Saint Anselm College
Are we coerced into Gender “roles” by Media and Advertising?
How is masculinity and feminity depicted in the media? Are stereotypes being reinforced which keep us from being ourselves, developing qualities in ourselves that are good for all?
Watch excerpt from Killing Us Softly to consider how these stereotypes potentially disrupt and affect our lives.
Print article | This entry was posted by kasbury on February 2, 2011 at 3:44 AM, and is filed under Advertising, Diversity Media, Images, Photography, Sex and Gender, Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. |
about 11 years ago
Masculinity in the media is portrayed as dominance. Male figures still seem to show authority. Although the roles of male and female are much more balanced than they use to be, images in magazines and in advertisements still seem to portray women as inferior to men. In this particular Dolce and Gabbana Ad, the woman is laying there pinned down by a male figure, with every other male in the image starring at her. This exemplifies old stereotypes of male domination. However, this image is geared towards both males and females, in which the men have a sex appeal that attract women and the woman in the image uses her sex appeal to attract male viewers. Absolutely stereotypes are being reinforced. The issue of males being superior to females goes way back and images being produced in this decade are resembling aspects of superiority versus inferiority. Aside from the superiority issues, the media portrays men and women as “perfect” human beings, in which the models themselves in real life cannot even achieve. They are sending out false messages and standards in today’s society. These standards are so high that some individuals are putting themselves in danger in order to try and reach them. These images hinder an individual’s true qualities to come forth because they are in the shadows of what the media states individuals “ought” to look like.
about 11 years ago
Haha – I’m afraid advertisers know us better than we do – there is a lot of money at stake so they work hard to hit the spot! Read a Mills & Boon – it will tell you a lot about women – you will despair!! Advertisers reflect society – they would not be effective otherwise.