Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Identities: applying feminism

We have completed some excellent work on feminism but it is vital that we are able to apply these ideas to a variety of media texts.

Complete the following tasks using our brilliant Media Factsheets resource.

Media factsheet: Applying Feminism

Find and read Media Factsheet #86 Applying Feminism. Save it to USB or email it to yourself so you have access to the Factsheet for homework. You can find the Factsheet on the Media Shared drive - M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets. Once you have read the Factsheet, complete the following tasks:

1) What are the five types of feminism outlined on the first page of the Factsheet?

2) Which category would Judith Butler fit into? What about Angela McRobbie? Laura Bates and Everyday Sexism? Explain your answers.

3) What was the difference between suffragists and suffragettes? Which approach do you agree with?

4) What was Laura Mulvey's argument regarding Hollywood film? Do you agree with it? Why?

5) Watch this YouTube video extract on Jean Kilbourne's Killing Us Softly series and list five examples she gives of the media objectifying women:



6) What is Killbourne's argument regarding the representation of women in advertising?

7) What is Naomi Wolf's argument in The Beauty Myth?

8) Why is the representation of women in music videos a controversial topic for feminists?

9) What is your view of female artists such as Nicki Minaj or Beyonce - do they empower women or reinforce sexist, patriarchal views?

10) Has new and digital media given women an opportunity to challenge sexist views or is it simply another media platform for women to be oppressed? Explain your view.

Complete this work for homework - due date set by your exam class teacher.


Further reading: in-depth theory and wider examples of feminism in the Media

If you're interested in further theory and examples in terms of feminism and the media -or perhaps are currently redrafting a Critical Investigation on this topic - then the following Factsheets and links will be essential reading. Remember: if you want an A* in Media then you'll need a wide variety of theoretical perspectives to call on in the MEST3 exam.

Feminist theory: Factsheet research

Media Factsheet #125: Gender for A2 - Focus on Judith Butler
This Factsheet offers much more depth on Judith Butler and her work in Gender Trouble (1990) - the argument that gender is a process or performance and not biologically set. It explores how Butler fits into wider media theoretical perspectives (e.g. Structuralism and Post-Structuralism) and also criticisms of her approach. One key criticism is the difficulty in applying Butler's ideas to feminist campaigns in the real world - relevant to our recent work on the possibility of a fourth wave of feminism.

Media Factsheet #125: Gender: Beyond Butler
This Factsheet explores a wider interpretation of the representation of women in media and society. It offers a historical perspective, looking particularly at the 1970s and British television. It also builds on Factsheet #89 and Jean Kilbourne's work on advertising and the representation of women. Finally, the Factsheet addresses masculinity and the changing representations of men in the media over the last 30 years.


Feminism in the media: examples

If you're looking for recent examples of feminism in the media then you'll find plenty. Prime Minister Theresa May is personally overseeing work on domestic violence legislation and there have been many other stories over the last few years that we can link to feminism. Here are just a few you may want to read up on:

Caroline Criado-Perez: female presence on banknotes 

Emma Watson: HeForShe gender equality campaign 

Ched Evans: petition to prevent footballer accused of rape playing 

Controversial FCKH8 campaign: ‘Potty Mouth Princess’


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