Feminist Perspectives on Media

Flashcards covering key feminist perspectives on media representations, their impacts on women's roles, and the economic factors influencing these portrayals.

What do liberal feminists believe about media representations and women's progress?

Liberal feminists believe that media representations lag behind the reality of social and economic conditions, but they acknowledge that representations of women have improved over the last thirty years.

According to Marxist feminists, what are the roots of stereotypical images of men and women in the media?

Marxist feminists believe that the roots of stereotypical images of men and women in the media are economic, linked to the needs of media conglomerates in capitalism.

What is a key argument of radical feminists regarding the media?

Radical feminists argue that traditional male-dominated media aims to keep women oppressed and that alternative representations of assertive women do not fit the media content.

How do cosmetic and diet product industries relate to the media's portrayal of women?

The media's emphasis on women's bodies as projects is a result of the growth of these industries which exploit women's anxieties and manipulate them as consumers.

What does Gauntlett argue about mass media and identity?

Gauntlett argues that mass media has challenged traditional masculine ideas and has begun to provide a greater diversity of choices and representations for gender.

How do media representations impact women's roles according to the lecture?

Media representations often relegate women to subordinate positions or depict them as sex objects or housewives, reinforcing traditional gender roles.

What economic factor do feminists identify as influencing media representations?

Feminists identify that the media representations often lag behind social and economic conditions and are influenced by the economic needs of media conglomerates.

Why do radical feminists believe that media representations are rarely challenged?

Radical feminists believe that media representations are rarely challenged because men's power is threatened, and they continue to profit from women's oppression.