Media representations of Gender

Question 1

Contreau & Hoynes on:
Gender Inequality’s in TV management

Answer 1

• In the mid 90s, only 6% of TV editors were female
• Only 20% of top TV management were female

Question 2

Cumberbatch on:
Advertisements

Answer 2

• Over 90% of voiceovers in adverts are male
• 66% of all people in adverts are male

Question 3

How are females often presented in the media?

Answer 3

• ideals for women to aspire to

Question 4

Wolf & Orbach on:
Stereotypes

Answer 4

• The rise in eating disorders is a result of these negative ideals

Question 5

Tuchman on:
Symbolic Anhiliation

Answer 5

• The media portrays women in a limited number of roles (domestic & sexual)
• The achievements of women are shown to be less important than their sex appeal
• Women are often represented as victims of domestic/ sexual abuse

Question 6

Ferguson on:
Women’s Magazines

Answer 6

• He found that women’s magazines gave advice and training on being stereotypically female

Question 7

How are men portrayed in the Media?

Answer 7

• Some adverts portray men as incompetent at stereotypically female domestic tasks
• Action films portray men as violent, but present their violence in a positive way

Question 8

Gauntlett on:
Changes to the portrayal of masculinity

Answer 8

• He found that men’s magazines mirrored the format of women’s magazines, with advice on health, looking good and attracting women
• Male magazines often promoted the “metrosexual male”: who cares about how he looks, respects women and displays traditionally feminine traits
• However, he still acknowledges that male magazines still sexualise women