Revision notes for representation of women

· The representation of women in the past differs from the present because of the changes in society’s way of thinking and because of historical events that have taken place.
· Women are constantly portrayed in the media as sex objects to attract the male audience (male gaze – Laura Mulvey)
· Women who write magazines for women are trying to portray across a specific message to the women in the public: those concerned with home making and childcare and those aimed at marketing one to catch a mate.
· Historically, women were classed into two categories, Madonna which was the term used to describe more pure women and whore, which was used to describe women who were seen as impure and sexual.
· Women have been more successful in comedy dramas as they have more of a purpose in those types of television shows whereas in previous movies, their roles were limited to small roles.
· Women in movies previously were limited to smaller roles because of the expectations and stereotypes that were placed on women before the second wave of feminism.
· Eve has been related to the problem of how and why women are being objectified and stereotyped in a particular manner.
· The role of the woman has become more influential to every member of society with men now becoming more feminine with gays, heterosexuals and the portrayal of the ‘new man’.
· One of the most common stereotypes of women in the media is women being portrayed as sex objects and not being bright and clever, focussing on the ‘blond bimbo’ stereotype which has lasted a number of years.
· After the second wave of feminism kicked in women were beginning to take an upheaval against the dominance of the male gender and it began to show in later movies as women were getting more noticeable roles in movies and were beginning to have more of and impact on audience worldwide and most of all producers.
· Women in the public have been seen to be getting manipulated by women in more powerful positions as the glossy magazine line has women in charge of them and it can be said that they manipulate the female target audience.
· Even though women were making a high rising call for fame and equality in the media, men were still the dominant gender when it came to leading roles especially in television.