The media has one of the most widespread and significant effects on how we perceive men and women. Images of gender roles are communicated through all types of media, many of which promote inaccurate, stereotypical, and restricting perceptions. This response will focus on gender roles and show how they changed over time regarding body images relevant to different societies.
It is incorrectly assumed that men are the cultural norm, while women stay invisible and underrepresented by the media. In terms of gender roles, males are generally depicted as aggressive and dominant characters who are rewarded by others for their “masculine” accomplishments (Andersen & Witham, 2011). For example, highly popular films such as Predator and Total Recall star men who are following the stereotype of extreme masculinity. In contrast, women in the media are shown to be submissive, reliant on men, and entangled in relationships or housework. Therefore, it would be appropriate to state that these images reflect some cultural stereotypes and expectations.
The cultural expectations vary from society to society, but there are some universal expectations as well. While men are expected to be athletic and physically strong, women have to be slim. These expectations usually cause body image dysmorphia and some eating disorders (Andersen & Witham, 2011). However, with the increasing popularity of the body positivity movements, the media representation of both males and females changes toward more realistic images. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go. For instance, even with the closure of Victoria’s Secret’s shows that overrepresented slim and skinny body shapes, there are still many people that support stereotypical ideals of women’s bodies. Hence, the current attempts to change the cultural expectations are moving slowly but thoroughly.
Reference
Andersen, M. & Witham, D. H. (2011). Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.