Positive Representations of Women

Question 1

What were Gauntlett’s findings?

Answer 1

• Increased proportion of female main characters from 18% in 1992 to 43% in 1995-6
• Massive decrease since the 70s in proportion of women being portrayed as a housewife. Now only 3%

Question 2

A criticism of Gaulntlett - how are powerful women in the media portrayed?

Answer 2

• As bossy, problematic, troublemaker, heavily criticised
• Usually some type of punishment for their power
• Highlights how men and women are subject to different standards

Question 3

How does Plant argue that new media (the internet) disables the patriarchy?

Answer 3

Women can explore, subvert and create new identities

Question 4

How does Plant also argue that new media doesn’t disable patriarchy?

Answer 4

It allows for trolling, harrassment, body shaming, sexualisation

Question 5

What does Gill argue?

Answer 5

Women are more likely to be shown as powerful using their sexuality to get what they want

Question 6

What does Hakim say about how women are represented as sexually powerful?

Answer 6

Women have a 4th asset (additional to cultural, economic and social capital) - erotic capital
This can and should be used for an advantage in society

Question 7

How are pop singers Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga examples of positive representations of women?

Answer 7

Focus on independence, control and body positivity in their songs

Question 8

How does Gauntlett disagree with Ferguson’s research on magazines?

Answer 8

There’s greater emphasis now on young women choosing their own path in life

Question 9

Evaluation of media portrayal of women (negative and positive) - flipside of feminism

Answer 9

Venker: men (e.g. Homer Simpson) are the butt of jokes in ads/ TV shows, being constantly emasculated and we live in a ‘woman’s world’.
Not an improvement, feminism has affected men, women and children in a negative way.

Question 10

Evaluation of media portrayal of women (negative and positive) - increased female visibility

Answer 10

1990 - 89% of voiceovers on TV ads male
Women the stars of 14% of mid-evening TV
Analysis of Hollywood films at the time suggest few women seen by major studios as being able to carry a film by themself
Recent years have seen this change e.g. Tomb Raider, Kill Bill

Question 11

Evaluation of media portrayal of women (negative and positive) - McRobbie illusion of equality

Answer 11

Discussions over equality in media are overstated, there is no equality, only an illusion of it
Women still misrepresented and overly presented as sex objects