SOC 436 Topic 7 Discussion Question 1

How does the media (films, music, politics, TV programming, etc. – pick one to highlight) contribute to the perpetuation of gender inequality? Support your answer.

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS 

The role of media in gender inequality

Introduction

The media shapes our perception of the reality that surrounds us, and it’s no secret that certain aspects of media feed into gender stereotypes. Still, people may not realize just how powerful the media is, or how it influences people on a daily basis. Consumers’ views of the world are shaped by their experiences with the media. Most people can name at least one area of life in which the stereotypes portrayed in the media have affected them. Even more important is treating everyone as equal despite differences—especially when it comes to gender equality!

The media shapes our perception of the reality that surrounds us, and it’s no secret that certain aspects of media feed into gender stereotypes.

The media shapes our perception of the reality that surrounds us, and it’s no secret that certain aspects of media feed into gender stereotypes. For example, in 2014 the Center for American Progress released a report on how television shows portray women. It found that “women are most likely to be portrayed as victims or sex objects” and that these depictions have a negative impact on girls’ self-esteem and expectations for adulthood.

In addition to showing women in stereotypical ways (e.g., being helpless), media often portrays men as dominant—and not just in terms of their physical strength (e.g., Superman). Men also hold positions of power within society: CEOs make more money than other CEOs; CEOs outnumber all other occupations combined; and men account for over half of employees at Fortune 500 companies worldwide today!

Still, people may not realize just how powerful the media is, or how it influences people on a daily basis.

Still, people may not realize just how powerful the media is, or how it influences people on a daily basis. The media can be a great tool for promoting gender equality. In fact, many activists have used television shows and movies to spread awareness about issues such as gun control and climate change.

The media may also shape our perception of reality by reporting stories that are biased against certain groups of people (for example: transgender individuals). This might lead us to believe that these groups are more likely to commit crimes than others—or even make up false allegations against real victims—when in reality this isn’t true at all!

Consumers’ views of the world are shaped by their experiences with the media.

The media has a powerful influence on people’s perception of the world around them. Consumers’ views of the world are shaped by their experiences with the media. In some cases, this can be positive: for example, if a consumer sees an article about how men and women should behave in society, they might realize that these stereotypes are unfair and start to question them. But in other cases, it can be detrimental; for example:

• A consumer may come across an article about how women shouldn’t do certain things because they don’t have any natural abilities (e.g., being able to multitask). If this consumer believes that women shouldn’t do these things or even worse—that they aren’t capable of doing so—they may begin believing that all women aren’t as smart or capable as men (which could lead them down a dangerous path).

• Consumers may also encounter articles which reinforce gender stereotypes through language used throughout content such as headlines (“The Truth about Men”), body text (“Men Are From Mars”) and images used within articles like pictures showing stereotypical occupations men tend do while working at home instead of going outside which would benefit both genders equally.*

Most people can name at least one area of life in which the stereotypes portrayed in the media have affected them.

The media is a powerful tool that can shape our views of the world. It affects everyone, but especially young people who are growing up in a world where their perceptions have been molded by media stereotypes.

The following examples are just some of the ways that media stereotypes affect people:

• Women are portrayed as less competent than men at work and home;

• Girls are encouraged to play with dolls while boys play with guns;

• Black people are often portrayed as criminals or drug dealers, whereas white people tend to be seen as heroes;

• Gay men and lesbians may be shown having sex in public places (while heterosexual couples show more discretion); and so on.

Even more important is treating everyone as equal despite differences.

Gender inequality is a global issue, and it’s important to remember that. While women are still far from being equal in the world, there has been some progress over the years. The United Nations estimates that around 25% of women worldwide have been subjected to violence committed by their male partners or other men they know—and these statistics may be even higher if we consider all forms of gender-based discrimination (such as being denied access to education).

As with any social justice movement, gender equality needs support from everyone if it is going to succeed. As an example: when we talk about “equal rights,” what exactly are we talking about? Are we talking about having equal pay for equal work? If so then this would mean that everyone earns an annual salary so that those who work full-time earn no more than those who work part-time or contract jobs; otherwise known as “equal pay for unequal work.” But what does this look like in practice? In practice means creating policies which allow for flexibility within organizations so as not only does each employee feel valued but also has opportunities available so he/she can advance professionally within his/her company; otherwise known as creating flexible labor laws (e.g., allowing employees’ leave time).

Gender equality must factor into how we think about ourselves and how we interpret the world around us.

The media can be a powerful tool for change, but it is also subject to the same problems that plague all forms of mass communication. It is not enough just to critique the content of images; you must also consider how these images are received by audiences and how they influence our perceptions of others.

Media representations of people are often based on stereotypes; when we see someone who fits into one category—whether it be gender, race or other characteristic—we tend to imagine them as being representative of that group or type in general. This leads us not only to think about people in general but also those within specific categories (e.g., “men”). As a result, media representations may reinforce existing social structures rather than challenge them or offer new understandings about what it means to belong somewhere socially or physically (such as through physical spaces such as restaurants).

At times these stereotypes can be harmful because they lead us away from understanding individuals within their full complexity instead focusing upon superficial qualities such as hairstyles or clothing choices which then reinforce negative preconceptions about certain groups without considering their individual experiences with discrimination at work places where potential employers might discriminate against women due to traditional gender roles rather than merit based hiring practices

Conclusion

While we’ve only scratched the surface of how social media and popular culture affect us, we certainly have a better understanding of how powerful these tools are. We can use this information to help us correct for gender stereotypes in our life, so that everyone can be treated equally regardless of their gender or ethnicity.

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