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Gender Stereotypes in the Media Essay Example

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Gender Stereotypes in the Media Essay Example
Gender Stereotypes
Good morning,
My name is _____ and I am a student in my final year of studying Media at CQU. First, I would like to thank you all for inviting me to the ‘Building Images for the Future’ conference. Today, I am going to present to you my views on gender stereotypes in the media and how they are used to position their audience.

It is becoming difficult to identify gender stereotypes. Fifty years ago the typical stereotype for a female would have been very tame and precious. Girls would traditionally dress neatly, be polite, eat salads, be desperately/impossibly thin, and be faultlessly beautiful. A female would be very submissive. She would cook and clean all day whilst looking presentable.

The typical stereotype for a male, however, was a strong, independent role model who would work hard and provide for his family. The attitude towards a male was viewed as an authoritative leader or hero.

I partially agree that too many texts in the media position readers to accept gender stereotypes. In recent years, the discourse of both genders has changed drastically. Many outrageous stereotypes are beginning to form in today’s society and as a result, such stereotypes are being mirrored in the media.

My first text subjects women as being stupid individuals who cannot think for themselves.
(SHOW TEXT)
This card blatantly focuses on constructions of gender; the author’s preferred reading is that women see themselves as being not very smart and cannot drive.
Also, the fact that the woman is blonde symbolises another stereotype. There is also another element of the card that comes across as sexist, which is the business suit the man is wearing. All of these separate aspects of the card may be sending subconscious messages about the gender roles people play and who they should be. Even if, at first, it seems to be making these bold stereotype readings comical.
This type of text is in a birthday card which shows the extreme variation in

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