Feminist theory: blog tasks
Further feminist theory: blog tasks
Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) to find Media Factsheet #169 Further Feminist Theory. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the reading for homework. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:
1) What definitions are offered by the factsheet for ‘feminism ‘and ‘patriarchy’?
Feminism: A movement which aims for equality for women - to be treated as equal to men socially, economically and politically.
10) What other media theorist can be linked to van Zoonen’s readings of the media?
Stuart Hall - the media can be interpreted by the audience in a variety of different ways.
11) Van Zoonen discusses ‘transmission models of communication’. She suggests women are oppressed by the dominant culture and therefore take in representations that do not reflect their view of the world. What other theory and idea (that we have studied recently) can this be linked to?
Diasporic theory: minorities are seen in the media through someones else's perception and not their own perception. In this case women are given representations by media institutions that don't reflect what the majority of women are actually like.
12) Finally, van Zoonen has built on the work of bell hooks by exploring power and feminism. She suggests that power is not a binary male/female issue but reflects the “multiplicity of relations of subordination”. How does this link to bell hooks views on feminism and intersectionality?
Feminism: A movement which aims for equality for women - to be treated as equal to men socially, economically and politically.
Patriarchy: Male dominance in society.
2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?
She identifies that there was a lack of diversity in feminist movements and these voices had become marginalised.
3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?
They questioned the approach of feminism treating women as a single coherent group. She said that poor black women have more in common with poor black men that white middle class feminists.
4) What is intersectionality and what does hooks argue regarding this?
Overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination or discrimination. -- Its meaning is that multiple identities intersect to create a whole that is different from separate component identities. These individual identities include: gender, race, social class, ethnicity etc. -- Individual elements of a person is linked with all the other elements.
2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?
She identifies that there was a lack of diversity in feminist movements and these voices had become marginalised.
3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?
They questioned the approach of feminism treating women as a single coherent group. She said that poor black women have more in common with poor black men that white middle class feminists.
4) What is intersectionality and what does hooks argue regarding this?
Overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination or discrimination. -- Its meaning is that multiple identities intersect to create a whole that is different from separate component identities. These individual identities include: gender, race, social class, ethnicity etc. -- Individual elements of a person is linked with all the other elements.
She argues that experiences of class, gender, sexuality etc. can't be completely understood if the influence of racialisation isn't considered. Understanding intersectionality is vital to gaining political and social equality and improving our democratic system.
5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?
There is a strong relationship between gender and communication. The mass media leads to a lot of the observable gender identity structures in advertising, film and TV.
6) Liesbet van Zoonen sees gender as socially constructed. What does this mean and which other media theorist we have studied does this link to?
It means gender isn't biologicaly fixed, ideas of gender roles and behaviours are ideas that have been constructed, Judith Butler says that gender is a social construct as well.
7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?
- Commercial sites of exaggerated femininity to pull women into the consumer culture on the promise that the products they will buy will alleviate their own body insecurities and low self esteem.
5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?
There is a strong relationship between gender and communication. The mass media leads to a lot of the observable gender identity structures in advertising, film and TV.
6) Liesbet van Zoonen sees gender as socially constructed. What does this mean and which other media theorist we have studied does this link to?
It means gender isn't biologicaly fixed, ideas of gender roles and behaviours are ideas that have been constructed, Judith Butler says that gender is a social construct as well.
7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?
- Commercial sites of exaggerated femininity to pull women into the consumer culture on the promise that the products they will buy will alleviate their own body insecurities and low self esteem.
- These magazines celebrate women and give them advice on how to improve themselves.
8) In looking at the history of the colours pink and blue, van Zoonen suggests ideas gender ideas can evolve over time. Which other media theorist we have studied argues this and do you agree that gender roles are in a process of constant change? Can you suggest examples to support your view?
David Gauntlett - the masculinity crisis.
9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?
If the institution are commercial or public.
8) In looking at the history of the colours pink and blue, van Zoonen suggests ideas gender ideas can evolve over time. Which other media theorist we have studied argues this and do you agree that gender roles are in a process of constant change? Can you suggest examples to support your view?
David Gauntlett - the masculinity crisis.
9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?
If the institution are commercial or public.
The platform they operate on(digital vs print).
Genre(drama vs news).
Target audiences.
The place the media text holds within the audiences daily lives.
10) What other media theorist can be linked to van Zoonen’s readings of the media?
Stuart Hall - the media can be interpreted by the audience in a variety of different ways.
11) Van Zoonen discusses ‘transmission models of communication’. She suggests women are oppressed by the dominant culture and therefore take in representations that do not reflect their view of the world. What other theory and idea (that we have studied recently) can this be linked to?
Diasporic theory: minorities are seen in the media through someones else's perception and not their own perception. In this case women are given representations by media institutions that don't reflect what the majority of women are actually like.
12) Finally, van Zoonen has built on the work of bell hooks by exploring power and feminism. She suggests that power is not a binary male/female issue but reflects the “multiplicity of relations of subordination”. How does this link to bell hooks views on feminism and intersectionality?
They both have the similar idea that there are multiple elements that lead to oppression - bell hooks argues that race has to play a part fore gender, class and sexual discrimination.
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