Gender And The Media Flashcards
What are the key assumptions for gender and the media
- paid work was central to men’s identity and role
- females were culturally categorised primarily as homemakers, mothers and carers
What are the traditional media representations of femininity?
Limited roles
Symbolic annihilation
Ideological ideals
The sexual objectification of women
Do modern media empower women?
Positive role models?
How are women shown in the news?
They are seen to be less relevant than men
What is meant by the male gaze?
Women are seen as sexual objects for a man’s benefit
What are the traditional media views on masculinity?
The masculine myth
Men and magazines
How do liberal feminists say the media presents women?
The emphasis of women being sexual objects as it has an effect on young women. They believe the progress of women in media professions have slowed as men still get the higher jobs
How do Marxist feminists say women are presented in media?
The male dominated media aim to attract the largest audience so everything is based on profit and women’s magazines are based on advertising “false needs”
How do radical feminists argue the media portray women?
It reproduces patriarchy. The male dominated media can keep women oppressed to a range of roles and make women believe in beauty myths
How do popular feminists say the media presents women?
Young women’s magazines are now promoting ‘girl power’
What is the postmodernist views of gender in the media?
The mass media today challenge traditional definitions of gender and are actually a force for change for encouraging a diversity of masculine and feminine identities
What is the pluralist view of gender in the media?
They believe that feminists are guilty of stereotyping females as impressionable and easily influenced
