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: 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: What did Sharpe find out about representations of women and men in children’s books? What did Cumberbatch find out about TV adverts? What did Williams find out about the reporting of sport on TV? What did Gauntlett find out about representations of masculinity in men’s magazines? 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. 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 Media representations are stereotyped 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. 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.

How can media develop people’s political views? 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? What are the mass media? Technological advances affecting the mass media The consumption of the mass media - newspaper readership, TV watching and the Internet Mass media representations of ethnic groups 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 Contemporary media related issues such as violence Revision and end of Topic exam question Mass media representations of gender Mass media and crime

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).