Gender inequality is a vice rooted in people’s cultures and social behaviors. As a result, rooting out discrimination against women, in particular, is difficult as demeaning values are reinforced in individuals from an early age. The media plays a major role in gender socialization because of the ways it chooses to portray women. Various TV shows, cartoons, and reality shows portray men as the alpha gender, responsible for making tough choices, leadership, building, and development initiatives. On the other hand, women are assigned domestic duties, including nurturing children, taking care of households, preparing meals, and cooking. Hence, the media contribute to gender inequality by upholding negative values and exposing children to stereotypic notions early.
Watching cartoons was one of my hobbies as a young child as is the preference of many other children while growing up. However, I never came to realize how much these programs incorporate constructs of gender roles that do not promote equality. Shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Snow White are famous because they usher children into a world of fantasy. Even so, they have several common attributes in their depiction of gender roles. Women are often the subjects of dilemmas and atrocities that render them incapable. As a result, they always depend on men to save them from their plight and solve all their problems.
In addition, I remember how these shows used to bring out men as powerful and authoritative while women were meek and refrained from conflicts. As a result, it was reasonable to behave as we learned from our environment. Although many people do not realize, the media does not champion equality because it depicts women as the weaker gender. Thus, altering individuals’ perceptions of gender and abolishing stereotypic gender roles required addressing how the media contributes and setting up strategies to limit their influence.