Representation- Gender

Gender is perhaps the most basic category we use for sorting human beings, and it is a key issue when discussing representation.

Essential elements of our own identity, and the identities we assume other people to have, come from concepts of gender.

What does it mean to be a boy or a girl? Many objects, not just humans, are represented by the media as being particularly masculine or feminine - particularly in advertising - and we grow up with an awareness of what constitutes 'appropriate' characteristics for each gender

Representation of Femininity

Feminism has been a recognised social philosophy for more than thirty years, and the changes that have occurred in women's roles in western society during that time have been huge.

Yet media representation of women remains worryingly constant. Does this reflect that the status of women has not really changed or that the still male-dominated media does not want to accept it has changed?

Representations of women across all media tend to highlight the following:

·         beauty (within narrow conventions)

·         size/physique (again, within narrow conventions)

·         sexuality (as expressed by the above)

·         emotional (as opposed to intellectual)

·         relationships (as opposed to independence)

Women are often represented as being part of a context (family, friends, colleagues) and working/thinking as part of a team.

In drama, they tend to take the role of helper or object, passive rather than active.

Often their passivity extends to victimhood .

Men are still represented as TV drama characters up to 3 times more frequently than women, and tend to be the predominant focus of news stories.

The representations of women that do make it onto page and screen do tend to be stereotypical.

Representation of Masculinity

Masculinity' is a concept that is made up of more rigid stereotypes than femininity. Representations of men across all media tend to focus on the following:

·         Strength - physical and intellectual

·         Power

·         Sexual attractiveness (based on the above)

·         Physique

·         Independence (of thought, action)

Male characters are often represented as isolated, as not needing to rely on others (the lone hero).

If they agree to be part of a family, it is often part of the resolution of a narrative, rather than an integral factor in the initial equilibrium.

The male physique is becoming more important a part of representations of masculinity. It is the most easily recognisable trait of masculinity

As media representations of masculinity become more specifically targeted at audiences with product promotion in mind.

Men are encouraged to aspire to be like (to look/behave in the same way) the role models they see in magazines.

This is often an unrealistic target to set, and awareness of this is growing.