Page 49 - English in Media Discourse

PART TEN
MEDIA DISCOURSE AND GENDER

A. Gender representation in media discourse

The representation of gender in media discourse is a
multifaceted and evolving topic, encompassing various
dimensions such as the portrayal of women, gender stereotypes,
and the impact of media on societal perceptions. Here are some
key insights drawn from the provided sources:
1. Evolution of Gender Representation:
a. Scholars have observed an increase in the diversity of
media representations of women since the 1970s,
accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in
stereotypical representations, indicating social
change 119.

b. Despite social and legal progress in civil rights,
restrictive gender-based representations remain
pervasive in some contexts, perpetuating stereotypes
and objectification 120.
2. Impact on Societal Perceptions:
a. The representation of gender in media texts plays a
powerful role in shaping societal perceptions. It reflects
cultural and sociological changes in society and has the
potential to reinforce harmful gender stereotypes 3
b. The under-representation of women in the media can
perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and reinforce an
imbalanced picture of society, highlighting the need for
initiatives to achieve gender parity in media
representation 121
3. Challenges and Initiatives:
a. Challenges with gender representation in media include
the perpetuation of female stereotypes and the negative
portrayal of women in some cases. Initiatives and
resources exist to promote gender equality and reinforce