Representations of Gender

Question 1

gender - under-representation of women in media industry

Answer 1

women rarely have positions of power/influence in media management
marginalised

Question 2

gender - glass ceiling

Answer 2

invisible barriers to progress in their careers

fixed ar junior professional level (gathering news)

Question 3

gender - percentage of male senior professional roles

Answer 3

60%

define what news should be

Question 4

gender - percentage of male/female journalists?

Answer 4

77% - male
23% - women
guardian

Question 5

gender - male gaze

Answer 5

men look at women as sexual objects

female sexuality common theme in advertising to provide erotic pleasure for men

Question 6

gender - under-representation of women in media context

Answer 6

less likely to be subject of news stories
appear as ordinary people when interviewed, men as experts
4x more likely to be identified by their family status
1/2 of news stories reinforce gender stereotypes

Question 7

gender - patriarchal ideology

Answer 7

media is patriarchal and spreads patriarchal ideology
women invisible, under-represented, presented in limited range of stereotyped roles/identities
symbolically annihilated

Question 8

gender - social construction of gender identities

Answer 8

constructed by the media to produce hegemonic dominant stereotypes
hegemonic masculinity & femininity
magazines separates men & women interests to reflect different hegemonic identities

Question 9

gender - beauty myth

Answer 9

women assessed by their appearance and expected to conform to male conceptions of female beauty
the ideal body shape is more like a barbie doll than real women’s body (symbolically annihilated)

Question 10

gender - female representations

Answer 10

women shown indoors in private sphere of the home than outdoors in the public world
presented as emotional/unpredictable

Question 11

gender - female stereotyped roles

Answer 11

WAG
sex object
supermom
angel
ball breaker
victim

Question 12

gender - cult of femininity

Answer 12

teenage girls magazines prepare girls for feminised adult roles
getting partner, good wife, keep family happy, good cook, what to wear
socialises young girls into roles of femininity

Question 13

gender - male representations

Answer 13

men appear in wide range of roles
in public sphere with high status
stereotypes by hegemonic masculine identity: independent, tough, risk-tasking, sport, DIY, transport

Question 14

gender - male narrators

Answer 14

male voices used in voice-overs to reinforce men as authority figures and experts

Question 15

gender - male stereotypes

Answer 15

joker
jock
strong silent type
big shot
action hero
buffoon

Question 16

gender - postmodern society

Answer 16

representations more fluid/flexible due to changes in society

Question 17

gender - growing social expectations

Answer 17

men and women should be treated equally

reflected in media by presenting wide range o gender identities and new gender choices

Question 18

gender - changing representations of females

Answer 18

women position in society is changing, emphasised in the media with growing diversity of imagery
new form of feminism present women as powerful tough girls, no longer lady like taking on roles that used to be for men (Katniss Everdeen)
still underlying conventional femininity as these women are always attractive/glamorous (Angelina Jolie)

Question 19

gender - pluralists view on changing representations of women

Answer 19

magazines now cater for working women as they demand more from the media
reduces gender stereotypes due to drive for advertisers

Question 20

gender - changing representations of males

Answer 20

wider range of representations of masculinity
magazines encourage men to understand women
new male identities more caring, emotional, in touch with feminine side
male bodies transformed into sex objects in advertising which is reflected in their growing concern of their appearance

Question 21

gender - pluralists explanation for gender stereotyping

Answer 21

stereotypes occur to satisfy what media audiences and organisations want

Question 22

gender - liberal feminists explanation for gender stereotyping

Answer 22

once women gain power and equal opportunities it will break the glass ceiling
currently male-dominated media organisation encourage male view of the world

Question 23

gender - marxists & neo-marxists explanation for gender stereotyping

Answer 23

media attract advertisers that need stereotypes to promote sales of their products 
gender stereotyping linked to social class inequality as working-class women can't afford the hegemonic femininity identity

Question 24

gender - cyndi tebbel

Answer 24

featured size-16 model on magazine cover
well-received by readers
major advertiser (cosmetics company) withdrew its advertising

Question 25

gender - radical feminists explanation for gender stereotyping

Answer 25

representations promote patriarchy and patriarchal ideology
men keep women in a narrow range of stereotyped roles, subordinate to men, conform to beauty myth and satisfy male gaze
discourages women from making the most of the opportunities available to them