GENDER & MEDIA STUDIES AN INTRO.

TO GENDER
Albert Anani-Bossman Lecturer and Communication Consultant abossman2007@gmail.com Tel: 0244767223

AN INTRO. TO GENDER

Women and men are more alike than they are different. Men are not from Mars; women are not from Venuswe are all from planet Earth. Michael S. Kimmel

Introduction: definitions
Key Concept in Gender Perspectives Gender Sex Gender Analysis Gender relations Gender issues Women issues Gender inequality
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Introduction: definitions

Gender Gender is a socio-cultural construct of the society that determines the identity, roles or obligations/duties, and entitlements of women and men and girls and boys in the society.
It therefore defines women and mens position in their society. Gender classification changes with time, space and needs of a society
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Introduction: definitions

Sex Sex is a biological identification of females and males based on their physiological characteristics. Sex characteristics are natural and determined during conception; compared to gender which identifies qualities that are shaped through the history of social relations and interactions in society

Introduction: definitions of concepts

Gender Roles This is the set of roles, activities, expectations and behaviors assigned to females and males by society. Masculine (having the qualities attributed to males) and Feminine (having the qualities attributed to females).
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Introduction: definitions

Gender relations Gender relations are social-cultural relationships between men and women in a given society. They are socially constructed and not derived from biology. Gender relations distinguish social relations between men and women from those characteristics which can be derived from biological differences

Introduction: definitions

Gender inequality Gender inequality means unequal access to resources and benefits by women and men and therefore holds back the growth of individuals in society Gender gaps Gender gaps refer to the differences between women and men in relation to their participation in and benefits from different socio-economic sectors. Gender gaps come about as a result of unequal power relations between women and men and between boys and girls
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Introduction: definitions
The gender gap measures the magnitude of disparities and is normally computed in percentage points or the difference between percentage for females and percentage for males. Gender Parity Index Gender Parity Index (GPI) is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the relative access to education for both females and males. It is calculated as the ratio of the number of female students enrolled at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education to the number of male students in each level
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Introduction: definitions

Gender analysis This is the process of examining roles and responsibilities or any other situation in regard to women, men, boys and girls, with a view to identifying gaps, raising concern and addressing them, investigating and identifying specific needs for policy and programme development and implementation

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Introduction: definitions

Gender-Aware Planning This is the process of taking gender into consideration (gender mainstreaming) in development planning; planning with women/girls and men/boys in mind.

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Introduction: definitions

Gender issues Gender issues refers to opportunities, challenges and constraints that affect both women, men, girls and boys in the society. Gender issues are not synonymous with womens issues Womens issues Women issues refer to opportunities, challenges and constraints that affect women/girls only
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Introduction: definitions
Gender Socialization

The gender socialization process starts at birth and involves learning cultural roles according to ones sex. From the start, boys and girls are treated differently by people in their own environment (for example, parents, siblings and caregivers), and thus learn the difference between boys and girls, women and men.

An intro. To gender

We are surrounded by gender lore from the time we are very small. Ever-present in conversation, humor, and conflict, and it is called upon to explain everything from driving styles to food preferences. Gender is embedded so thoroughly in our institutions, our actions, our beliefs, and our desires, that it appears to us to be completely natural

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An Intro. To media and gender

1960s witnessed a steady and systematic research into media images of women. Feminist scholars and activists began to examine how women were being portrayed in a wide array of media forms - including films, prime-time television dramas, newspapers, pornography, news magazines, women's and girl's magazines, popular music, comic books, advertising and soap operas.

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An intro. To media and gender

The concern was that the sexist messages of these media forms socialized people, especially children, into thinking that dichotomized and hierarchical sex-role stereotypes were 'natural' and 'normal'. The Aftermath of the Second World War brought a lot of changes including changes in the way middle class women who were ambitious were regarded.

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An Intro. To media and gender

Betty Friedmans book the feminine mystique, shows how in the early 1960s to be a woman meant that you lived in a fake world. A husband, a home and children were supposed to provide instant gratification but did not

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An intro. To gender and media

Gender, for both men and women in the C21st , still consists of a complex set of rules, distinctions and ideals that are difficult to live up to. It requires extensive cultural knowledge to know what behaviour and dress style are appropriate under specific circumstances

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An Intro. To gender and media

The media guide us in this regard. They offer examples of what is done, and what not, of how to combine different types of gendered behaviour. They teach us how to enjoy both traditional and innovative ways of dealing with gender, and offer examples for us to discuss with others.

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Assignment

Why do we need to study Gender and Media studies.( media representation of Gender) 2-3 pages font size 12, double space. Be sure to indicate references.
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