Critical perspectives- Gender

Definitions
Misogyny: dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.
Sex: either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions.
Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.

Stereotypical Magazines

Stereotypical Boys Magazine

• Dark colours such as green and blue.
• Male protagonist on covers front.
• Action presented through vocabulary "Escape!", "BIG ACTION!" and "BIGGEST ISSUE EVER!".
• Comic strips referenced.
• Danger, Aliens.

Stereotypical Girls Magazine

• Pastel colours such as pink and purple.
• Curvy and soft text.
• Soft lines in animation.
• "Colouring" and "Puzzles" no action calm.
• Reference to baking- Women belong in the kitchen.
• Focus on friendship.
• Free phone toy, pony toy and head band.

Stereotypical Mens Magazine

• Females presented for male pleasure (Laura Mulvey- Male Gaze).
• Leather jacket- bikes and racing.
• "Total Badasses"- childish language.
• Talks about tech and "gadgets".

Stereotypical Womens Magazine

• Pink coloration.
• Curvy gentle font.
• Reference to fashion.
• Reference to gossip.

Can Gender Perceptions Change?

• Cover Girl recently featured their first male cover model.
• This was a massive step forward for the magazine industry and media as a whole.

Metrosexuality 

Metrosexuality- a heterosexual urban man who enjoys shopping, fashion, and similar interests traditionally associated with women or homosexual men.  Can be exploited for sexuality in a similar way to women.

The Fool/Buffoon

Well intentioned and light hearted, range from inept to hopeless generally heterosexual married man.

Masculinity and Femininity 

• Gender is generally seen by the older generation as being tied to sex this is different in the younger generation and are far more accepting.
• More people are beginning to become accepting of those outside of the gender binary this has lead to more media coverage of those who may not conform to societies expectations of gender and leads to higher levels of education surrounding gender bases issues.

Examples of Those Outside of the Gender Binary

Gerard Way- Singer and Comic book artist

Ruby Rose- Television presenter, DJ, actress, model, VJ, recording artist

News (2015 studies)





In the film industry
Stats and discussion about industry start at 2.45





Examples of queer films
Broke Back Mountain- 2005

The Danish Girl- 2016



Tangerine- 2015




The Imitation Game- 2014




Examples of queer TV
Queer as folk- 1999



Adverts regarding gender
Contemporary

• Women are historically the house wives and were known as the dishwasher.

• Sugests that if you use this shower gel you will get sex and women.

• Buy our clothes and have sex.
• Lack of a head on figures shows objectification of sex.
• Man holding woman's legs shows dominance.

• Sexualisation of women as if they are merely to please a man.
• Innuendo of character positioning and language "blow" carries connotations of oral sex.

Historical

• Suggests that women are stupid and cannot use a computer only men can.
• High angle shot shows power over women by men.

• Suggests that women are hysterical and unable to control emotions.
• The more concerning element is that it is believed that if men buy women new cleaning appliances they will be happy.

• Promotion and normalisation of domestic violence in which if a women disobeys her husband he is allowed to hit and abuse her.

• "Show her it's a mans world".

Have things changed:
There has not been a major element of progress in adverts since historical texts however the main difference is the fact that in contemporary adds women are presented as sex objects in media opposed to idiotic and hysterical in historical texts.  

Wonder Woman
Article about Wonder Woman being a UN ambassador.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/21/wonder-woman-un-ambassador-staff-protest

• Wonder Woman is a sexualised character.
• Wonder Woman is not a real person.
• Wonder Woman was created by men.

Wonder Woman Trailer

• Presented as a fierce warrior.
• Male love interest.
• "What I do is not up to you"- breaking free from gender stereotypes.
• Sexualised character.