Are gender stereotypes defined by popular culture, or do they derive from innate biological differences between males and females?
What role does popular culture play in influencing our gender identities?
Should gender stereotypes be taken as a dangerous issue, or as a playful mockery?
What gender issues are explored in the Movie Mean Girls?
I believe that gender stereotypes and gender roles are products of society and popular culture, not innate biological differences between men and women. Nurture plays a slightly bigger role than nature because the surrounding environment greatly influences a person's viewpoints and interests.
ReplyDeletePopular culture plays a major role in influencing gender identity. The media offers an image to compare ourselves with, and we take these observations to heart. We learn fashion, viewpoints, and ideas from popular culture. For example, Americans may see men as having greater power over women because it's displayed in the media. In TV shows we often see men playing the roles of cops, surgeons, or government officials. Few TV shows display women in powerful positions.
Gender stereotypes aren't dangerous, but they aren't too playful either. Anybody can reach their goals if they have the ambition to achieve it, so a gender stereotype technically is not an obstacle. But when society discriminates someone and downplays their abilities because of their apperance, that's a problem.
In Mean Girls the gender issues of perfect girls are displayed. Cady compromised her intelligence in order to become popular. Also the plastics followed a strict dress code in order to make them all look uniformly perfect.
I believe all gender stereotypes come from the Media. When you turn on the TV or look in a magazine you see some type of advertisement of a male or female product with a person that’s suppose to be the “perfect” person. By this I mean if you see an advertisement for mans deodorant most likely you’ll see a man in the picture with huge biceps or appealing to be strong. This sends a message that this is how men are supposed to depict themselves in society. Would it make a difference if it was a skinny, person or overweight person in the picture? I feel that stereotyping starts with the media and what we see. We try our best to portray the people on TV and in magazine too much
ReplyDeleteI think Mean Girls does a great job of portraying gender issues as well as gender stereotypes. The movie features the entire school looking up to a group of unintelligent, materialistic girls only because they are better looking or more wealthy. It shows girls putting popularity and having a boyfriend on a pedestal instead of academic success. Even though Mean Girls is comedic, I think it shows real life issues between girls that are actually relevant.
ReplyDeleteGood effort here. I like the way your comments build on earlier discussion. Add visuals and hyperlinks for next time.
ReplyDeleteGender stereotypes are both defined by pop culture and what biology says males and females should be. The media one moment defines females as being sexy, pretty,independent women, then the next defines women as being classy. Biologically we think women are suppose to be nurtures and are suppose to stay home, while the men works. Pop culture defines men as people who hurt women and play them, but still maintain a relationship in the household. Biologically we think that men are suppose to be provides and protectors. Gender roles should be taken seriously. Often, we think men and women are suppose to be a certain way, when in fact everyone is different. Every women isn't suppose to cook and clean, or be this sex symbol, and every man does not mistreat women or they take care of their families while the wife stays at home. In Mean Girls the teenage girls are defined as catty, messy, and materialistic, while the men are defined as laid back people. Mean girls does a great job of stereotyping genders. All teenage girls are not catty and all teenage boys are not laid back.
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