Feminism, Van Zoonen

+ Patriarchy
• ‘rule of the father’ --- patria= father archo= rule
• Men hold the sole/primary power
• Secured by lineage, passed down from one man to another
• In favour of males, hierarchy against women according to gender
• System of male dominance over women, culturally, economically, socially

History
• marital rape not a crime until 1990s
• Women had no right to vote
• Saudi Arabia- until recently women couldn’t drive by themselves
• ‘purdah’- physical separation of sexes

• One of many issues in society, others of race, class & nationality – all linked w/ patriarchy to inequality
 Gender Stereotypes & Roles

Aggressive – passive
Rational – emotional
Domestic – political
-- men on one knee to propose
--- women to shave body hair to ‘look sexy’
- Women's job to be beautiful so she could marry a wealthy man & secure her future i.e. financially
Do I think that the UK is still a patriarchal environment that we’re living in?

Shift away from patriarchy however still

operating in an out of date patriarchal system
• ie. Male orientated government (male
representation)
• pay gap favouring males
• gender social expectations
• ¼ women victims of DV
• 1/6 males victims of DV

Are shifts in patriarchy:

• 2/3 women now working / 70% of mothers
have a job/ part time
• women's right to vote changed
 Van Zoonen
• Believes the media portrays images of stereotypical women & this
reinforces societal views
• Media does this because they believe it reflects dominant social
values, this influences male producers
• This is a patriarchy which dominates & oppresses women
• Feminists are particularly interested in the contribution made by the
media to societies dominant ideas about gender roles
• Mass media plays a crucial role in socialisation in teaching us how to
behave
Feminism can be approached in 3 ways: liberal, socialist, or radical

Liberal Feminism:
• Reformist approach
• Tends to see equal gender relations being brought about by equal opportunities
• Does not question power dimensions in society that maintain male superiority of status
& female inferiority

Radical Feminism:
• A social system in which all men are assumed to dominate & oppress all women,
accounts for women’s position in society
• Radical feminists have been in the forefront of exposing male abuse of women &
politicizing issues formally considered as private
Van Zoonen believes the media strategies of radical feminism are straightforward: women
should create their own means of communication and try to free themselves completely
women have to cut off all ties with men and male society.
 Type of stereotypical presentations Van
Zoonen believes exists in the media:

Femininity Masculinity
Caring Heartless
Nurturing Neglectful
Irrational Rational
Domestic Public, work orientated
Sensitive Harsh
Passive Active
Easy Rough

What can you conclude about status & power from this list?
How does this article further conform to
gender stereotypes of women?
All based around Cardi B’s pregnancy, this represents not
only the singer as maternal but also could represent the
patriarchal primary role of maternal women.

Pregnant Cardi is described as ‘sexy as hell’. This could

highlight the importance of women's beauty to society, as
further nailed into society by the media conforming to
the ‘perfect’ female representations.
How does this article further conform to the
gender stereotypes of women?

Meghan Markle is shown to be vocally controlled

by males. This represents her has being passive
compared to her male peers, showing they hold
an element of power & dominance over her. This
could present there is still patriarchy in modern
society, & it reflects the old fashioned & gender
biased government structure.

Meghan Markle is claimed to be a ‘princess’ in

this headline. This represents her as a women of
beauty, however doesn’t reflect her intelligence
or put across to the readers her attributes other
than beauty. This could portray that only
beautiful women are ‘princesses’ & further push
to an impressionable audience that men value
women's looks over their personality &
intelligence.