Stereotypes In The Media

The media is a multi-faceted means of communication reaching a wide audience that conveys an abundance of messages. Several of these messages have to do with the social norms of society and the ways in which certain behaviours are deemed as acceptable or unacceptable. Often, many stereotypes of different races, genders, and communities are being represented in the media and offer no alternative ways of thinking. The media plays a large role in the contribution of shaping the minds of society. Media is everywhere: commercials, television shows, radio shows, advertisements, newspapers, movies, books, music, and more. Everyday we come by these things, making it inevitable to be influenced by them in one way or another. This is problematic because
Words such as “delicate”, “weak”, “fragile”, “graceful”, and “tender” are often associated with females. It is a common theme in media where women are found in a “Damsel in Distress” stereotype that requires them to be saved from their situation by a strong and capable man. On several occasions in Twilight, Edward Cullen saves Bella Swan from dangerous situations that could have been fatal. The author actually emphasizes Bella's fragility as noticed in an article written by Franiuk et al.: “Possibly my crippling clumsiness was seen as endearing rather than pathetic, casting me as a damsel in distress” (Meyer 55). In Chapter 3 of the novel, Phenomenon, Edward Cullen shields Bella from a vehicle that almost strikes her in the parking lot of their school: “Two long, white hands shot out protectively in front of me, and the van shuddered to a stop a foot from my face, the large hands fitting providentially into a deep dent in the side of the van’s body” (Meyer 56). As described in the quote, Edward protected Bella from the crash and saved her life. Similar events where Edward must save Bella occur later on in the novel. In Chapter 8 of the novel, Port Angeles, Bella Swan finds herself surrounded by older men late at night in a secluded area who are calling her names like “sugar” and making her feel unsafe. Once again, Edward saves her from these men by
This is evident in every form of media. Girls are always presented with their hair perfectly styled, with makeup on their faces, and wearing clothes suited to their gender. Things like Photoshop and editing also add to this beauty standard that women are expected to achieve. In Twilight, the importance of attaining these beauty standards are clearly visible through the character of Rosalie Cullen. Rosalie is Edward’s sister, who is described as a very beautiful woman with long blonde hair and fair skin (Meyer 21). Even in the movie adaptation of Twilight, her character is portrayed as an ideal beauty type. As she walks in to the high school cafeteria, Bella Swan and her friend group all look at her in awe, as if they are jealous of her appearance. This type of behaviour creates a message that every girl should want to look this way, and that this standard of beauty is what girls should strive for. Another example in the novel that shows expectations of beauty is when Bella and her friends Jessica and Angela go prom dress shopping in Port Angeles. It is mentioned, “she (Angela) was overjoyed to have a date tall enough that she could wear high heels at all” (Meyer 154). This is interesting to analyze, as it shows that girls are expected to be tall, but not too tall in relation to who they are seeing. Women are expected to