny: The dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
- Patriarchy: Male dominated society.
- Metrosexual (1990s): Young single man with high disposable income, living in the city near to best shops. Is not gay but is often confused with being homosexual. He is objectified and sexualised as a sex object (against stereotypical ideas).
- The Norm of Gender: White middle class heterosexual male.
- Feminism: Campaign for equality of the sexes.
- Post-Feminism: Feminism is a dead concept as it has been fazed out.
- Dual Burden: Women balancing housework and paid work.
- Triple Shift: Women balancing housework, paid word and children/home life.
- Invisible Work: Work not seen as a large role and completed quietly. For instance planning for birthdays etc.
- Genderfuck: A term used to describe a person's gender identity (as in male, female, no gender, queer) or the act of consciously and conspicuously challenging traditional ideas of the gender binary through androgyny, hyperbole, and cross-dressing.
Masculinity:
- Strength (physical and mental)
- Power, sexual attractiveness (also based on power)
- Physique
- Independent (thought, action, finances)
- Isolated
Femininity:
- Beauty (narrow conventions)
- Size and physique (narrow convention)
- Sexuality (linked to prior qualities)
- Emotional (opposed to intellectual)
- Relationships (opposed to independence/ freedom)
Other:
- Representation: The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way by the mass media.
- Collective Identity: A social group who shares a set of norms and values.
- Structuration: The process in which human agency, people, and social structure, society, are in a constant relationship. The social structure is reproduced by the repetition of acts by individuals which means that society is flexible and can change over time.
- Stereotypes: A biased and prejudiced understanding of a social group.
Textual Media Examples -
The Lego company has created magazines for genders to accompany their toy ranges; the "girls" magazine is explicitly stated to be so as it is deviant from the male norm whilst "boys" magazine is not.
The "boys" magazine focus around action, superheroes and battles. Dark strong colours like reds, blues etc.
The "girls" magazine focuses on fashion, relationships animals etc. Bright bold colours like pinks and lilacs etc.
Strauss: Binary Opposites
"Female" magazine focuses on subordinate relationships with their male counterparts "how to mend a broken heart", how important appearance is "body confidence" and gossip society "celeb hair".
"Male" magazine focuses on females as a sexual object for male desire "(AND ONE HOT WOMAN)", obsession with domination and power "MEN OF THE YEAR" etc.
Mulvey: Females as an Accessory/ Sexual Object for Male Desire
Earp and Kats (1999):
Studies male representations in the media and found "a widespread and disturbing equation of masculinity and pathological control and violence".
Claim it is media responsible for the steady stream of images that define "manhood" connected with dominance, violence and control.
Metrosexual (1990s):
Young single man with high disposable income, living in the city near to best shops. Is not gay but is often confused with being homosexual. He is objectified and sexualised as a sex object (against stereotypical ideas).
The Fool/ Buffoon:
Well intentioned and light hearted, range from slightly inept to completely hopeless in work, parenting and domestic situation.
Theories for Females -
Propp:
Females in media are the passive HELPER or OBJECT ( Often passivity extends to victimhood).
Women and Domesticity:
Women as housewives or mothers.
Women as sex objects represented to entertain and titilate the male.
Females in Magazines:
Young, slim, overwhelmingly white and conforming to image of ideal beauty (perfect skin, hair and alluring gaze).
Theories in General -
Vern and Bonnie Bullough (1993):
Gender roles are equated with masculinity and femininity or male as provider and female as nurturer.
Gender Identity: Self conceived.
Gender Role: As it is perceived by others.
Judith Butler (1990):
Gender is not the result of nature but is socially constructed.
Gender is often exaggerated "tongue in cheek" representation of masculinity and femininity. This causes 'gender trouble'.
Queer Theory:
Challenges the traditional idea that there is a binary divide between gay and heterosexual and instead suggests that sexual identity if more fluid.
Heterosexual is constructed as the normal.
Steve Neal: Gay Gaze (1992):
Images which show men in passive, submissive, sexualised poses can be described as homoerotic. Usually the male will have their hands behind their heads in a pose which could suggest
submissiveness.
David Buckingham: Re-Present:
"Media does not just offer a transparent window on the world but a mediated version of the world. They don't just present reality, they re-present it -"
The Bechdel Test:
Questions -
- How does society treat people who do not conform to gender norms?
Society believes that gender is based solely upon biological sex at birth despite the fact that gender is a social construct. Groups who do not conform are often made to seem invisible. However, in relation to structuration, societies ideologies are changing and improving over time. For instance the introduction of the gender neutral pronoun on university applications of "Mx".
- What is our society's dominant ideology abut gender?
The dominant ideology is that females are submissive, males are dominant and other gender groups are invisible.
(Boy George)
Boy George made an appearance on 'Top of the Pops' as part of a band and the audience were unsure of his gender for some time after that. The use of makeup stunned audiences.
(David Bowie)
(Ruby Rose)
Further Notes -
Women in Media:
"The average percentage of female reporters was 22.6% - compared to 77.4% of males - " Guardian (2011)
Women are a rarely in the role of owners of the media thus meaning that the construction of women in media is less likely to reflect collective identity.
Wonder Woman:
Feminist icon or sexual objectification?
The United Nations wanted to promote Wonder Woman to be an ambassador for women. This caused an uproar as:
- She is a fictional character without her own ideas, opinions and the ability to unite the people.
- Her ensemble is overtly sexually objectified.
Old Media:
New Media:
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