Gender

Theory:
Earp and Katz (1999)- studies male representations in media and found a "a widespread and disturbing equation of masculinity and pathological control and violence." They claim that the media is responsible for a steady stream of images that define "manhood" as connected with violence, dominance and control.

Mulvey- women are passive rather than active, often tend to take on the role of the helper.

Vern & Bonnie Bullough (1993)- Gender roles are acquainted with masculinity and femininity, males as provider, female as nurturer. These two concepts can help us understand how gender is a socially construction directly linked to heterosexual roles. Gender identity- self conceived. Gender role-as perceived by others.

Judith Butler (1990)- Gender is not the result of nature but is socially constructed and reinforced by media and culture. There are a number of exaggerated, disruptive 'tongue-in-cheek' representations of masculinity and femininity.
                              - Queer theory: challenges the traditionally held assumptions that there is a binary divide between gay and heterosexual, and suggests that sexual identity is more fluid. An example of the fluidity of gender/ sexuality can be seen in the character Captain ?Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Steve Neale (1992)- Gay Gaze: It can be argued that we also see men in passive, submissive, sexualised poses, lying down, looking up at the camera so that the viewer is dominant can be described as homoerotic.


Glossary:

• Misogyny- Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
• Sex- refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women.
• Gender- refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. 
• Masculinity-a concept that is made up of more rigid stereotypes than femininity. Representation of men across all media tend to focus on the following. (strength, power, sexual attractiveness, physique, independence.) Male characters are often represented as isolated, as not needing to rely on others (the lone hero). 
• Metrosexual- the young single man with a high disposable income, living in the city- is straight but is also confused as being homosexual. He is objectified and sexualised which goes against traditional representations of masculinity. 
• The fool/buffoon- usually well intentioned and light hearted, these characters range from slightly inept to completely hopeless in work or parenting and domestic situations. 
• Femininity- stereotypes of beauty, sexuality, emotions, size and physic and relationships. women as housewives or mothers or sex objects. In advertising and magazines they are represented as young, slim, overwhelmingly white and conforming to our ideal beauty. 
• Gender bending- a form of social activism undertaken to destroy rigid gender roles and defy sex-roles stereotype.

The boys magazines are portraying an assumption that they are into superheroes and action films etc, the colours are stereotypically green and blue. The girls magazines include things such as gossip and pop culture, fashion and quizzes. The colours are stereotypically pink and lilac, pastel colours.

Are gender representations deeply engrained in the cultural psyche?

I think they are because from a young age children are taught to be "ladylike" or not to "cry like a girl".

How does society treat people who do not conform to gender norms?

They discriminate them, make them feel as though they are abnormal and should not be acting the way they should be.

What is our societies ideology about gender?

That women are feminine and males are masculine and to portray their stereotypical characteristics. 

Gender Bending

        

Womens representation in media: the average percentage of female reporters was 22.6%- compared to 77.4% of males. Patriachy will therefore affect the way the news is mediated.. the same can also be said for TV advertising and on-line videos.

women shown as being:

• Young
• Slim
• Overwhelmingly white
• Conforming to our image of ideal beauty 

"Media do not just offer us a transparent 'window of the world' but a mediated version of the world. They don't just present reality, they re-present it" - David Buckingham

Gender stereotypes: Mother teacher the daughter

Soft hands are pretty

No sign of father (at work)

Domestic housewife 

Patriarchy 

Maternal

The good housewife

Concerned with keeping their houses clean

Buy product to become good housewives and mothers 

Still the women doing the washing however she is in her work uniform and so it may introduce features of the dual burden and triple shift.

1938 Pep vitamin advert

Housewife, Breadwinner

"Cuter she looks"

Holding her as if she's a prize/accessory

Sexualised objects

Male gaze

Head is not there- objectified 

Patriarchy- hegemony

Stereotypical slim body image

Scopophilia- the pleasure of looking in a voyeuristic gaze directed at over people.

Pleasure of looking is split by active male/passive female, links to mulvey

Post-feminism: The argument that from the 1960's onwards, women have much more rights within society. 

WonderWomen: Feminist icon as she is one of the first female superheroes. 

Female Gaze (hanson) Miriam Hanson, put forth the idea that women are also able to view male characters as erotic objects of desire.

Gender fuck- refers to the self-conscious effort to fuck with or play with traditional notions of gender identity, gender roles, and gender orientation. It falls under the umbrella of the transgender spectrum.