Media and Gender Course Study Notes PDF

MEDIA AND GENDER (IKU-I-215) COURSE STUDY NOTES Course Information Course Code: IKU-I-215 Instructor: Dr. Cansu Arisoy Gedik Contact: [email protected] Course Overview and Objectives The course aims to provide a critical analysis of contemporary gender representations in media,...

MEDIA AND GENDER (IKU-I-215) COURSE STUDY NOTES Course Information Course Code: IKU-I-215 Instructor: Dr. Cansu Arisoy Gedik Contact: [email protected] Course Overview and Objectives The course aims to provide a critical analysis of contemporary gender representations in media, exploring their inherent contradictions and complexities. It focuses specifically on how media constructs gender through various subjects and contexts. Primary learning outcomes include: Identifying and analyzing theoretical tools for examining media representations of gender Interrogating key terminology used in gender and media studies Exploring effective forms of political and cultural intervention to challenge gender constructions Understanding how critiques of gender representation are often incorporated into media products themselves, sometimes appearing in ironic guises Required Course Materials 1. Rosalind Gill (2007). Gender and the Media. Polity Press. 2. David Gauntlett (2008). Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction. Routledge. 3. Cynthia Carter & Linda Steiner (2004). Critical Readings: Media and Gender. Open University Press. Suggested Materials: News items, reports, and content from both conventional and electronic media can serve as course material. Key Theoretical Concepts: Understanding Gender What is Gender? Gender is defined as the socially constructed meaning of a person's physical sex Femininity and masculinity are socially constructed norms regarding behavior and appearance Gender meaning is formed through social interactions rather than being natural or innate Gender meanings are dynamic and subject to change over time Sex vs. Gender Sex typically refers to biological characteristics  Most people are expected to perform a gender that aligns with their sex Biological determinism: The view that biological differences determine gendered behavior Theoretical Approaches to Gender Key Theorists Sandra Bem created the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) in 1974 to measure how feminine or masculine people consider themselves regardless of sex Simone de Beauvoir famously stated: "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman" (1949) Ann Oakley distinguished between sex and gender, defining sex as biological differences and gender as cultural classification (1972) Approaches to Gender Essentialist approach: Views gender differences as natural and unchangeable Non-essentialist approach: Opens possibilities to reconsider gender meanings Anti-essentialist critique: Conceptualizes gender as a social construct not reducible to biology Gender as a Dynamic Concept Gender should be viewed as fluid and continuously reconstructed Intersectionality: Gender must be understood in relation to other social factors including class, age, sexuality, and ethnicity These intersecting factors are also social constructs with meanings that change over time Media Studies Concepts Defining Media Mass media aims to reach large audiences of anonymous recipients with similar information Includes newspapers, magazines, television, music, video games, and film Key Developments in Media Studies 1. Globalization Economic factors: Rise of multinational corporations Human factors: Increased migration and travel Historical focus on Western media (US/UK) is considered cultural imperialism Cultural imperialism: Domination of powerful nations imposing their norms and values 2. Technology Technological advances have transformed media production, content, and reception  Blurred traditional boundaries between media forms Critiques of Media Imperialism Media dispersion is not one-way traffic Resistance to American domination comes from both nations and audiences Audiences are not passive "sponges" absorbing media content The concept of cultural imperialism itself has fluctuating meanings that need clarification Gender and Media Studies Research Themes in Feminist Media Scholarship Three primary research themes: 1. Work on stereotypes and social roles 2. Ideology 3. Pornography Media Representation of Gender Media both reflects and shapes societal views on gender Stereotypes in media often reinforce traditional gender roles Contemporary media sometimes incorporates feminist critiques while simultaneously undermining them through irony Course Plan: Weekly Topics 1. Introduction: Why Study Gender and Media? What is Gender? What is Media? 2. Gender and Feminist Studies in Communication 3. Gender Inequalities: Masculinity vs. Femininity 4. The Media, Feminism, and Ideology 5. Objectification Theory and Body Surveillance 6. Media and Stereotypes 7. Power and Gender in the Media Industry: Glass Ceiling Effect 8. Mid Term 9. Queer Theory and Queer Representations 10. Gender in Magazines 11. News, Gender, and Journalism 12. Feminism and Online Activism: Feminist Online Resistance 13. Entertainment Industry and Gender 14. Consumer Culture and Gender in Advertisements Critical Analysis Topics Gender Stereotypes in Media "Blonde jokes" and gender-based humor Examination of whether such stereotypes are harmful or reinforcing bias Celebrity Culture and Gender Politics Analysis of statements like Lady Gaga's "I'm not a feminist. I hail men, I love men..." Critical examination of how celebrities position themselves in relation to feminism The double standards applied to male vs. female celebrities (Lady Gaga's comments about how male rockstars are praised for the same behaviors women are criticized for) Gendered Media Consumption Why certain video games and entertainment forms are marketed by gender Comparison of traditionally "feminine" media (e.g., The Sims) vs. "masculine" media (e.g., Assassin's Creed) Exploration of whether these differences reflect natural preferences or social conditioning Post-Feminist Television Critical analysis of shows like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives Discussion of what makes certain shows "post-feminist television" Examination of why certain genres are labeled as feminine or masculine despite mixed audiences Key Questions for Analysis and Discussion 1. How does media both reflect and construct gender norms? 2. In what ways are critiques of gender roles incorporated into contemporary media? 3. How do different theoretical approaches (essentialist vs. non-essentialist) shape our understanding of media representations? 4. What role does intersectionality play in understanding media portrayals of gender? 5. How do technological and globalization factors influence gender representation in media? 6. What strategies could effectively challenge problematic gender constructions in media? 7. How does irony function in contemporary media representations of gender? 8. How do audiences actively interpret and sometimes resist dominant gender narratives in media? The Genderquake Concept Gender and media studies attempt to make sense of the current state of "flux and transformation" referred to as "The Genderquake" - the ongoing evolution and questioning of traditional gender concepts in both media and society. These notes cover the fundamental concepts, theoretical frameworks, and analytical approaches central to the Media and Gender course. Students should supplement these notes with close readings of the required texts and critical engagement with contemporary media examples.