Introduction
Debates on gender representation in the media have persisted for many years. The media heavily influences public opinion in today’s culture, making this problem especially pertinent. The way that gender is portrayed in the media affects how society views gender roles and identities.
Media influences how young people see themselves and other people, and it may help keep negative preconceptions alive. Among the acute issues associated with gender representation in the media is the general perception of women as homemakers, devoid of any aspirations and devoting their lives to raising children, cooking, and cleaning. Consequently, representations of women as homemakers in print media, film, and television contribute to maintaining traditional gender roles, making many female adolescents feel inferior.
Print Media
First, print media have significantly shaped society’s perception of women as stay-at-home mothers. Women are frequently shown in traditional roles in women’s magazines, including housework, childcare, and cooking (Veena 36). For those who want to pursue successful jobs outside the home, these magazines tend to promote gender stereotypes and suggest that the main responsibility of any woman is to be a homemaker.
In addition, advertisements in these publications frequently reinforce gender norms by featuring men promoting outdoor activity products and women promoting household goods. For example, in a typical ad for cleaning supplies, a woman is shown cleaning the house while her husband is at work. This supports the notion that males should be the primary earners of income and women should exclusively be in charge of household duties.
Not only does this support gender stereotypes, but it also implies that particular goods and activities are more appropriate for one gender than the other (Veena 36). As a result, young people may unknowingly adopt these gender roles since they are so normalized, which can have a long-lasting effect on their gender views and attitudes.
Films
Moreover, in films, notably romantic comedies, women are commonly portrayed as housewives.They are frequently depicted as people who are looking for love and are prepared to give up their occupations to become stay-at-home mothers (Borggreen 331). However, there is additionally another common perception of women in films.
Some works depict heroines as rude and cold, being judged for such a personality; meanwhile, their male counterparts with the same qualities can be perceived as respectable. For example, the 2009 film The Ugly Truth is one illustration of a romcom that portrays women in a sexist way. In the movie, Katherine Heigl plays Abby, a successful TV producer who is forced to collaborate with Gerard Butler’s chauvinistic and misogynistic morning show host (The Ugly Truth). Butler’s character continuously disparages and objectifies women throughout the film, while Heigl’s character is portrayed as reserved and in need of a male to help her loosen up (The Ugly Truth).
As a result, the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and the potential to lower young women’s goals can be harmful to the female audience’s perception of self and self-esteem. Representation of women as either homemakers or individuals who are disliked and humiliated for not being themselves could lead people to think that it is necessary to fit the expectations of society. It may be challenging for women to reject conventional gender norms as a result of the limited portrayal of women in the media, which may also result in a lack of diversity and inclusion (Borggreen 331). Because of this, filmmakers must produce more varied and inclusive depictions of women in movies, with a variety of roles and objectives outside of being a homemaker or a love interest.
Television
Finally, the way that women are portrayed on television has frequently drawn criticism. In these shows, women are often represented as doing household chores, while males are portrayed as providing income. This portrayal upholds gender stereotypes and suggests that women should prioritize raising children while men should put their jobs before anything else (Borggreen 334). For instance, women are portrayed as secretaries or housewives in the popular television series Mad Men, while men are depicted as holding positions of authority in the advertising agency (Mad Men).
Although this television show is aimed at illustrating corporate America in the 1960s, the directors failed to show more women who managed to gain recognition and success despite societal expectations and the rigid, exclusive nature of male-dominated industries (Mad Men). This supports the notion that men are better equipped for positions of power and women are solely suitable for domestic tasks.
This limited portrayal of gender roles can greatly impact young people’s perceptions of what is expected of men and women. It could give the notion that men and women ought to act in a specific way and that these roles are innate (Borggreen 334). This can be especially harmful to young women, who could believe that their value is determined by their capacity to be good housewives rather than by their skills and aspirations outside of the home.
Additionally, this misrepresentation of gender norms may have repercussions for the entire society. Women may find it more challenging to enter other professions, such as science or politics when they are regularly portrayed as being in charge of household duties. Additionally, it perpetuates the idea that men should put their careers ahead of their families, which can cause them to become estranged from their children and spouses.
Television programs should strive to convey a broader range of experiences and behaviors in order to produce a more inclusive representation of gender roles. This can portray males performing more household duties or women holding positions of authority outside the home. By doing this, people may encourage more equal and diverse representations of men and women in the media and assist in dismantling gender stereotypes.
Conclusion
Hence, young people’s opinions of gender roles are significantly influenced by how women are portrayed in the media as stay-at-home mothers. These representations limit young people’s aspirations and encourage gender stereotypes. First, print media has substantially influenced how society views women as stay-at-home mothers. In women’s magazines, women are typically portrayed performing conventional tasks like housework, child care, and cooking.
In addition, women are frequently represented as housewives in movies, particularly romantic comedies. They are typically portrayed as single individuals who are willing to quit their jobs in search of a relationship and stay at home with their children. Finally, there has been a great deal of criticism of how women are portrayed on television. In these shows, women are frequently shown as stiff and cold individuals who are ridiculed for such a personality despite their male counterparts being respected for such a nature. Therefore, it is crucial to oppose these stereotypes and encourage more diverse images of women in the media.
Works Cited
Borggreen, Gunhild. “Gender and Visual Culture.” The Routledge Companion to Gender and Japanese Culture. Routledge, 2019, pp. 331-339.
Mad Men. Created by Matthew Weiner, Weiner Bros. Production, 2007-2015.
The Ugly Truth. Directed by Robert Luketic, with performances by Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, Columbia Pictures, 2009.
Veena, P. “Portrayal of women in media.” Journal of Communication and Management, vol. 1, no. 1, 2022, pp. 36-45. Web.