Identify and briefly explain two ways that femininity is represented in the media.
OCR
A Level
2018
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Essay Outline: Femininity in the Media
This essay will explore two ways femininity is represented in the media. It will draw on key sociological perspectives and studies to analyse these representations.
Introduction
Introduce the topic of femininity and its representation in the media. Briefly define femininity and its significance in shaping social norms and expectations. Highlight the importance of studying these representations, including their potential impact on gender roles and societal perceptions.
Body Paragraph 1: The Traditional Image of Femininity: Housewife/Mother
* **Thesis:** The media often portrays femininity through the traditional role of the housewife/mother, reinforcing patriarchal expectations. * **Evidence:** * **Tuchman's "symbolic annihilation"**: Explain how this concept applies to the limited representation of women in the media and their frequent erasure from significant roles. * **Ferguson's "cult of femininity"**: Discuss how this concept explains the pressure on women to conform to specific beauty standards and domestic roles promoted by the media. * **Examples:** Provide specific examples from television shows, films, or advertisements illustrating the housewife/mother trope. * **Analysis:** Analyze how these representations perpetuate gender stereotypes and reinforce traditional power structures.Body Paragraph 2: The Objectification of Women: Ideal Body Image and Male Gaze
* **Thesis:** The media often objectifies women by focusing on their physical appearance and promoting an idealized body image, perpetuating the male gaze. * **Evidence:** * **Mulvey's "male gaze"**: Explain how this theory suggests that women are often viewed through a male lens, primarily as objects of desire. * **Examples:** Provide specific examples from advertisements, fashion magazines, or films that illustrate the objectification of women. * **Studies on female representation in action films (Knight):** Discuss how even with increasing prominence, female action characters often remain hypersexualized and subjected to the male gaze. * **Analysis:** Discuss the impact of these representations on women's body image, self-esteem, and self-perception. Explore how they contribute to the normalization of female objectification.Body Paragraph 3: Emerging Trends in Feminist Representation
* **Thesis:** While traditional representations remain prevalent, more recent studies show a growing trend towards more positive and diverse representations of femininity in the media. * **Evidence:** * **Studies by Glascock, Mayers, Westwood, Gill, Gauntlett:** Highlight research that identifies films and media projects that subvert hegemonic versions of femininity and promote more complex female characters. * **Examples:** Provide specific examples of media that challenges traditional expectations and presents female characters as strong, independent, and multifaceted. * **Bristol Fawcett Society study:** Discuss findings that highlight the increasing presence of positive female role models in the media. * **Analysis:** Analyze the implications of these shifting representations for gender equality and the potential for positive social change.Conclusion
* **Restate the thesis:** Summarize the two ways femininity is represented in the media, highlighting the traditional representations and the emerging trends towards positive portrayals. * **Evaluation:** Evaluate the impact of these representations on societal expectations and gender roles. Discuss the ongoing debate about the role of media in shaping gender identity. * **Conclusion:** Briefly conclude with the importance of challenging harmful representations and promoting inclusive and diverse portrayals of femininity in the media.Please note: This is an outline. You need to elaborate and expand upon these points with specific evidence, examples and analysis to create a complete A-level essay
Representations of Femininity in Media
The media plays a significant role in shaping societal perceptions, including the representation of femininity. While representations have become more diverse in recent years, traditional portrayals often reinforce patriarchal norms and expectations. This essay will discuss two prominent ways femininity is depicted in the media: the ideal body image and the obsession with romance.
The Ideal Body Image
One pervasive way femininity is represented is through the portrayal of an “ideal” body image. Mass media, particularly advertising and magazines, frequently showcase women with unrealistic proportions and features, perpetuating the message that a woman’s worth is tied to her physical appearance. This often unattainable standard can lead to body image issues, low self-esteem, and eating disorders among women and girls constantly bombarded with these images.
Ferguson's concept of the "cult of femininity" highlights how these media portrayals cultivate a narrow definition of femininity, emphasizing beauty, slimness, and youthfulness. Magazines like those studied by McRobbie showcase these ideals, implicitly pressuring women to conform. This objectification reduces women to their physical attributes, ignoring their skills, intellect, and individuality. While some progress has been made with body positivity movements and more diverse representation, the ideal body image remains a dominant trope in media portrayals of femininity.
Obsessed with Romance and Finding a Man
Another prevalent representation of femininity in the media is the portrayal of women as being preoccupied with romance and finding a partner. From romantic comedies to reality dating shows, the narrative often revolves around a woman's quest for love and her happiness being contingent upon securing a romantic relationship. This reinforces the patriarchal notion that a woman's ultimate goal should be marriage and domesticity, sidelining their aspirations in other spheres of life, such as education, career, or personal fulfillment.
This focus on romantic love can also contribute to the societal pressure on women to be desirable and seek male validation. It minimizes their agency and perpetuates the idea that a woman is incomplete without a partner. While some media portrayals attempt to challenge this narrative by showcasing independent, successful women who prioritize their own goals, the trope of the love-obsessed woman remains pervasive, influencing perceptions of femininity and reinforcing traditional gender roles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the representation of femininity in the media is complex and multifaceted. While some progress has been made in challenging stereotypical portrayals, the ideal body image and the obsession with romance remain dominant tropes that influence societal perceptions and perpetuate gender inequality. It is crucial to critically analyze these representations and promote more diverse, realistic, and empowering depictions of women in the media to challenge harmful stereotypes and foster a more equitable society.
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Femininity
Femininity may be represented as:
- Housewife/ mother
- Ideal body shape / image (objectification of women)
- Obsessed with romance and finding a man
- Women as invisible in the media
- Increasingly positive representation
Studies
Studies may include:
- Tuchman (symbolic annihilation)
- Ferguson (the cult of femininity)
- McRobbie
- Bristol Fawcett society study
- Mulvey Male gaze
- Glascock, Mayers, Westwood, Gill, Gauntlett (Alien e.g. subverting hegemonic versions of femininity. (More recent studies showing femininity in a more positive light)
- Knight (2010) even with more recent action roles they are traditionally attractive still objectified and under male gaze.