Gender representations in the media

Media Text one:




This example is the film trailer for Star Wars Rogue One and is an example of a countertype (where a representation challenges the traditional stereotype of a certain group of people). This is a countertype because it depicts the protagonist of the film as being a female when most people stereotype that it should be a man in the lead role of an action sci-fi movie. This is a positive representation as it shows that woman are able to do whatever they want and shows Star Wars is for females swell as the stereotypically male orientated audience.


Media Text two:

The second example of a gender representation is in the ESPN magazine which is an example of a stereotype (the conception associated with a certain group of people that everyone assumes to be the truth). It is a sports magazine that depicts the stereotypical bulky male who plays American football on the cover of it. This is a stereotype because people believe you have to be large and muscly and male to play American football and they are not covering any of the smaller maybe more skilful and also they are not covering the female aspect of the sport. This is a negative representation as it is not giving equal coverage to both genders it is very male dominated.





Media Text three:

My third example of gender representation is from an old advertising campaign which is an example of an archetype (which is the ultimate stereotype). It portrays the message "the chef does everything but cook, thats what wives are for" this is highly stereotypical and very derogatory towards woman. This is an archetype because it suggests that a females purpose is only to cook and men should be waited on after they "get in from work", this is very diminishing of woman because it is suggesting that are not of the same capabilities as men. This is a highly negative representation of genders in the media as it clearly suggests that males are by far superior.