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Gendered media: the influence of media on views and gender
The effects of the media on sexuality
How does the media affect gender identity
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Introduction
Media in its numerous forms is an endemic part of modern life. We are continually exposed to media texts and their representations of gender and sexuality. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in how these representations affect our perceptions of gender and sexuality. Initially I will define what is meant by representation and self-regulation in a media context. Secondly, I will examine debates around these issues including self-identity & role models, privacy & public interest and censorship & freedom of speech. To support this I will analyse three case studies to illustrate how media texts are produced and consumed and what effect this has on the representation of gender and sexuality.
Defining terms
Representation or ‘re-presentation’ is the understanding that media texts are constructed and presented to the audience. The construction of the message allows the audience to make assumptions on the intended meaning of the media text. It is understood that producers of texts can influence the preferred messages to suit their own agenda. The difference between the media representation and what is the real meaning is a fundamental element in the study of the media effects on society.
Self-regulation is the regulation of media from within the industry opposed to that which is prescribed by external bodies. Self-regulation concerns the structure, conduct or content of media and its producers. Those in favour of regulation cite it as an important factor in encouraging and maintaining professional standards in the industry (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), 2008). However there are also concerns that the effects of media regulation could be construed as impacting on freedom of ex...
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...//www.theguardian.com/media/2012/feb/07/dominic-mohan-leveson-sun-page-3 [Accessed: 12 Dec 2013].
Sophia Network. 2009. McCoys 'Man Crisps' advertising campaign. [image online] Available at: http://sophianetwork.typepad.com/.a/6a010536f51a3b970c0115721abad8970b-320pi [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013].
The Independent on Sunday's Pink List 2013. 2013. The Independent on Sunday, [online] 13 October 2013. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-independent-on-sundays-pink-list-2013-8876183.html [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013].
Un.org. 2013. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [online] Available at: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml [Accessed: 6 Dec 2013].
Unknown. n.d. Yorkie 'Not for Girls' advertising campaign. [image online] Available at: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00341/114100916__341964c.jpg [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013].
Sex and Gender was the subject of the two movies Dreamworlds 3 and Further Off The Straight & Narrow. In Dreamworlds 3 Sex is portrayed as a status of life and happiness in the media. This media displays people as objects that can be manipulated for sexual pleasure. As the media is populated with sex it tiptoes around gender, specifically that of gays or lesbians. The film Further Off The Straight & Narrow emphasized the movement through media gay and lesbian topics. This text analyzes iconic television programs and how they reflect the societal stance during that time. As a member of a generation that has had the topic of these issues prominent I believe they are important but are banal. In this reflection I will be responding to two questions, what would woman driven Dreamworlds look like? And Do you agree with the statement that if you are not on television you don’t exist?
"United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: What Are Human Rights? : Youth For Human Rights Video." United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights: What Are Human Rights? : Youth For Human Rights Video. Youth For Human Rights International, 2002. Web. 01 May 2014.
The media, through its many outlets, has a lasting effect on the values and social structure evident in modern day society. Television, in particular, has the ability to influence the social structure of society with its subjective content. As Dwight E. Brooks and Lisa P. Hébert write in their article, “GENDER, RACE, AND MEDIA REPRESENTATION”, the basis of our accepted social identities is heavily controlled by the media we consume. One of the social identities that is heavily influenced is gender: Brooks and Hébert conclude, “While sex differences are rooted in biology, how we come to understand and perform gender is based on culture” (Brooks, Hébert 297). With gender being shaped so profusely by our culture, it is important to be aware of how social identities, such as gender, are being constructed in the media.
Declaration of Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for All of Us. Accessed on October 29,
The author of this advertisement is all about sexual stereotypes such as blonde hair blue eyes and a very large breast size.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10, 1948. Each of the 30 articles in this declaration defines rights humans need, from basic resources and education to freedom of thought and speech. Article 2 states, “Everyone
It clearly depicts characteristics of Craig’s men’s men and men’s women. Firstly, the commercial was aired during sports related shows, which a lot of men tend to watch. The lead male in the commercial was muscular and handsome, radiating clear masculinity. He is also has unchallenged freedom since he is not portrayed as being tied down to any responsibility. In addition, Craig states that, “On the other hand, the absence of women must not suggest homosexuality. Men’s men are clearly heterosexual.” His point is that even if there are no women in the commercial, there has to be a clear indicator that the men are not homosexuals. Indicators include that men in ads are heterosexuals are that more than two males are present and the men are introduced as brothers.
48 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted 10 December 1948 UNGA Res 217 A(III) (UDHR), Art 1
In the advertisement, there is a woman displayed in a seductive manner, with her legs
Attention is first drawn to the two figures in the advert, one man and one boy. The relationship between the two will be investigated later, but it is assumed that this advert, by only featuring two male figures, is targeted at men.
Declaration of Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for All of Us. Accessed on October 29,
The Representation of Men and Women in the Media Men and women are both represented differently in the media these days. Then the sand was sunk. Ironically it was even represented differently in the title of this essay. Men came before women! I am writing an essay to explain how men and women are represented in the media.
An article by Christina N Baker, Images of Women’s Sexuality in Advertisements: A content Analysis of Black And White Oriented Women’s and Men’s Magazine emphasizes on how women’s are portrayed in media such as advertisements and Magazine. The author analyzes how media has a huge impact in our society today; as a result, it has an influence on race and gender role between men and women.
According to D Gauntlett (2008), Media and communications are a central element of modern life, whilst gender and sexuality remain at the core of how we think about our identities. In modern societies, people spend more hours for watching television, look...
Portrayal of Women in the Media Gender is the psychological characteristics and social categories that are created by human culture. Gender is the concept that humans express their gender when they interact with one another. Messages about how a male or female is supposed to act come from many different places. Schools, parents, and friends can influence a person.