Gender Roles in the Media by (Isabel S Leone)
In my cultural abstract I explored the correlation gender roles has with the media. Mainly the stereotypical gender roles the media creates. I wanted to show the progression the media has on us. Starting from when we are young to adults the overall message presented doesnt change. We buy into these gender roles and are more susceptible to judge others when they dont.
In class we talked about nature-nurture debate. Nurture is the differences in male in female beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are learned through social and cultural, are physiological, and due largely to environment. I agree with this completely because starting at a young age we are exposed to media. Television plays a significant role in this. In childrens television programs they always emphasize stereotypical gender roles. This is typically the girl playing with dolls or playing-house with her friends or guys playing with action figures that allude to fighting or dominance. When either gender is shown engaging in inappropriate gender behavior they receive criticisms for it from peers or even parents. The idea of boys are better than girls is presented to children as well. This stereotype is presented in a variety of forms.
The media plays a more powerful role into our awkward years, which is generally around 11-15. This is the time where we have no idea who we are. Our sense of identity is comprised in magazines and television shows where the images of beautiful, skinny, flawless girls consume the covers and spotlights. Most of us will buy into this imagine. We try to change who we are and what we look like. I was victim of this is middle school. When the show Laguna Beach came out everyone loved Kristin. She was beautiful, tall, skinny, and had short, straight blonde hair with a side bang. After watching the show, I went straight to my hairdresser where I got my long, brown, curly hair cut, dyed, and straightened. Needless to say it was not the best look for me and I regretted short after when I didnt get the response I wanted form my peers.
For guys the idea presented is being this big tough guy. This is the guy with the biggest muscles who engages in manly activities. He rarely shows emotion well, cause guys dont have emotion. He will make fun of people and belittle them so he is perceived as dominant to others.
The media has a large influence on athletics in creating barriers for equality. The idea that boys are better than girl is presented throughout television and movies. For example when it comes to picking teams, girls are always picked last, or they might not even get picked at all. In the movie Shes the Man a girl disguises herself as her brother to play on an all guys team because girls arent allowed to play. She turns out to be one of the best players on the team. This shows the idea that men think they are the dominant gender over women when they arent. We are equal.