Transcript Essay on media representations of gender

How to plan and write an essay on media
representations of gender
Starter
 Work on your own.
 Answer this short mark exam question:
1.


Describe one way in which the mass media may
present stereotyped images of women and explain
why this stereotyping can be seen as a problem. (5
marks)
On way in which the mass media may present
stereotyped images of women is...
. For
example,...
This could be seen as a problem because...
 Describe one way in which the mass media stereotype males and
explain why some sociologists might argue that this is a
problem? (5 marks)
 referring to a particular stereotype or image, such as ‘macho’,
sports-mad, gay, effeminate, the ‘new man’ and so on, possibly via
an example. (2 marks)
+
 simple explanation of the impact the chosen stereotype can have
on self-perception and/or public perception and how this can
lead to an appropriate problem, eg anti-social behaviour, social
exclusion, homophobia, etc. ( 1-2 marks).
 explanation explicitly related to the alleged link between the
stereotype and a subsequent social problem. need for some men
to conform to an image of excessive masculinity, the
reinforcement of negative perceptions of minority groups such as
gay men (full 3 marks)
Objectives
 To research sociological theories on media
representations of gender.
 To work in pairs to plan an essay on this topic.
 To work in pairs to write the essay.
Task 1
 Work in pairs. Scan read the textbook, pages 220 – 221 and
answer these questions into your book:
1. What did Sharpe find out about representations of
women and men in children’s books?
2. What did Cumberbatch find out about TV adverts?
3. What did Williams find out about the reporting of sport
on TV?
4. What did Gauntlett find out about representations of
masculinity in men’s magazines?
5. Has there been any change in recent years in the way
women and men are represented? Can you think of nay
examples?
Gender representations in the media
 During the 1970s, the images of women in the media tended to be stereotypical
in TV adverts, TV programmes, films, magazines and the news.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Sharpe studied women and men’s images in children’s books. She found that
they were portrayed in stereotypical ways with men as heroes and women in
need of being rescued, e.g. Cinderella.
Cumberbatch studied TV adverts and found that most people in them were
men, voice-overs on the adverts are done by men, women in adverts are
young and blonde, man are show at work and women with male partners.
Williams studied sport reporting on TV and found that women’s sport is
excluded or trivialised. For example, female tennis players are written about
as sex objects not as professional athletes.
Gauntlett studied men’s magazines and found that they present
stereotypical images of masculinity, e.g. that men like to look at women and
they like cars, gadgets and sport.
However, more recent children’s books present women and men in less
stereotypical roles and there are now strong female characters in TV
programmes and films.
Task 2
 Work in pairs to plan this essay:
 Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the mass
media represent gender roles in ways that reflect the
reality in modern Britain. (12 marks)
Step 1
 Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the mass
media represent gender roles in ways that reflect the
reality in modern Britain. (12 marks)
Step 2
 Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the mass
media represent gender roles in ways that reflect the
reality in modern Britain. (12 marks)
 Are media representations of gender roles realistic or
stereotyped?
Step 4
Media representations are
stereotyped
Media representations
are realistic
 In children’s books and
recent TV programmes
and films.
 During the past 30 years
new women’s magazines
have emerged such as
Marie Claire and
Cosmopolitan. These
magazines tend to focus
on issues such as domestic
violence, careers and
sexual freedom.


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

Sharpe - children’s books - women and men in
stereotypical ways with men as heroes and women in
need of being rescued, e.g. Cinderella.
Cumberbatch - TV adverts - most people in them
were men, voice-overs on the adverts are done by
men, women in adverts are young and blonde, man
are show at work and women with male partners.
Williams - sport reporting on TV - women’s sport is
excluded or trivialised, e.g. female tennis players are
written about as sex objects.
Ferguson – women’s magazines - “apprentice
manuals” to teach women domestic skills and
encouraged a cult of femininity. Magazines also
objectify women by showing them as sexual objects
to be enjoyed by men.
Gauntlett - men’s magazines - stereotypical images
of masculinity, e.g. that men like to look at women
and they like cars.
Task 3
 Continue working in your pairs.
 Each pair will be assigned one of the paragraphs from
the plan.
What are the mass
media?
Technological
advances affecting
the mass media
Mass media
representations of
ethnic groups
Mass media
representations of
gender
The consumption of
the mass media newspaper
readership, TV
watching and the
Internet
What effect do the
media have on its
audience? How do
the mass media act
as agents of
socialisation?
How can media
develop people’s
political views?
How is the content
of the media
created?
What influence has
the development of
the internet got
over the
distribution of
power within the
media?
Who owns the mass
media? - Theories on
the mass media
Mass media and
crime
Contemporary
media related
issues such as
violence
Revision and end of
Topic exam question
Review
 Copy and paste the paragraphs into a Word document.
 Save it.
 Email it to the other person in your pair.
Home learning
 Revise the whole Mass Media Topic by reading
through your notes in preparations for the mock exam
(in 2 weeks).