Feminist theory

Talk about the theorist. 

Give examples of the case studies. 

Ay how the theory applies to media. 

Say how it does not.  

 

How to approach question one 

First, describe a typical male and female. 

Female- Smaller, caring, maternal, more emotional.  

Male- Stronger, aggressive, taller, more immature, sports 

 

Lisbet Van Zoonen Feminist theory 

Her theory says that our idea of gender identity come from the media and it influences the clothes we buy our children, the sports we let our kids play and how we overall raise our kids. Looking at films in the past which depict women as damsels in distress who need protecting and men being action hero's shape the way we see masculinity. Zoonen also believes that identity is not fixed, and changes based on the cultural context as what it means to be masculine will change based on time and location for example, women will have a vastly different gender identity compared to the UK. The next part of Zoonens theory is that women are objectified in the media, they can be looked at as an object instead of a person someone without feelings or something to be sold. In particular, women's bodies are used as ways to push products and catch people eyes and lusted over. In her view, women are often viewed in society as maternal, domestic as the stay-at-home mother who cleans the house and cooks the food. She thinks men are more viewed as individuals suited to power and politics. She says that men's bodies are seen as spectacular showing that their bodies are something they have worked hard on and are meant to respect it. 

The Sun 

After the death of the woman, instead of using a respectful image, they have plastered a giant picture of her in a bikini to get attention through sexual attraction. 

Oscar Pistorius 

Chose an image of him running and even referred to him as the ‘blade runner.’