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Chapter 10: Problem 26

Think about popular television programs on the air right now. What do the women in these programs look like? What do the men look like? What kinds of messages do you think the media is sending about men and women in our society?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Physical appearances of characters in TV programs can vary, but some patterns are often apparent, reinforcing certain societal expectations. TV often portrays female characters to be young, attractive and sometimes overly sexualized; male characters are usually represented as muscular, 'tough' and emotionless. These could potentially reflect the stereotypes about what men and women 'should' be which are propagated in society. Diverse representation is often lacking, further reinforcing these stereotypes.

Step by step solution

01

Observation

Examine and note down the physical attributes of both female and male characters in several current popular TV programs. Consider things like age, physical shape, attire, and physical attractiveness.
02

Analyzing character roles

Reflect on what roles these characters play in their respective shows. Are they in powerful positions? Are they dependent or independent? Are they largely in charge or often in the background?
03

Identifying messages

Based on the physical attributes and roles of the characters, infer the messages the media might be trying to send. For example, if most female characters are young and overly sexualized, this might echo stereotypes about women needing to be young and sexually appealing to be valuable. If most leading male characters are portrayed as assertive and emotionless, it could indicate a societal expectation for men to be in control and hide their emotions.
04

Consider Representation Diversity

Evaluate if there is a diverse representation of genders. Are different races, body types, ages, and sexuality represented? Or does the media tend to stick to certain 'standard' images of men and women?

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