Gender representations

Gender Representation
(i) Developmental Importance
In the longer term television has the potential to shape children’s sex-role attitudes... more women should be presented on television (Tannis, Macbeth, Williams 1986, in Gunter, McAleer 1990:64)
It is true that for most children in our society, television offers many more opportunities to view differences in sex-role relationships, than does their immediate, everyday world of reference. As such its potential influence upon their outlook should not be overlooked or dismissed. Indeed for many, if not most, children gender identification is perhaps the most fundamental and salient of all the frames of self reference available. Above all it is understood that it will remain as a constant, despite changes in other developmental areas; from childhood to adulthood gender will remain, and as such is understandably regarded as a key element of the 'self' and utilized as a primary building block towards the development of a sense of 'place' in the world. Given that gender identification is employed from an early age, as a basic strategy in the child’s negotiation of a vast array of complex social relationships, and that "the cultures of childhood... are enmeshed in the larger divisions of the social world" (Richards 1991, in Buckingham, ed. 1993:45), it seems somewhat unrealistic to expect the child to question stereotypical representation. Indeed as an area of such stability, it may well be argued that children actually like and enjoy 'being gendered', continually seeking reinforcements which the media would perhaps be foolish to ignore. Throughout the world children actively seek reinforcements as "futures where the power of adulthood will be available" (Richards 1991, in Buckingham, ed. 1993:39). 'Boys do choose blue and girls do choose pink', actively making selections for their own uses and purposes, be they socialization, information, escapism or identification; as active interpreters, if not endorsers, of their own environment then should their judgements be questioned?

Children, Television and Gender Roles

Children, Television and Gender Roles

A critical review of the available evidence concerning what influence television may have on the development of children's understanding of gender roles and of their own gender identity

Television... can play a significant role in a child's growing beliefs and attitudes about what it means to be male or female in the world. (Van Evra, 1990, page 112).

Extensive studies of television have indicated that it is males who dominate the television medium, outnumbering women, on average, by 3:1.

The male who has the authority and the control of the world of television.

Gender role stereotyping is the belief that it is only natural and fitting for males and females to adhere to traditional gender role patterns. (Gross, 1993, page 689).

Are there gender stereotypes/assumptions at play? Do the progs encourage gender differences? (Maybe Pokemon doesn't but HM does?)

Within the programme Pokemon there are a number of stereotypes of both males and females. However, it doesn't simply stereotype the males into one catergory and females into another one, it generally gathers them together as a whole and enables them to be classed as a new sterotype of children. For example: Ash in Pokemon is represented as a stereotypical 'young' boy, who is able to do what he sets his mind to, as he is able show his strength through what he is capable to do as in the episode on the other blog, he wins the 2nd part of tha battle. however, there is a strong female lead who shows that she is capable to be just as strong as what Ash is therefore challenging the stereotypes that females have on them as she is able to show that her strength in this programmes is able to do a good thing and be strong to win something.

Primary research

Your idea has developed into looking at the differences between progs aimed at boys and progs aimed at girls. Are there gender stereotypes/assumptions at play? Do the progs encourage gender differences? (Maybe Pokemon doesn't but HM does?)

Look here about editing and camera differences between boys and girls product advertising (might be similar in progs too):
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/toyads.html

And this will be very important for you:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/elb9501.html

Find differences, home in on them, use the clips that illustrate them in your primary research with a real audience...

pokemon

In this episode of Pokemon where ash battles against Erika (Kanto Gym Battle 5) he represents what young boys aspire to be like as they wish that they had the qualities which ash has such as: being a 'good' pokemon trailer, being able to win and be a strong male role model for others to want to be like him.

Also, in this episode it shows that females are good a being a strong will powered character towards wanting to achieve and that they can do it as long as they try. The female doesn't back down due to the fact that she is up against a boy, she still goes ahead and believes in herself that she can do it and win. And in this episode this shows this when Erika wins one of the three battles against Ash.

Hanna Montana extra

Children escaping into a magical world within their minds - imaginations.

The way that children use fiction to make their ordinary lives seem more interesting.

For example: Hanna Montana has a link between a glamourous lifestlye and their ordianary 'boring' lives of the target audience of which the programme is targeting - it suggests that the childrens' imagination is a free environment for them to be/do what they desire.



Also, in this episode of Hanna Montana, Rico the hotdog owner represents that it doesn't matter what size you are or how old you are that nothing will stand in your way as long as you have got ambition.

Hanna Montana - phone clip