Media, gender and identity: an introduction By David Gauntlett

The History of Google

History of Google on Prezi

British Soap and US TV Drama - Representations

British Soap and US TV Drama - Representations on Prezi

Ugly Betty - A Sterotype?

'Ugly Betty Season 1 Episode 5 - The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe'

Betty's Appearance:

• Bushy eyebrows
• Braces
• Glasses
• Bad dress sense
• Someone hints to Betty that she is 'fat' - though she is not skinny
• 'Hairy' according to Mark
• Bleaches Moustache
  

*Overall impression: Quite nerdy looking, no obvious beauty*

Betty's Character:

• Poor social skills e.g. is seen overly excited at a fancy party with work colleagues - and is told not to stand too closely with Amanda who is with Betty
• Clumsy - bumps into man and spills his drink
• But then is affectionate and apologetic
  
• Naive - Likens too quickly from compliments by handsome men who may have an agenda
• Nice person, polite
• Learns from naivety - that she was conned by the handsome man who stole Mode's ideas
  
• Truthful and doesn't like lying - wants to confess being a leak
• Doesn't like secrets
• Easily influenced by Mark and Amanda and also calls Carol 'Fat Carol' like the others do
• Has strong morals

Is 'Ugly' Betty a stereotype?

Betty is definitely an outcast in her work place as she does not fit the 'never eating', skinny, well dressed, snobbish ideology of the work place (of that of the fashion industry). That within itself may be a stereotype of the fashion industry. Her image is 'Betty', somewhat of an 'Ugly Duckling' because of her bushy eyebrows, curvy figure, bad hair, glasses, bad clothes and braces - which she makes no conscious effort to hide; but Betty knows this, and does not attempt to change this image no matter what people directly tell her. She is always abused by Mark and Amanda about her appearance, but would a stereotype be someone who is 'ugly' trying to change themselves after what people say about them - perhaps, though Betty would go against this possible stereotype. Betty - as a professional- goes against the stereotype that a woman has to be domesticated, looking after the family, cooking and cleaning - Betty goes against this and shows that women can be successful in the world of work. Betty, however does seem like the stereotypical nerd in high school life, if she was in high school, she would be snubbed by the likes of the Amanda type personality. Betty, though is all for the moral value of "don't judge a book by its cover".

Notes on: Representations of Women on Television

The Portrayal of Women on Television - Helen Ingham

• Television usually represents and reinforce mainstream ideology of contemporary western culture: patriarchy
• Representations of women in television has changed over 20 years though ideology may have not changed much
• More women than men in world, so if television is more realistic, this should be reflected
• women are outnumbered by men in: - tv drama (3:1 or 4:1), cartoons (10:1) and soaps (7:3)
• Soaps most watched by females
• Men dominate production side of television so masculine ideology is norm
• Gunter divides stereotyping into sex role stereotyping and sex trait stereotyping
• Generally, women in tv have a life dominated by the family and personal relationships than men outside the home, as well as in it.
• Study by McNeil, about 75% of men are depicted as employed whereas less than 50& of women are (Gunter, 1986: 11)
• Advertising will make some kind of effect on those who watch
• Paul Trowler in his study of women in adverts, women are 7 x more likely to appear in hygiene products adverts than not to appear
• 75% of adverts using females were for cleaning products (kitchen/bathroom)
• 56% shown to be domestic housewives
• OXO ad - The mother is punished for leaving the family and going to work, coming home finding that all the dinner is eaten - her punishment
• Even when women are shown in position of power, it is still shown through a patriarchal ideology
• If women have power position it is portrayed as unnatural - they are going against the grain in this dominant ideology
• Women either portrayed as housewives or sex objects
• Men in domesticated roles portrayed as not usually using a kitchen
• The sex object, according to Kilbourne, is a "mannequin" who is there to be conventionally beautiful
• Tall and think, long legs, perfect hair, teeth and hair - underneath there is nothing
  
• Mannequin's beauty is superficial - advertises cosmetics, health products and anything that works to improve the appearance of the body
• The body part which needs to be improved will be predominantly shown
  
• Naturalness of a woman is very much part of the dominant ideology but does not apply to men
• Women as sex objects also used to provide sexual pleasure for men
• Women expected to be sexy and virginal, experienced and naive, seductive and chaste
• If they don't achieve this, they are made to feel guilty and ashamed
• Rita Freedman: Glamour mag surveyed its readers in 1984, 75% felt too heavy, 15% felt just right. Nearly half of those who were underweight reported feeling too fat and wanting to diet.
• College women: 40% felt overweight, while only 12% were actually too heavy (Dines, Humex, 1995: 346)
• Adverts create a climate in which sex sells and impossible body images are seen as acceptable
  
• It used to be that domestic women were presented as sexless, having lost sexual desire after having a family