Topic 5: Media representations of gender, sexuality and disability

Question 1

What is a Stereotype?

Answer 1

A mental attitude about members of a group

Question 2

What is Symbolic annihilation?

Answer 2

The deliberate lack of representation of certain groups in the media.

Question 3

What is a Countertype?

Answer 3

A representation that runs counter to the stereotype

Question 4

What does Tuchman et al (1979) say about symbolic annihilation when representing women in the media?

Answer 4

Women’s achievements are not often reported, they are often condemned/ trivialised by the mass media.

Question 5

What does Tunstall (2000) say about the presentation of women in the media?

Answer 5

Presentation of women in the media is biased and often stereotypical, it ignores working women. Men are not sexualised whereas women are.

Question 6

What are the 4 stereotypes of women in the media according to Tunstall (2000)?

Answer 6

-Housewives,
-Contented mothers
-Eager consumers
-Sex objects

Question 7

What did ‘Just the woman’ report (2012) outline about women in limited roles?

Answer 7

Over 1300 news reports portrayed. women in limited roles (stereotypes)

Question 8

What did Mulvey (1975) say about the male gaze?

Answer 8

The male gaze portrays women as sexual beings

Question 9

What did Kilbourne (1995) say about women presented in the media?

Answer 9

Women presented as mannequins promoting ways to improve feminine appearance

Question 10

What did Wolf (1990) say about how the media portrays women?

Answer 10

The dominated media message is that female bodies are in constant need of improvement

Question 11

What did Bates (2014) say about the presentation of women in media?

Answer 11

The music industry is guilty of sexually objectifying women.

Question 12

What did Salinas (2014) say about how journalists represent women?

Answer 12

Journalists make negative comments on women’s appearance, especially those in political areas.

Question 13

What did Martinson (2012) say about lack of female voices in media?

Answer 13

It’s mainly male experts talking on subjects in the media, female achievements are rarely talked about

Question 14

What did Cochrane (2011) say about the lack of female voices in the media?

Answer 14

Comedic and political shows are dominated by men

Question 15

What did Packer et al (2015) say about how the media presents females in sport?

Answer 15

In the 2012 olympics, only 4.5% of the articles were about women, most of them making fun of the competitors

Question 16

What did Duncan and Messner (2005) say about how the media presents females in sport?

Answer 16

Commentators use different language when reffering to women, such as calling them ‘girls’ etc.

Question 17

What did Orbach (1991) say about how media effects female self image?

Answer 17

The media gives the idea that slimness equals success,
creates a potential for eating disorders

Question 18

What did Banyard (2010) say about how media effects female self image?

Answer 18

5 minutes exposure to ‘beautiful’ slim female bodies decreased female self esteem

Question 19

What did Gauntlett say about modern media and women?

Answer 19

Magazines now show female independence, which has has a positive impact on female identities

Question 20

What did Green and Singleton (2013) say about modern media and women?

Answer 20

Women are more empowered

Question 21

What did Plant (1997) say about modern media and women?

Answer 21

The internet has the power to break down the patriarchy as women are more informed.

Question 22

Give two evaluative points about how modern media effects women.

Answer 22

-Modern internet is still sexist, women are getting rape and murder threats and sexist comments
-Online communities such as mumsnet reinforce the idea of women doing emotion work for the family.