Women in the Media (Remember?)

• http://www.ted.com/talks/megan_kamerick_women_should_represent_women_in_media.html

Media Importance

• Women's social identities are, at least in part, created through media representations (Connell 2005)

• Hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic femininity

• Ferguson (1983) girls magazines prepare women for feminised roles

Women at the top?

• Men make up the majority of upper management in media– Gatekeeping (Gans 1974 and Dutton 1984)– Agenda setting– Dominant and ruling class ideology

• Society and its values

Representations in the MediaMen

• Sexually dominant• Aggressive and physically

strong• Independent• Competitive

• Not involved in household roles• Rational• Task orientated• Unconcerned with physical

appearance

Women

• Sexually passive• Passive and physically weak and

small• Dependent• Non-competitive or competitive

through children• Household responsibility

• Emotional• People Orientated• Must be pretty, slim and

attractive at all times

Stereotypes – Female

• The WAG• Sex Object• Super mum• Angelic• Ball Breaker• Victim

Stereotypes - Men

• Jock• Strong silent type• Big shot• Action hero• Buffoon

Consequences• Health issues• Cosmetic

Surgery• Dissatisfaction• Fulfilling the

prophesy

Is it changing?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OWqz5FMEY0