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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Chapter Eleven:Chapter Eleven:
Gendered MediaGendered Media
gendered lives
““Reality is wrong. Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.”Dreams are for real.”
~ Tupak Shakur~ Tupak Shakur
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Media Saturation of Cultural LifeMedia Saturation of Cultural Life
TelevisionTelevisionNewspapersNewspapers
News programmingNews programming
Talk showsTalk shows
Popular advice booksPopular advice books
Gothic novelsGothic novels
Pornographic print and visual mediaPornographic print and visual media
BillboardsBillboards
MagazinesMagazinesAdvertisementsAdvertisements
RadiosRadios WalkmansWalkmans
Stereo musicStereo musicHome videosHome videos
Media Saturation of Cultural LifeMedia Saturation of Cultural Life
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Gendered Themes in the MediaGendered Themes in the Media
• Underrepresentation of Women
Prime Time
Children’s Programming
Newscasts
• Underrepresentation of Minorities
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Portrayals of MenPortrayals of Men
• Independent
• Aggressive
• In Charge
• White Heterosexual
• Serious
• Confident
• Competent
• Powerful
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Portrayals of MenPortrayals of Men
• Portrayals of Men Not Typically Seen
Nurturing
Doing Housework
Caring for Children
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Portrayals of MenPortrayals of Men
• When Portrayed in the Home, Men are...
Klutzes in the Kitchen
Poor at Cooking
Bad at Child Care
Incompetent at Homemaking
Lazy Dolts
Interested only in Beer,
Sports, and Cars
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Portrayals of Men ChangingPortrayals of Men Changing
• More Recently New Roles in Movies
Andy Garcia in When a Man Loves a Woman
Jack Nicholson in As Good as it Gets
Paul Newman in Nobody’s Fool
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Portrayals of WomenPortrayals of Women
• Reflect Long-Established Stereotypes
Young
Thin
Preoccupied with Men and Children
Enmeshed in Relationships and Housework
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Portrayals of WomenPortrayals of Women
• From Children’s Programming to MTV Men Dominate Women
Women as Ornamental Object
• Magazines How to Look Better
How to Lose Weight
How to Appeal to Men
How to Keep the Home Clean
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Achieving the ImageAchieving the Image
CNN
Hum
an C
omm
unica
tion
Toda
y, V
ol. 2
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Portrayals of WomenPortrayals of Women• Media Create New Images that Reinforce
Old Stereotypes Charlie’s Angels Titanic
• Television Offering New Roles for Women Chicago Hope Law and Order The Practice The X-Files
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Advertising for Girls and BoysAdvertising for Girls and Boys
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Advertising for Girls and BoysAdvertising for Girls and Boys
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Advertising for Girls and BoysAdvertising for Girls and Boys
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Advertising for Girls and BoysAdvertising for Girls and Boys
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Trends in Portrayals of Trends in Portrayals of RelationshipsRelationships• The 1970’s
Portrayed Independence in Women
• The 1980’s and 1990’s
Strong Backlash to Feminism
Returned to Showing Traditional Roles
• Restoring Traditional Roles Continues to the Present
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Images of Relationships Images of Relationships Between Men and WomenBetween Men and Women
• Women’s Incompetence/Men’s Authority
• Women as Primary Caregivers/Men as
Breadwinners
• Women as Victims and Sex Objects/Men as
Aggressors
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Bias in News CoverageBias in News Coverage
• Bias in Reporting on Women’s Movement
Misrepresentation of Goals, Activities, Members
The “Mommy Track”
• Bias in Reporting Gender Issues
Mother’s Going to Gulf War
Women as Prisoners in Gulf War
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Implications of Media Implications of Media Representations of GenderRepresentations of Gender• Fostering Unrealistic and Limited
Gender Ideals
Influences How We Feel About Selves
Promotes Sex Stereotypes
Unrealistic Expectations
Promote Relational Dissatisfaction
• Pathologizing the Human Body Micr
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Implications of Media Implications of Media Representations of GenderRepresentations of Gender• Normalizing Violence
By Age 18, Average Person has…
• Watched 19,000 Hours of Television
• Seen 200,000 Acts of Violence
• Seen 40,000 Murders
Much of that Violence is Against Women
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
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Is Censorship the Answer?Is Censorship the Answer?
• U.S. Constitutions Provides Strong
Protections of Free Speech
• Demand Media Offer Multiple, Diverse
Images of Women and Men
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
Understanding the messages in media empowers us to be more
critical about what we hear and see.
We can use our rhetoric to resistmedia messages we find harmful.
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Chapter 11 - Gendered Media
Copyright © 2005 Wadsworth
gendered lives