Gauntlett (2008) - Changing Media Representations of Gender

• Gauntlett conducted their studies on changing gender roles in the media in 2008
• Gauntlett (2008) notes evidence of a shift from the 1990's onwards away from more traditional gender roles across a range of media
• Gauntlett's (2008) research into prime-time TV found gender roles "seemed to become increasingly equal and non-stereotyped"
• Gauntlett (2008) used the example of 'Friends' to show how the characters are equal but different, with males & females adopting more modern characteristics that moved beyond traditional roles
• Gauntlett (2008) analysed gender representations in films since the 1990's and showed men and women as having similar skills and talents to each other
• Gauntlett (2008) used the example of 'Spiderman 3' as an example of a modern film that presents a challenge to traditional masculinity by showing more masculine behaviour to fundamentally flawed
• However, Gauntlett (2008) also notes that men tend to take leading roles and act as the hero to save the women (for example, Sean Connery & James Bond Films)
• Gauntlett (2008) believes that gender representations have 'turned a corner', but also suggests that trends towards equality may plateau as evidence shows the ratio of men to women on TV has hardly changed in a decade (leading roles still played by men)