Gender Roles and Stereotypes
As time goes on media advances and is seen in many more places by hundreds of thousands of people. The media has a very strong impact on people, especially younger audiences, and can alter their ideas and opinions on roles women and men should have, which can have a negative impact. Media easily alters and creates ideas in our minds about certain social norms which can be dangerous to how people view women and men. Commercials tend to be one of the biggest forms of media that touch on gender roles most of the time, especially for younger kids.
In 2013 a study showed “broadcast networks averaged 13 minutes and 25 seconds of commercial time per hour” (TV week). On average kids watch about 28 hours of TV a week meaning they are viewing about 15 hours of commercials weekly. When younger audiences are exposed to a large amount of media their social norms are formed from what they are viewing on a screen. If a young boy sees a commercial for an easy bake oven they are going to see girls playing with it making them believe it is a toy meant only for girls. Unfortunately it is very easy for the media to alter the idea of social norms for many people, especially children.
Not only do commercials alter the opinions and views of people but so do movies and television shows. Research found that between the years of 1990 and 2005 three out of every four characters in the top 101 G-rated grossing films was a male which is a tremendous amount, leaving barely any significant roles for women. Usually in movies the women would have a cliche role as a mother, wife, saint like figure, etc whereas the male’s role would range drastically.
Gender roles and stereotypes are created by certain representations, usually not completely accurate, by media or people we are close with. Mass media plays a major role when it comes to gender roles because for many people their thoughts and opinions on gender roles come from what they see or hear on television, films, etc. As time goes on and the media advances, mass media will have larger impacts on social norms and the ideas and opinions on gender roles for many people.
-Haley Baronich
In 2013 a study showed “broadcast networks averaged 13 minutes and 25 seconds of commercial time per hour” (TV week). On average kids watch about 28 hours of TV a week meaning they are viewing about 15 hours of commercials weekly. When younger audiences are exposed to a large amount of media their social norms are formed from what they are viewing on a screen. If a young boy sees a commercial for an easy bake oven they are going to see girls playing with it making them believe it is a toy meant only for girls. Unfortunately it is very easy for the media to alter the idea of social norms for many people, especially children.
Not only do commercials alter the opinions and views of people but so do movies and television shows. Research found that between the years of 1990 and 2005 three out of every four characters in the top 101 G-rated grossing films was a male which is a tremendous amount, leaving barely any significant roles for women. Usually in movies the women would have a cliche role as a mother, wife, saint like figure, etc whereas the male’s role would range drastically.
Gender roles and stereotypes are created by certain representations, usually not completely accurate, by media or people we are close with. Mass media plays a major role when it comes to gender roles because for many people their thoughts and opinions on gender roles come from what they see or hear on television, films, etc. As time goes on and the media advances, mass media will have larger impacts on social norms and the ideas and opinions on gender roles for many people.
-Haley Baronich