Feminist theory: blog tasks

Media Magazine reading - two articles on feminism and theory


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

The pan Ann male gaze example was a stewardess was walking in slow motion in-front of men in a seductive manner making those men stare at her. Another example would Beyonce's "why don't you love me" music video where her actions of a normal housewife could be seen as sexualisation of a women. 

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

These texts show that sexism still exists and indicates that there is still a need for feminism in our society today. This would be an argument to misrepresent radical feminism as a way to the only way of feminism and makes it seem as a way to disregard the male gender. 


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

Post feminism - This is the ideology that society doesn't need the movement of feminism and in describe in culture today as more of a feminist state. 

Patriarchy - This is the ideology that men play a more dominant role in society and sees woman as less. 



The Theory Drop: Gender Performativity 

Now read (MM69, page 25) and answer the following questions.

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

The writer suggests that children have influenced by their taught performed gender as can seen throughout school, family, and home lifestyle. This ideology is reflected onto children by many aspects of the media that they're exposed too which constructs their gender performativity. 



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

The phrase non-binary links denoting to a gender or sexual orientation that is not defined by traditional gender binary oppositions, this links to Buller's theory about gender as a performance as masculinity and femininity are not natural given states but maintained by society to be constructed in that form.




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

The media helps reinforce gender stereotypes through short cut story lines into narratives that ideal for society, as its easier to understand and those ideologies are fixed within our society. However, Butler suggests that audiences are more likely to become drawn to ideas that fit with their beliefs and what is deemed "normal" with society. 



Music video analysis

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

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

This video contributes to Butler's idea as gender as a performance as she must as act a certain way such as the specific gender role that has been laced on her to meet her need for a man liking her.  This relates to butler's theory as gender as performance because in this video she is reinforcing those cultural stereotypes of a woman's values. This whole video Beyoncé is performing her values but still seems to be less in her love interests eyes, this performance contributes to Butler's gender theory of gender not being a stabled form but rather constructed through repeated actions. 

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

Van zoonen would suggests that this video would link to Mulvey's psychoanalytic feminist reading as this video would objectify the values of womanhood and restricting woman to secondary roles which isn't dominant throughout the video but is presented as the protagonist is doing all the work that make her seem more desirable but still isn't enough for her love interests. 

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

In my opinion Beyoncé music video is viewed as empowering the mass and bringing a hysterical twist to values of women. This is because in the music video she is doing "women's work" but not doing it right and this could suggest the stupidity of the work and how she could do more than house work. However, the lyrics and the iconography of the music video suggests otherwise and reinforces the oppression of women as she is doing house work to impress and man not of her own accord and he isn't pleased. This would reinforce negative views as she would succumbing to the negative gender roles placed onto her and whilst doing that her clothing whilst doing each house work is sexualising the work she is doing and making is pleasing the male/female audience but dominantly male as it pleases their values of a woman. 

Watch Will Jay's video for ‘Gangsta’ again:

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

This video suggests that masculinity has changed throughout the years as we are becoming more prone to letting men explore their femininity. This video suggest that men have been influenced by the media to act a certain way to get attention by females and to masculine and doing normal human things like emotional responses can deter your masculinity. However, as a society we are becoming open to the changed perspective of men. 

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

Gaunlett explores the media consumption in the 1980s/90s that actively gave audiences a change to construct their own identify. This means that her explored the ideas of men are expected to assume stereotypical masculine roles. The idea of the "The late modernity" suggest the idea that audiences can shape their own outlook and beliefs meaning that men can shape the way they identify with themselves. 

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?

In my opinion, the representation of men and masculinity in media has drastically changed but still has long way to go. This would be because the pressure of acting masculinity and the idea of "masculinity in crisis" suggests we still need to change and become mindful and with the recent spike of male suicides goes to show that the pressure of men in many aspects of mental health and other commodities are still relevant. Especially with men of colour or ethnic background the idea of exploring sexuality and feminity is something dared upon the represnatation is a Taboo. This is because the restrictions of many are men due social attitudes as Hall has explored that black masculinity is linked with criminality and the stereotypes and still faced by young back youths today.