Representation- Gender

Gender

In the media, stereotypes play a large role in representation.  Producers and directors often use stereotypes to make it clear to the audience just what kind of character is being represented, making it easier for them to understand and follow the plot of the production. Stereotypes can either be positively or they can be subverted, meaning they do the opposite to reinforcing said stereotype.

Gender plays a huge role in representation when it comes to media. Women are much more likely to be represented in an objectifying manner in comparison to men. This can range from wearing revealing outfits to performing acts that can be deemed as sexual or sexually orientated. An example of this is the use of female dancers, predominantly (but not limited to) seen in pop or hip-hop videos. Female back-up dancers and background "displays" are often wearing very revealing clothing, if any at all. The lack of clothing and the seductive nature of their dancing makes them seem more like a part of the background or "wallpaper" as opposed to a contributing factor of the song itself.

The media also holds a stereotype over men, too. Medial influences convey men as being unlikely to share their own emotional problems or opinions and are, instead, portrayed more like robots due to their inability to display any emotions. Due to this, men are usually made out to be tough and independent.

In 1999, Children Now, a California-based organisation that examines the impact of media on children and youth, released a report entitled Boys to Men: Media Messages About Masculinity. The report argues that the media's portrayal of men tends to reinforce men's social dominance.

The report observes that:

-the majority of male characters in media are heterosexual

-male characters are more often associated with the public sphere of work, rather than the private sphere of the home, and issues and problems related to work are significantly more important than personal issues

-non-white male characters are more likely to experience personal problems and are more likely to use physical          aggression or violence to solve those problems.