The study of gender representation in media and how it shapes attitudes and beliefs about gender.
History of gender roles in media: Exploring how gender roles have evolved in media over time, and the impact this has had on the portrayal and perception of men and women.
Representation of women in media: Analyzing the ways in which women are depicted in media, including stereotypes, objectification, and the impact of media on body image and self-esteem.
Representation of men in media: Examining how men are portrayed in media and how this contributes to traditional notions of masculinity and what it means to be a man.
Intersectionality in media: Exploring the ways in which gender intersects with other aspects of identity such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and disability, and the impact this has on representation in media.
LGBTQ+ representation in media: Analyzing the ways in which the LGBTQ+ community is portrayed in media, including representation in film, television, and advertising.
Gender and language in media: Investigating the language and vocabulary used in media coverage, and how this reinforces or challenges gender roles and stereotypes.
Advertising and marketing: Examining the ways in which gender is used in advertising, including the objectification of women and the reinforcement of gender stereotypes.
Media ownership and representation: Exploring the relationship between media ownership and representation, including the impact of a lack of diversity in media ownership on representation.
Women in media leadership: Examining the representation of women in media leadership roles, including their achievements and the challenges they face.
Media and political representation: Analyzing the role of media in political representation, including the portrayal of female politicians and the impact this has on their electoral success.
Print Media: This includes books, newspapers, and magazines that have traditionally represented gender in binary terms, with men being portrayed as strong and dominant, while women are often depicted as weak and submissive.
Television: Television media is known for perpetuating gender norms through television shows, such as soap operas, sitcoms, and dramas, which often portray gender in a stereotypical manner.
Film: Film media has been known to perpetuate misogynistic and sexist images in movies, with female characters often being portrayed as stereotypes, such as the damsel in distress or the sexual object.
Internet and Social Media: With the rapid growth of social media, gendered stereotypes are now being perpetuated through online platforms. Women are often bombarded with messages that promote unrealistic beauty standards, while men are often portrayed as dominant and aggressive.
Advertising: Advertising media has traditionally perpetuated gender stereotypes to sell products. Men are often portrayed as successful, strong, and in control, while women are seen as passive, emotional, and submissive.
Music: Music has always been known to play a role in shaping gender roles and stereotypes, with male artists often depicted as strong and macho, while female artists are portrayed as sex symbols.
Video Games: Video games have also been known to perpetuate gender stereotypes, with male characters taking on the roles of heroes, and female characters being portrayed as helpless victims or sexual objects.