Feminist theory

 Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media MM40, page 64:

1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

In the pilot episode of Pan Am we first meet the stars of the show – the stewardesses – through an image of Laura, one of the main characters, on the front of a magazine cover. It is interesting to note that this first image of the Pan Am stewardesses is one which is highly constructed and mediated, an image whose purpose is to be admired and aspired to by women, and visually enjoyed by men.

2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

It seems that at that time, being an air stewardess was not seen as a career for life; frequent references are made to finding a husband, one stewardess commenting on Laura’s magazine front cover, that ‘with a face like that you will find a husband in a couple of months’. This shows that this is just sexism in a different form. 

3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Feminism – A movement aimed at defining, establishing, and defending women’s rights and equality to men.

Post-feminism – An ideology in culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.

Nostalgia – A sentimental longing for the past, often only remembering the positives of the time.

The Theory Drop: Gender Performativity (MM69, page 25): 

1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?

She argues that gender is a social construction: it is taught to us by external influences and it’s ingrained at such a young age that we often mistake it as ‘nature’ rather than ‘nurture’. Children are taught to perform their gender from early on so that they align themselves with certain tastes and behaviours befitting their gender category.

2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?

Butler would argue that this particular feminist perspective perpetuates the idea that masculinity and femininity are binary states (at opposite ends of a scale) which reinforces ideas of patriarchal control. The gender ‘trouble’ she describes is when identities are formed that mess with the two binary states of femininity and masculinity. Non-binary refers to you not being female nor male and being a whole different gender of your own. 

3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.

Audiences are more likely to be drawn to things that they recognise, that chime with their own reality, even though those ‘realities’ are – as Butler would argue – false, socially constructed and mediated (shaped through the media). Hopefully it is clear to see how the media products you have been studying contribute to the social construction of gender roles because most products do conform to stereotypes.

 Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’: 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

She was trying to state that she didn't need a man by trying to fix a car but failing and the went on to start cleaning instead which shows that that's all that women are good at. 

2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?

That women are seen as a spectacle as their bodies are being sexualised in this music video and that women are restricted to secondary roles. 

3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women? 

I think that Beyonce reinforces the traditional 'male gaze' and oppression of women due to the fact that most of the time she shakes her arse and wears revealing clothing while continuing to do stereotypical activities like cleaning.

Will Jay's video for ‘Gangsta’:

1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years? 

This video connotes that men don't have to always act hard to be classified as men and that they can be emotional without being scared that they'll look too feminine. 

2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?

He suggests that masculinity is in crisis and that some things should only be for men and not for women. Men are men. 

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 think that it's believed that men should act a certain way and that if they act in a less masculine way then they're seen as feminine or homosexual. I think that young men are definitely still under the pressure from the media to act and behave in a certain way.