sociology media topic 6 Flashcards
1
Q
what is symbolic annihilation?
A
womens achievements are often not reported, trivialised or condemned by the mass media and tend to be a few narrow roles and presented sexually
2
Q
what website draws attention to the widespread trend of hollywood movie posters portraying women as headless bodies?
A
Headless Women of Hollywood
3
Q
despite the fact that 2/3 women are in paid work what are they mainly represented as?
A
mainly represented as busy housewives, contented mothers, eager consumers and sex objects
4
Q
what are magazines organised around?
A
around a ‘cult of femininity’ where womens excellence is achieved through caring for others, the family , marriage and appearance
5
Q
What did the just women report 2012 find ?
A
1) 1300 news reports portrayed women’s in limited roles
2) Women who achieved a higher level of social status were undermined by media
6
Q
What did content analysis of UK teen mags ?
A
70% of content and images focus on fashion and beauty compared with 12% on education
7
Q
Who argues media focus on female weight, body size and dieting creates anxieties in young girls about body image and identity ?
A
Orbach
8
Q
Who argues women’s mags have more than 10 times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s ?
A
Tebbel
9
Q
Who argues that advertising and the tabloid press focus on women’s appearance and reduce them to sex objects for the benefit of the ‘male gaze’ - where the camera ‘eyes up’ women for the benefit of heterosexual male audiences ?
A
Mulvey
10
Q
Who argues that the main message aimed at women in the media is that their body is a project in constant need of improvement ?
A
Wolf
11
Q
Who highlights how women in the music industry are sexually objectified – she observes that young girls observing the music industry learn that women are required to “bare as much skin as possible” when singing, while men can remain fully clothed but use bikini clad women as decorations in their video ?
A
Bates
12
Q
What year did the sun publish photos of topless models daily on page 3 until ?
A
2015
13
Q
Who reveals stories about men’s sports outnumbered those about women’s sports by 20 to one (95%) in March 2013 in six national titles – the Sun, Mirror, Times, Telegraph , Mail and Express ?
A
Birmingham University research
14
Q
Who argue that different types of ‘discourse’ are used when talking about women in sport. Men are described as ‘gutsy’ and ‘aggressive’ whereas women are referred to as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘fatigued’ and ‘girls’ ?
A
Duncan & Messer
15
Q
In 2022 what percent did England lioness awareness increase across 15-16 in England ? Do
A
32%
16
Q
Who found that news, current affairs, and comedy panel programmes were dominated by men e.g. 84% of reporters and guests on BBC Radio 4’s Today ?
A
Cochrane
17
Q
Who argues that the internet has power to undermine patriarchy because it allows women to create new identities and challenge sexism ? A03
A
Plant
18
Q
How do the Sun now empower women ?
A
No more page 3 topless women in new
19
Q
How many percent of Top 100 Hollywood films in 2019 had Co lead than 27% in 2009 ? A03 STRENGTH
A
43%
20
Q
Who argues that women are portrayed as independent whilst maintaining perfect make up and wearing impossible shoes ? A03
A
Gauntlett
21
Q
What movie star criticises women being empowered ? A03
A
Harley Quinn - strong , independent rebellious character but is still heavily sexualised in costume choices
22
Q
Who was subject to rape threats an hour via Twitter for 2 days in 2013 ?
A
Caroline Criado
23
Q
What movement shows women being empowered ?
A
METOO
24
Q
Who argues the media rarely focus on men’s marital and domestic roles or blame them for the conduct of their children, in the way that single and working mothers are blamed ?
A
Turnstall
25
Who argues that media representations of males are stereotypical/reflect ‘hegemonic’ gender roles due to :
•Men are generally seen as leaders and problem solvers
•Men are funny, confident, successful and athletic
•Males rarely seen to cry
•Male characters not seen as sensitive
•Men usually shown in the workplace – rarely at home
•More than a third of boys had never seen a man on TV doing domestic chores
Research into boys ages 10-17 of perception of male characters in media
26
Who argues a range of media transmits the idea that masculinity is based on aggression and competition. This is know as the ‘masculine myth’ – an unobtainable image men strive to have is being a ‘hero’ as being part of their male identity ?
Easthope
27
Who analysed a wide variety of media and found that media representations of men and boys were often negative due to:
•80% of media representations of men were negative. Men and boys were routinely shown as “violent and aggressive thieves, thugs, murderers, wife and girlfriend bashers, sexual abusers, perverts, irresponsible deadbeat dads and philanderers”.
•Men and boys were also shown as irresponsible risk takers and incapable of controlling their feelings
McNamara
28
What is retributive masculinity ?
Some see lads mags as an attempt to,reassert traditional masculinity and reject the idea of a new sensitive man
29
Who argues a new, more sensitive masculinity is portrayed in men’s magazines e.g. GQ or Men’s Health. Men are encouraged to express emotion, care about appearance and see fatherhood as a meaningful experience. Women are seen as equals ? A03
Gauntlett
30
What are examples of new man portrayal of sensitive male leads has also begun to appear in Hollywood movies and television programmes ? STRENGTH A03
Eddie Murphy- Daddy Day Care- shown as full-time dad and opens up day care centre
31
How can we argue that media representations of males are not stereotypical?
Magazines which objectify women as sex objects are becoming increasingly outdated
32
What do liberal feminism view gender in the media as ? A03
Media representations are slow to change to reflect women’s real-world achievements.
This ‘cultural lag’ is due to the lack of women in power in media organisations e.g. very few female newspaper editors.
33
What is the bloke culture and who describes it ?
Mills describes newsrooms as off-putting for females and dominated by a ‘bloke culture’.
34
What do marxist feminism view gender in the media as ? A03
Stereotypical portrayals of gender are driven by economic factors and the desire to make profit.
Mainly male media professionals want to attract the largest audiences to attract advertising revenue. They show men and women in traditional roles to reflect consensus views and avoid putting audiences off.
Women’s magazines in particular make money from advertising beauty products, so create “false needs” so that women will spend money on cosmetics and diet products.
By portraying unrealistic standards of beauty, thinness and youth, the media and beauty industries will continue to make a profit.
35
What do radical feminism view gender in the media as ? A03
Wolf argues the media deliberately dupe women into the ‘beauty myth’ – the idea they should adhere to a particular ideal in terms of look, sexiness, shape, weight and size.
Women are encouraged to value these goals as central to their happiness.
This creates a sense of false consciousness where women focus on appearance instead of competing with men for positions of power and making the most of opportunities available to them.
36
What do difference feminism view gender in the media as ? A03
Other feminist theories tend to overlook how gender is presented alongside ethnicity, disability, class and sexuality. White, middle-class women tend to make up the majority of representations of women in Western media, and it is likely that other groups of women are especially likely to be represented in a stereotypical or negative way/ rarely presented.
37
What do postmodernist view gender in the media as ? A03
More positive about representations of gender in the media.
Believe the media no longer sends a straightforward message that there is just one ideal form of masculinity or femininity.
Gauntlett argues the media is a force for change because they encourage a diversity of masculine and feminine identities, such as now representing powerful ‘girl power’ icons and a greater focus on men’s emotions.
38
What do pluralism view gender in the media as ? A03
Believe women are not as impressionable and easily influenced by the media as feminists suggest.
They claim there is no real evidence that media content has a profound effect on women and girls’ attitudes and behaviour.
They argue that the media reflects public tastes. If women were really unhappy at how they were portrayed, they would not buy media products such as women’s magazines.
39
How did Craig 1992 argue being camp is a stereotypical ?
Use of irony and exaggeration by colourful and flamboyant figures of fun. Seen as ‘non-threatening’ by heterosexual audiences
40
Example of camp stereotypical representation
Comedian Alan Carr fits in with the ‘camp’ stereotype of flamboyant and funny gay men.
41
How did Craig 1992 argue being macho is a stereotypical ?
A stereotype which relies on exaggerated masculinity and is openly sexual. Seen as threatening, especially by heterosexual men, as it undermines traditional masculinity- idea that masculinity isn’t just for straight men.
42
Example of macho stereotypical representation
The village people- use police officer outfits etc as erotic symbol
43
How did Craig 1992 argue being deviant is a stereotypical ?
Gay people are often stereotyped as deviant e.g. as a villain or sexual predator. Even if they are not demonised, portrayals tend to be negative, about gay men’s struggles to ‘accept their sexuality
44
Example of deviant stereotypical representation
Killing Eve- A psychopathic assassin with an obsessive love for the main character, Eve
45
According to Stonewall how were gay men portrayed ?
Gay men were portrayed as effeminate (womanish or unmanly), bitchy figures and as predatory and promiscuous (having multiple sexual partners).
45
According to Stonewall out of 126 hours of TV how many were focused on LGBT representations ?
Of a study of 126 hours of TV programmes aimed at young people, only 5 hours were focused on LGBT characters or issues, and only 45 mins was realistic or positive.
46
According to Stonewall how were gay men seen ?
Gay men were seen often as unhappy and distressed about their sexuality and had suffered bullying and rejection.
47
According to Stonewall who were rarely seen in TV programmes ?
‘LBT’ (Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) people were rarely seen.
48
What is a trope ?
Trope is a common or overused theme or plot device
49
Where do gay men often appear in TV shows and films ?
Gay men often appear in TV and film as the best friend of a heterosexual female lead.
50
How does the gay best friend trope lead to desexualisation of homosexuality ?
Desexualises homosexuality (usually the relationships of the heterosexual woman are the focus) , implies the heterosexual experience is most important.
51
What are example of gay best friend trope ?
Mean Girls , Sex education
52
Why do Hollywood films include a range of sexualities ?
It is argued Hollywood is even more conservative than TV when it comes to sexuality because films are designed to appeal to as large of an audience as possible (due to large budgets, they need a large audience to make a profit), and producers worry LGBT characters risk alienating (detaching) audiences and investors.
53
What countries censor or ban films due to sexuality ?
To maximise profit, film studios often distribute films globally. But many countries (including one of the largest markets, China) censor or ban films with LGBTQ content
54
Why does Gill argue about media companies ?
Gill argues most media constructs gay characters with heterosexual audiences in mind.
55
Example of LGBT representation being restricted ?
Brokeback Mountain was banned in China.
56
How can we become more accepting of LGBT communities ?
Images of diverse sexual identities with which audiences are unfamiliar may assist in making the population generally more accepting towards them
57
What did Schiappa et al (2007) find about audiences who were asked to watch representations of gay and transvestite men ?
Schiappa et al (2007) found that audiences asked to watch representations of gay men (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) or a transvestite male (Eddie Izzard) showed lower levels of prejudice.
58
Examples of reducing prejudice
RuPaul Drag Race, Sex Education
59
What portrays have improved over the last few years ?
In recent years, media representations of transgender characters-in the past often portrayed either as villains or tragic victims-have improved.
60
Example of Non stereotypical representations of transgender individuals
I am Cait: A reality TV series that documents the life of Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender woman and Olympic gold medallist, as she navigates her transition and adjusts to her new identity
61
What is the pink economy ?
Companies are increasingly targeting LGBTQ consumers through positive marketing campaigns
62
Why are LGBT communities targeted by the pink economy ?
referring to the spending power of LGBTQ individuals as there is no dependents and large disposable income
63
Example of the pink economy
A man proposing to his partner in an advert for Lloyds Bank
A kiss between two men featured on a Lynx advert
64
Why are representations of LGBTQ people are often much more positive in the new media?
Representations of LGBTQ people are often much more positive in the new media because content is user generated
65
What support is there for LGBT people ?
There are thousands of websites that give help support and a sense of community to LGBTQ people
66
What evidence is there of new media helping legal issues for LGBT ?
New media sites like Twitter and Facebook have also been used in campaigns to support same-sex marriage in the USA and Northern Ireland
67
What campaign is used to promote the idea of equality in love, advocating for the right to same-sex marriage?
The #LoveIsLove campaign became widespread. It was used to promote the idea of equality in love, advocating for the right to same-sex marriage. This hashtag helped to normalise LGBTQ+
68
What hashtag was widely used to celebrate the victory and express support for marriage equality?
#LoveWins hashtag went viral in 2015, following the U.S legalisation of same-sex marriage nationwide. The hashtag was widely to celebrate the victory and express support for marriage equality. Facebook even allowed users to overlay a rainbow filter on their profile pictures to show support
69
How can we criticise new media and representations of LGBT communities ? A03
Research by the university of Alberta tracked tweets from 2012-2015 using negative language about LGBTQ people and recorded close to 60 million homophobic comments.
70
How can we criticise new media and representations of LGBT communities by using BT ? A03
In 2015, BT were criticised by LGBT organisations like Stonewall for giving parents the option to block access to information about gay and lesbian lifestyle content.
71
What is the medical model ?
People are disabled by their differences.
Disabled people are seen as a group whose bodies do not function normally and who are dependent on the able bodied.
E.g. A person in a wheelchair is disabled because they are unable to walk
72
What is the social model ?
People are disabled by the environment
The problems they face is not due to their disability but because of the barriers in place in society (inaccessible)
E.g. A person in a wheelchair not because of their inability to walk but because of not having the required access arrangements such as a ramp
73
Examples of the medical model
A deaf person is disabled because they cannot hear
74
Examples of the social model
A deaf person is disabled because society relies too much on spoken communication instead of using sign language or subtitles
76
How are disabled people usually presented ?
77
According to who are there are a range of images of disabled people commonly seen in the media?
Barnes
78
According to Barnes, what does pitiful mean ?
Media often portrays disabled people as dependent on others
E.g. TV appeals such as Children in Need
79
According to Barnes, what does sinister and evil mean ?
Physical disability is often used as a metaphor for moral failing – This just means that writers often use disabled characters
to represent something negative—like evil
E.g Mad Eye Moody Harry Potter
80
According to Barnes, what does curio mean ?
In documentaries they are seen as curios- presented in a way that makes them seem unusual or different, almost like objects to be watched in fascination
E.g The Undateables
81
According to Barnes, what does super cripple mean ?
People with disabilities are often portrayed as having special powers which allow them to overcome their impairments.
This is seen as especially problematic when disabled characters are played by able bodied actors who are often rewarded with great acclaim. Some have termed this ‘crippling up’, similar to blacking up which is deemed highly taboo e.g. Eddie Redmayne in the Theory of Everything played world renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, who had Motor Neurone disease
E.g Paralympics
82
Who argues mass media representations of disabled people on telethons can create problems for the disabled?
Roper 2003
83
What are some of the problems Roper 2003 argues telethons create for disabled people ?
• They rely on ‘cute’ children which are not representative of the broader population of disabled people in the UK.
• Imply that charities, not governments should be responsible for providing for the needs of disabled people, doesn’t ask why these people are disadvantaged in the first place. It shifts the focus away from solving issues like lack of accessibility or discrimination (links to social model).
• Telethons act to keep audience as givers, whereas recipients are kept in place as grateful and dependent.
• Telethons ultimately entertain the public, not inform them about disability
84
What is a telethon ?
Fundraising events on TV. Typically broadcast for several hours or even days, where people donate money to a particular cause, often through phone calls/texts/ online
85
What is a broadsheet newspaper ?
A large newspaper that focus on serious news like politics, business, and world event e.g. The Times, The Guardian et
86
Williams-Findley (2009) examined the output of two broadsheet newspapers, the Times and the Guardian, to see whether their coverage of the disabled had changed between 1989 and 2009.
87
They found a steep decline in stereotypical words such as ‘brave’ but a continued assumption that disability was a ‘tragic affliction’ (illness).
• They also suggested that disabled people are rarely seen as newsworthy by journalists
88
Therefore, stereotypical representations persist because disabled people are rarely used as sources and have little influence over how they are represented (links back to symbolic annihilation).
89
Tabloids: Watson, Philo and Briant (2011) – compared tabloid media coverage of disability in 2010-2011 and 2004-2005
90
They found a significant increase in the reporting of disability but actually found fewer positive representations as increasing numbers of articles appeared describing those with ‘hidden’ disabilities as welfare scroungers, undeserving of benefits
91
What do Pluralists argue about media representations in the media ? A03
Pluralists argue that media representations of disability largely reflect the dominant medical view, portraying disability as dysfunctional for individuals and society, reflecting public anxieties and the able-bodied perspective. While media often focus on the challenges disabled individuals face, they also highlight society’s admiration for their courage, especially in the portrayal of "super cripple" figures, all while aiming to please the audience for profit.
92
What did Watson, Philo and Briant (2011) find about articles ?
Articles focusing on disability benefits and fraud increased 3x over the period they studied as well as increases in derogatory language such as ‘cheat’ and ‘skiver’.
93
What do postmodernists believe about disability in the media ? A03
The dominant medical discourse about disability is becoming more fragmented, with disabled individuals becoming more politically organized and using new media to shape their own identities. As a result, the traditional medical model is declining, and there's a growing recognition that impairment does not equate to being unhealthy, deficient, or dependent. Additionally, media coverage in the UK is diverse, leading to varying representations of disability across different platforms and outlets
96
What are examples of more recent changes ?
A good example of a more positive portrayal of disability is the character of Clarissa on crime drama Silent Witness, portrayed by actress and comedian Liz Carr.
Although the character (and actress) has a physical disability, this is not her defining feature, nor is she portrayed as tragic or incapable. Instead, she is a valuable member of the team, using her skills to solve crimes.
This is the portrayal that many people with disabilities want more of: characters who happen to have disabilities, but this does not define them.
