images of gender in the media Essay - 1234 Words

Finding a simple or concrete definition of gender maybe near impossible. Gender roles are what men and woman learn and internalize as the way they are supposed to act. These roles are commonly thought of as natural rather than a construction of culture. Gender is thought to flow from sex, rather then being a matter of what the culture does with sex. This theory is widely and exhaustively debated, according to Wood â€Å"Sex is based on biology; Gender is socially and psychologically constructed† (Wood 19). This statement suggests that culture’s discourses and ideologies form the complexities of gender and gender roles. It is easy to say that girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice and boy are made of snips and snails and puppy†¦show more content†¦In relation to gender deLauretis states that â€Å"gender is not sex, but the representations of each individual in terms of a particular social relation which pre-exists the individual and is predicate d on the conceptual and rigid opposition of two biological sexes† (deLauretis 1987). Commercials such as the Joe Namath pantyhose commercial in 1974 satirize the strict and rigid gender roles by changing the context and constructs of these roles. Whether it’s the 1970s or the 21st century, masculine heterosexual men still seem significantly out of place selling feminine image enhancing products, and unquestionably appear even more displaced modeling or posing in them. Oddly it is the strict and rigid definitions and constructs of gender roles that make the ad successful and understandable. Certainly an NFL quarterback has little, if anything at all to do with pantyhose, but by placing him not only in the ad but in the product itself it all ties together in a cohesive way. By 1974 Namath had long since solidified his masculine character by playing with and through pain, predicting his own Super Bowl success, and well publicized relational affairs. However, just as in the ad, Namath’s own masculinity was not without apparent contradiction as he was seen on the sideline wearing fur coats and designer sunglasses; surely the nickname Broadway Joe had as much to do with his lifestyle as where heShow MoreRelatedImages of Gender in the Media1258 Words   |  6 PagesFinding a simple or concrete definition of gender maybe near impossible. Gender roles are what men and woman learn and internalize as the way they are supposed to act. These roles are commonly thought of as natural rather than a construction of culture. Gender is thought to flow from sex, rather then being a matter of what the culture does with sex. This theory is widely and exhaustively debated, according to Wood Sex is based on biology; Gender is socially and psychologically constructed (WoodRead MoreFace It: the Impact of Gender on Social Media Images9362 Words   |  38 Pagesit: The Impact of Gender on Social Media Images Jessica Rose, Susan Mackey-Kallis, Len Shyles, Kelly Barry, Danielle Biagini, Colleen Hart, Lauren Jack Social websites like Facebook enable users to upload self-created digital images; it is therefore of interest to see how gender is performed in this domain. A panel used a literature review of pictorial features associated with gender traits, and a sample of Facebook pictures to assess gender stereotypes present in Facebook images. Traits emergingRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On Women s Perceptions Of Image, Gender Roles, And Overall Self Worth Essay1352 Words   |  6 PagesMedia plays a huge role in people’s perceptions of image, gender roles, and overall self worth. The media is constantly reinforcing limiting stereotypes through television, advertisements, films, and more. These stereotypes are especially geared towards women, suggesting that they have to look and act in an overtly feminine manner in order to be accepted by society. Though there are stereotypical qualities of men illustrated in media as well, they are mostly suggesting that men are dominant andRead MoreTh e Media And Its Impact On The Entertainment Industry Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesThe mass media has developed into a highly influential platform that relays information to audiences all around the world, but are the images seen in advertisements and television, devaluing individuals by labeling them under stereotypes? In order to truly understand the core of such a question, it is important to first define and solidify some key terms. To begin with, what mediums of mass media will be considered in the analysis of this issue? Specifically, I will attempt to highlight the use ofRead MoreGender Stereotypes Should Not Be Taught Essay1525 Words   |  7 Pageschildren. That is, using gender stereotypes whether through teaching or through playing with them. Not only parents do so, but teachers and certain television channels as well. Based on A Dictionary of Sociology, gender stereotypes are â€Å"one-sided and exaggerated images of men and women which are deployed repeatedly in eve ryday life† (Scott Marshall, 2009). Although educating children about gender roles and their differences is important for them to distinguish between the two genders, and know how to treatRead MoreEffect Of Gender And Gender Representation On Media1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe effect of gender and gender representation in media has been widely researched in various academic disciplines, including anthropology and communication studies. Similar gender role expectations are not just restricted to Western culture either. A study on gender representation in East Asian advertising by Michael Prieler is a demonstration of the influence of gendered communication. The research examines the male and female representation in the advertising of East Asian countries like HongRead MoreThe Study Of Body Image1572 Words   |  7 PagesThe study of body image is a broad topic that touches many subjects including gender. However, the study of body image has been focused mainly on females. T his is because the physical shape and image of male bodies have not changed over the history. From the ancient Greek until the modern era, the masculinity is the predominant stereotype for men. Masculine traits include courage, independence and assertiveness (Judith, 2001; Murray, 2000). In contrast to the male body, the female figures have beenRead MoreBrainwashing Youth : How Advertising Influences Children On Gender Images1496 Words   |  6 Pages Brainwashing Youth: How Advertising Influences Children on Gender Images For advertising companies, the topic of advertising to children is one that is very controversial and could lead to a lot of debate on whether it is even ethical to do so. None the less advertisements continue to be aired and targeted towards a particularly vulnerable group: children. At a young age it is a critical time for children. They are not only developing their mental and physical capabilities, but they are also developingRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Women s Self Esteem1327 Words   |  6 Pagesthis paper, I will argue that the media portrays one image of beauty and this has a damaging effect on women’s mental health, resulting in low self esteem and further deepening gender inequality within our society. I will argue this by discussing the effect media has on women’s self esteem, how the media promotes a patriarchal society and the stereotypes it presents to the public. Finally, I will discuss the sexual objectification of women presented in the media and later examine how individualsRead More The Media As A social Problem Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesThe Media as a Social Problem nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The mass media plays a large role in modern society. Indeed, many have argued that people spend more time in â€Å"mass-mediated† interaction than in actual human interaction. The mass media, then, would seemingly be an excellent position to initiate social change, positively affect social problems, and help combat social ills that are considered normal patterns of behavior. Yet, the mass media has largely