1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?
Pan Am- Men stare at the female characters (stewardesses)
Beyoncé- rubs her body while looking at the camera which lead to objectification
2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?
I believe it’s still sexism as even though the women are seen to have more power they’re still be objectified by the men.
3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.
Male Gaze - The gaze referring to Laura Mulvey's seminal article Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema which argues that main stream Hollywood films subject female characters to the 'male gaze' of the camera, fragmenting and objectifying their bodies.
Feminism - A movement aimed at defining, establishing, and defending women's rights
and equality to men.
Patriarchy - An ideology that places men in a
dominant position over women.
Now read The Theory Drop: Gender Performativity (MM69, page 25) and answer the following questions.
1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?
They get put into clothing with slogans that enforce everyday sexism which sets a standard for them and how they should behave. Boys are told they can be disruptive and wild whereas girls are taught to be kind and caring.
2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?
Someone who is non binary doesn't associate themselves with either gender. This could link to Butlers theory as people who are non binary perform in a way to show that they are almost a mixture of the different genders by performing in ways associated with both.
3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.
1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?
They get put into clothing with slogans that enforce everyday sexism which sets a standard for them and how they should behave. Boys are told they can be disruptive and wild whereas girls are taught to be kind and caring.
2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?
Someone who is non binary doesn't associate themselves with either gender. This could link to Butlers theory as people who are non binary perform in a way to show that they are almost a mixture of the different genders by performing in ways associated with both.
3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.
Gender stereotypes are useful for simplifying narratives and making it easier for the audience to understand the characters. This helps make media successful as it aligns with audience expectations and allows them to relate to the product/characters within it.
1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?
This contributes to Butlers idea as in the video beyoncé uses stereotypical roles of a woman in the past and costumes which align with stereotypical gender roles which shows that gender isn’t something we’re born with it’s something that is taught and these behaviours are enforced by repetition through history.
2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?
Van Zoonen might say that his theory about women being sexualised and objectified is true as in the video we see how beyoncé uses revealing clothing and movements to gain the attention of the viewer which also links to mulveys theory on the male gaze suggesting that omen in media are simply there to be looked at.
3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women?
This contributes to Butlers idea as in the video beyoncé uses stereotypical roles of a woman in the past and costumes which align with stereotypical gender roles which shows that gender isn’t something we’re born with it’s something that is taught and these behaviours are enforced by repetition through history.
2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?
Van Zoonen might say that his theory about women being sexualised and objectified is true as in the video we see how beyoncé uses revealing clothing and movements to gain the attention of the viewer which also links to mulveys theory on the male gaze suggesting that omen in media are simply there to be looked at.
3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women?
I believe beyoncé doesnt empower women in her music video as she still objectifies herself and makes it seem like she’s putting herself into jobs that’s align with common sexual stereotypes such as the stereotype that women are meant to stay at home and chase men because men are “breadwinners”.
In the video he uses humour/comedy to subvert from the long established stereotypes of “tough men”. He also shows confidence but in a way that doesn’t make it seem that he believes he is dominant or better than everyone because of his gender.
2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?
He says that over the last 20 years there has been an increase in the diversity of representation of men and the new idea of men being able to focus on their appearance without being attacked/judged by society.
3) What is YOUR view on the representation of men and masculinity? Are young men still under pressure from the media to act or behave in a certain way?
I believe the media is still pressuring men to act/behave a certain way as they see videos of young men on social media which make them believe they need to act a certain way to fit into society which also leads to bullying. I do also believe that society and media is more accepting of men behaving in different ways and subverting from societal norms in their own unique ways.
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