Do the gender stereotypes reflected (and exploited) in popular culture define and codify gender 
identity, or do they derive from fundamental, innate gender differences? To what extent do the messages about what it means to be male and female that we see in television, film, print, and web media influence our gender identities?As you reflect on the gender stereotypes that pervade our culture, consider their implications: are they dangerous pigeonholes that limit understanding and personal growth (as many strident writers have noted), or are they less insidious charicatures, more deserving of playful mocking and armchair speculation (Dave Barry and Maureen Dowd) than passionate rebuke (Sut Jahlly and Jackson Katz in Tough Guise)? Additionally, what gender issues does screenwriter Tina Fey explore (and lampoon) in Mean Girls?
identity, or do they derive from fundamental, innate gender differences? To what extent do the messages about what it means to be male and female that we see in television, film, print, and web media influence our gender identities?As you reflect on the gender stereotypes that pervade our culture, consider their implications: are they dangerous pigeonholes that limit understanding and personal growth (as many strident writers have noted), or are they less insidious charicatures, more deserving of playful mocking and armchair speculation (Dave Barry and Maureen Dowd) than passionate rebuke (Sut Jahlly and Jackson Katz in Tough Guise)? Additionally, what gender issues does screenwriter Tina Fey explore (and lampoon) in Mean Girls?
The gender stereotypes influence how the males and females act. For example, if Jay-z said all men should wear baggy clothes a lot more men would be wearing baggy clothes. Or if he said to treat all women like you would your mother people would be a lot nicer to women in general. Men and women would be completely different if there was no gender influence in the media. The gender influences are not that dangerous, but they could be powerful. If someone with a lot of voice like, Oprah, told people to do something that was immoral or that was frowned upon, it could be very influential to a lot of women, causing a disaster. Tina Fey wrote how all the girls in high school that are popular are ridiculous and wear pink on Mondays, only shop at Abercrombie, and all are very stuck up. She also wrote how you can't be friends with these people if you don't act like them. Causing a gender issue that all girls should wear pink. She pretty much is trying to define a teenage girl, or how teenage girls should be.
ReplyDeleteGender stereotypes reflected in popular culture derive from fundamental innate gender differences. You place sterotypes on things because you see them on TV, in music or from other people around you. After hearing them you start to use them yourself. Also many guys will make stereotypes about girls and girls will do the same about guys because they are different. The messages about what it means to be a male or female that we see on TV, in films, print, and web media influence our gender identities alot because people look at things that they see on TV and in the media and take them for themselves. They use observational learning and use that in their everyday lives. For example, the part in mean girls when her sister was watching the TV and girls gone wild and she started to lift her shurt up like they do on that show. In Mean Girls there are a lot of issues that Tina Fey brings up. Like popularity and how teenagers act at school and how that effects gender identity. It shows how things work at a school and how girls actually think of each other and how they act on it.
ReplyDeleteStereotypes play a large role in the behavior of men and women. In popular culture, men are portrayed as large, muscular, and violent carrying huge guns and being disrespectful towards women. Women are shown as delicate and emotional in 'chick flicks'. When people see this in movies and tv shows they think that is how they are supposed to behave. Men wear large, baggy clothes to make themselves seem bigger and tougher. They also try to prove their masculinity by fighting because that is what they see in movies. Women strive to be graceful and lady like because that is also what they see in movies, but i believe this is toning down a lot for women. Celebrities are seen wearing boyfriend jeans, men's watches and having short 'boy cut' hair. This plays a role in the way women act today and try to mimic the famous people. I believe that the 'tough guy' stereotype is only increasing with men. This is shown by rappers constantly getting arrested and starting fights. Men try to be more like them and this definitely shows in society today. I think these stereotypes occur because many people do not have truly good role models to live up to so they instead turn to popular culture to express their gender identity.
ReplyDeleteI think that the gender stereotypes reflected and exploited in popular culture define and codify gender identity. If you think about it, we are taught these stereotypes from the second we are born. Usually when a girl is born her bedroom and belongings will be pink or another girly color such as purple. If a baby boy is born then the men of the families smoke cigars and the little boy's room and belongings are blue or green. As the kid gets older there are more toys and clothes to socialize them into the "correct" gender. For girls there are dresses and Barbies. For boys there are jeans, t-shirts, hats and Tonka trucks.
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