Masculinity in crisis update;

Hi, all,
Thanks to everyone who visited the final facilitation and offered up great conversation for all three presentations.

Some key takeaways from my presentation were--

1. Identity of masculinity being dependent inherently on what is feminine

2. Masculinity is changing as rapidly as the ongoing discourse of gender itself.

3. Our normative ideals of masculinity are often antiquated, aggressive, and without inhibitors due to the institutionalized hegemony of masculinity.

We also noted it was important that we de-gender acts-- a performance may be considered masculine if it is militaristic, or feminine if it is overly sympathetic. Just as objects are gendered inaccurately we should avoid gendering actions of particular impressionability as being inherently masculine or feminine.

One scholar in the field of gender communication that could be and was used to further the discussion is Bell Hooks.

Another could be Simon De Beauvoir,

Finally, I would like to further part of the discussion on gendered acts,

We saw in class discussion that workplace environments can often present opportunities for masculinity to recede or be used as a tool for assertion. With that in mind, what are some other roles or identities that we assume that we consider typically masculine?

Sexualization of Women

Hello All!

            The section I will be discussing and the topic in which we will be opening up Monday’s class discussion with is the sexualization of women through the institution of media. The selected reading for this upcoming class can be found in the library database entitled Gendered Media: The Influence of Media on Views of Gender, by Julia T. Wood. The article discusses the portrayal of both men and women in media as well as the dynamic displayed between the two.

“Woven throughout our daily lives, media insinuate their messages into our consciousness at every turn. All forms of media communicate images of the sexes, many of which perpetuate unrealistic, stereotypical, and limiting perceptions” (Wood, 1994). Whether it is an advertisement, news story or even just in the comfort of our homes, we see a demonstration of the sexualization of women and the roles that have been assigned to them. Even the dolls children play with possess the “ideal” body type and are dressed in “sexy” clothing. 

Throughout the article, Wood brings up three themes that I want you to be mindful of:

1.     Underrepresentation

2.     Stereotypes

3.     Roles that have been enforced and normalized between women and men

Also, the textbook discusses in depth the sexualization of women. After reading both the chapter and the article consider these questions:

1.     When does sexualization occur?

2.     Where do we see this sexualization occur?

3.     What are the results or consequences of sexualization?

4.     What is self-objectification and in what ways do individuals self objectify?

5.     What behaviors have occurred and been normalized due to sexualization?

I look forward to discussing and exchanging ideas this Monday!


Hello class, 

             I thoroughly enjoyed our last discussion together. We talked a lot about the portrayals of women in media and how this affects our perception of women in the real world. The sexualization of women normalizes violence, reinforces gender expectations and limits women's individuality. Also, it was established that women of color are sexualized differently than white women and that men can also be sexualized. However, we agreed that media is an institution that benefits the white, heterosexual, male. With all of this being said, we seemed to spend the most time brain storming ideas on how to solve the gender inequality that exists in media and how to help prevent negative outcomes from the sexualization of women. 

Continuing the discussion....
            I would love to hear more opinions on how these issues should be approached. Also, we determined that this sexualization appears on various forms of media and that these messages are being fed to us constantly. What are some specific examples of where you all have seen sexualization? Approach this critically and explain the problematic details of this display. 

Thank you all for an interesting semester! 
Kait 

Masculinity in Crisis

Class,

Monday, along with other peers, I will be presenting on 'Masculinity in crisis.'

Julia T. Woods-- "The media present a distorted version of cultural life in our country. . ." (1994.)

Robert Hanke-- "hegemonic masculinity is won not only through coercion but through consent, even though there is never complete consensus. . ." (1998)

Having these quotes in mind we can examine five defining characteristics of U.S. Hegemonic Masculinity within scope : (Nick Trujillo, 1991.)

1. power means physical force and control;

2. occupational achievement;

3. familial patriarch; in which the man is the breadwinner;

4. symbolized by the frontiersman and the outdoors man;

5. heterosexual.

The textbook examines traditional prominence of what is considered 'masculine' in an array of media outlets, as well as hashing over how, and what, responses arise out of a perceived collapse of the traditional every-man.
We've collectively been exposed to traditional heroes like Siegfried, Achilles, even Super Mario, for centuries. More contemporarily the John Waynes, Steve McQueens, Chris Pratts, Chris Evans and Arnold Schwarzeneggers have been idols of those seeking a mold or model for the actions of the manly-man.
In questioning this role, one could ask;

1. Is it necessary to have ideals for masculine and feminine types? Do they require wider consensus if so?

2. Is masculinity in crisis to begin with? Or is its acceptance of typically feminist critique just an example a growing reach of what is considered masculine?

3. Is reinforcing masculinity typically or inherently violent? Or harmful/dangerous for other individuals or role and identity types?

4. Can masculinity be 'soft'?

5. Who is the most masculine person you know and does their perceived identity accentuate or hide this?


Terms to keep in mind:

--Hypermasculine

--Caregiver and Breadwinner

--Normalization

--Crisis

--Fulfillment

--Competence

Julia T. Woods Article on Gendered media: https://www1.udel.edu/comm245/readings/GenderedMedia.pdf

Media Hegemony or Polysemy, Media Polyvalence

Hi everyone! I will be presenting on Thursday about media hegemony and polysemy as well as media polyvalence. As an introduction to my topic, here is a brief description of the terms:  

• Media hegemony is the way a dominant ideology is diffused to, and accepted by, subordinate groups. In other words, the way that media can portray a certain idea to the public to make the public take that specific belief as the truth, with little to no room for interpretation.
• “...mass media have a considerable power over people as they “churn out products which keep the audience blandly entertained, but passive, helping to maintain the status quo by encouraging conformity and diminishing the scope of resistance” (p. 228)

• Polysemy counters this belief. Media polysemy is the idea that media is open to a range of different interpretations at different times. This suggests that it is not determined by the media providers but is created individually by each member of the audience. This side argues that “people do not consume media offerings mindlessly but instead actively and creatively engage with them” (p. 228).
• Media polyvalence occurs when audience members share understandings of the denotations of a text but disagree about the importance of these denotations to such a degree that they produce notably different interpretations. This means that viewers generally agree on the meaning or ideas of a given message, but may or may not agree with what the message is actually trying to convey.

You can find the article that I have chosen at this link and I would like you to read pages 9-16: http://wmc.3cdn.net/83bf6082a319460eb1_hsrm680x2.pdf

Here are a few questions to keep in mind while you are reading and to think about in preparation for class:

1. Why do you think the media, specifically news coverage, is still so dominated by men? Do you think this has anything to do with hegemonic, polysemous or polyvalence ideologies?
2. Think of an advertisement or a commercial that you’ve seen, how does that advertisement, or advertising as a whole, relate to these ideals?

*UPDATED SINCE PRESENTATION*

In class, we talked about the different theories in which media is interpreted by an audience and how these theories affect our understandings. We had a discussion about the various usages and examples of these forms, but specifically hegemony, within media. We talked about how these concepts are commonly shown within media and how these can correlate with gendered representations, such as within the article. The article talks about how media is predominantly a male a field, it also discusses how the majority of female journalists report on topics related to the home or cooking while men are assigned much different stories. Why do you think this is and how can this relate to the aforementioned theories of interpretation?

Scholar Bonnie Dow (1996) argues that media is “simultaneously a commodity, an art form, and an important ideological forum for public discourse about social issues and social change”,  thinking about the examples shown in class, or  examples from your own experiences, how important is it for us to recognize media as entertainment as well as an important and accurate representation of current societal landscapes?

Who Is Represented In Media

Hey guys! here is the link to the article I chose on who is represented in media. It is a PDF with many pages, so I would like you to read pages 58-62.

http://wmc.3cdn.net/83bf6082a319460eb1_hsrm680x2.pdf

Here are some questions to keep in mind when reading the article for when we have class on Thursday.



Q: Have you noticed a trend when using media that certain people are underrepresented? Were you surprise by the statistics provided?

Q: What are some specific examples in some of the shows you watched or any media that you have used recently where this had occured?


Thank you for your participation and I will see you on Thursday!

Gazes and Media

Hi! I will be talking about Communication and Media on Thursday, 12/8. Most medias, especially social medias, create gender identities today.
The contents from the textbook that I will cover is from page 230 to 237.
Please read and think about the connections between the contents and your own experience, and share it in the class!

I also want you to read the article from Women's Media Center, WMC.

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/blog/entry/girls-investigate-pop-culture-problems-social-media-snags-by-julia-lo

According to the textbook, women are more likely to be looked at than men.
The article shows how women become eager to be beautiful to gather attentions.
 People's ways of seeing changes all the time, so people have to keep up with the trends to be fashionable.

I want you to prepare for answering to the questions below.

1.  There are many criterions about the appearances for women to be an ideal. For example, women should be skinny and have big eyes. Women unconsciously follow the tacit criterions to get more gazes like actresses and celebrities. Do you think these criterions that could judge people by their appearances should be gone and we need to focus on the personalities? Or do you think it is also important?

2. According to the article, people get plastic surgery to be beautiful like models on the medias, and also to just post the beautiful profile picture on their social media accounts. What do you think about it? Do you think it is because of medias?

Thank you for reading!


---------------------Update Post Presentation---------------------

First, I just want to thank you all to participate to my presentation discussion and provided some comments. I hope you got ideas of how medias, especially social networking sites, form the gender identity in these days. In movies, dramas, posters and drawings, women are mostly object to be gazed, and men are the ones to look at them. Recent advertisements enhance that women should be more women and men should be more men. There are many people who are trying to be like the one in the ads. When they desire to be like models too much, they almost lose their own identities as well.

This is the question that I asked you during my presentation.
Q: Today, so may young people, especially females, get Botox to get beautiful faces. Do you think it is because of social networking sites?

I heard many people's opinions about this questions.
Social medias enhance women to be more object than being human. That is why a lot of females are eager to take beautiful photos and use them for profile pictures of social medias. Objectification became very famous today.
One comment that I'm interested is that in the past, people have parties that all participants must wear masks. In today's society, social medias are like that.
It is true that people now connect with others on the Internet, but they are not sure that the people who they connect with are really who they are. Therefore, the Internet is now kind of mask so that it is same that people communicate with others online with wearing masks.
Women can be more beautiful on the Internet, and get more attention from people around them. Women today are used to be gazed and addicted to seek the ways to be more attractive.

Then, I want you to consider about questions below.

1. How will young people's behavior towards addiction to be more attractive be changed in the future?
2. As mentioned before, it is not too much to say that medias create the recent identities of gender. People get affected too much from that. Should medias change their concept of gender identity? Why?
3. Do you think that the Objectification Theory, which is "Women are seen as objects-things to be looked at rather than people who can act", is true or not?