Representation- Masulinity and Femininity

A typical man is seen as the violent and as if they act like hooligans. Violent masculinity is now seen as the social and cultural norm. We feel like this is the norm because of the way the male gender is presented through the media.

We get these facts and figures because in some cases this is actually true and this is then proceeded through to the media and is then overrated and magnetized to make is seem like everyone of these males are the same. We are also taught through media that many men hide behind a mask. They show on the outside that they are tough and can stand up for themselves but on the inside this is not true. They really are sensitive. For instance, this is shown in the movie the wizard of Oz. The wizard has a strong and powerful voice showing that the wizard is superior. But when he is then uncovered he is in fact a coward.

In the media masculinity is seen and represented as more powerful and ruling than femininity.

A typical female in the media is seen in two different ways; one being that they are kind and caring. They are put across as soft and will do anything for people. The other being that woman are seen as ‘whores’, that they will put themselves forward for men. In some ways this characteristic can be seen as a dominant woman. That they would be the upstanding and powerful ones. But in other ways this could be seen as they get told what to do, going back to the powerful male being in control of woman.

The differences between femininity and masculinity put forward through the media is that men are shown as the violent and more out front personality, whereas woman are shown to be the more petite personality. That men are more superior over woman. This could also be seen as a similarity too. Where men are put forward as dominant and powerful, if you are represented as a woman in media to be a ‘sex symbol’ you would be seen as dominant and powerful.

The attitudes of how masculinity and femininity shown has changed overtime. Nowadays there is more in media of woman being the more dominant type, whereas before it was shown as the male was always in control. They would always be in charge. For example, there has only ever been one woman prime minister in Britain and this is only in the recent years. This is because in the media is shown that males are more in control, so people would believe that a woman couldn’t control a country. But over the years this has changed, changing people’s minds.