4.4 - Media representations of gender, sex + disability

• How are women under represented in the media industry?


  • women are under represented in positions of power and influence in the management of media industry
  • UK news companies - women were marginalised in jobs and faced a 'glass ceiling' - invisible barrier to progress in careers
  • 60% of senior proffessionals - men
  • 74% journalists - men
• How do women face symbolic annihilation in media?


  • Tuchman et al argued that women's achievement are often not reported or trivialised by the mass media
  • shown in a narrow and limited role and achievements are presented as less important then their looks and sex appeal
• How do women face limited roles in media?


  • TUNSTALL - argues that the presentation of women in the media is biased because it represented them as busy housewives, mothers or sex objects
  • Men are often portrayed as active and in positions of power. Male body is rarely sexually objectified and little reference to their domestic status
• What did 'Just The Women' report find?


  • based on an analysis of 11 newspapers and concluded that just over 1300 news reports portrayed women in limited roles
  • Found that the tabloid press focused on women's appearance and reduced them to commodities to be consumed by the male gaze (Mulvey)
  • Also found that women's issues were covered in a stereotypical way and their social status was humiliated by media (politicians)
  • EXAMPLE - journalists often pass negative comments on women's dress, appearance and weight (Nicola Sturgen)
• What did Kilbourne say about the male gaze?


  • women are often presented as mannequins
  • tall and thin, size 0, long legs, perfect teeth, hair and skin
  • Advertise cosmetics, health products and anything that works to improve appearance and benefit male gaze
• What did Bates argue about media and women?


  • the media industry often presents women as sexual commodities, but men in music videos are fully clothed
• What is the research that supports gender representations?

  1. MARTINSON ET AL - found that there were few media stories about women's abilities and experts were men
  2. COCHRANE - found similar levels of symbolic annihilation in women's TV (84% of reporters and guests - male)
• What did Packer argue about women's representations?


  • 2.9% of women's sport was covered in newspapers and what is covered tends to sexualise and devalue women's sporting accomplishments
  • Commentators use different language when describing female athletes ('girls)
• What did Orbach find about gender and media?


  • argues that media perpetuate the idea that slimness equals success, happiness and popularity
  • Accuses the media of encouraging young girls and women to be unhappy with their bodies by using advertisements of supermodels
• Does the media empower women?


  • Gauntlett argues that media for young women emphasise toughness and independence whilst maintaining femininity.
  • These media messages have a positive impact on women's identities
  • Argue that new media emphasise women and allows them to explore and create new identities
• Evaluation of empowerment of women -

  • Women's right campaigner Caroline Perez was subjected to 50 rape and murder threats from Twitter trolls
  • The internet helps dismantle feminist ideas and perpetuates misogyny and women hating views