Further feminist theory: blog tasks

 

Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or here using your Greenford Google login. Find Media Factsheet #169 Further Feminist Theory, read the whole of the Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What definitions are offered by the factsheet for ‘feminism ‘and ‘patriarchy’?

Feminism - a movement which strives for the equality of women - to be treated equally as men in a social and professional setting.

Patriarchy - male dominance in society

2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?

she saw that there was a lack of diversity within the feminist movement, and argued that these diverse voices had been marginalised, being put outside the main body of feminism.

3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?

The fact that women of colour don't get treated equally as white women despite the idea of feminism being to establish equality between both genders.

4) What is intersectionality and what does hooks argue regarding this?

intersectionality - although women may share their gender, their race also plays a part in how they are responded to. Hooks wants 

5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?

Van Zoonen concludes that there is a strong relationship between gender and communication, but it is also the mass media that leads to much 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?

Gender is the result of how your surroundings and the people in your society influence your perception of it. This links to Butler's theory about gender being a performance. She says that gender is something we learn through micro rituals and through our upbringing.

7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?

They view it as a way to demean the female image and that all of the average female's interests lie in gossip. I view these lifestyle magazines as a way to reinforce western beauty ideas without causing a serious sexism debate within the brand.

 

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?

The association of the colour blue with males and pink with females is something that stems from 19th Century France. Gauntlett says that gender can change over time which doesn't agree with the idea that these associated colours still remain the same, even after 200 years. 

9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?

• Whether the institution is commercial or public

• The platform upon which they operate (print versus digital media)

• Genre (drama versus 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?

Butler's theory of gender performance

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?

Stuart Hall's representation theory about how producers can alter the meaning of news shows that they can construct any representation according to the producers value links to Van Zoonen's comment because dominant cultures dictate what is and isn't portrayed in the media, not the actual people being featured.

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?

Hooks believes that feminism should also include women of colour as the feminism movement hasn't paid much attention towards them but instead to white females. Zoonen's comment reinforces this view by stating that whilst general feminism helps bridge the gap between male and female equality, feminists should also pay attention to the issues regarding race.