...Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, May 1997 v36 n9-10 p551(22) Advertising's effects on men's gender role attitudes. Jennifer Garst; Galen V. Bodenhausen. Author's Abstract: COPYRIGHT 1997 Plenum Publishing Corporation We posited that media images of men influence the gender role attitudes that men express soon after exposure to the images. A total of 212 men (87% European American, 7% Asian or Asian American, 3% African American, and 3% other) viewed magazine advertisements containing images of men that varied in terms of how traditionally masculine vs. androgynous they were and whether the models were the same age or much older than the viewers. Men who had initially been less traditional espoused more traditional attitudes than any other group after exposure to traditionally masculine models, although they continued to endorse relatively nontraditional views after exposure to androgynous models. These findings suggest that nontraditional men's gender role attitudes may be rather unstable and susceptible to momentary influences such as those found in advertising. Full Text: COPYRIGHT 1997 Plenum Publishing Corporation In the average American household, the television is turned "on" for almost seven hours each day, and the typical adult or child watches two to three hours of television per day. It is estimated that the average child sees 360,000 advertisements by the age of eighteen (Harris, 1989). Due to this extensive exposure to mass media depictions, the media's influence...
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...Topic: The causes and effects of the changes of the traditional male role. With the development of the society, the conventional man role has changed significantly step by step in many aspects, which is a serious and realistic issue for many countries around the world and it makes many people confused and worried. In this essay, the reasons of why the traditional gender role has changed would be talked about in two fields, the realization of the women and the appearance of the femininity and homosexual of the men. Besides, the effects on people after the change of male role would be presented clearly and logically, mainly in three angles, the workplace and society competition, the sense of inferiority of the men and the guilt of the females to the children. Firstly, the traditional male role is really very familiar with the majority of people all over the world. The conventional pattern of female and male role in many countries was that nine tenths of the women stayed at home every day taking care of the children and their husband and doing some housework like cooking, washing clothes, this sort of thing during their whole lives. They hardly never think about their career and did the same thing as the men did. For men, they had to earn a lot of money to support the living of their families and turned over almost all of their income to the households (Tiger, 2000). At that time, both women and men thought it was an equal and right division of responsibility of them. Meanwhile,...
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...Gender Role Stereotypes and Children’s Television For this paper, I had to watch a wide variety of different shows. I had to watch a few cartoons, sitcoms and PBS shows. What I found in this study I found very interesting. I found that the most traditional roles in men and women were found in the PBS shows. I am sure this is because when children watch these, they are usually at the age where they are establishing the roles of girls and boys. I found that in the sit-coms, especially friends, my research correlates with what the Signorelli article says. According to the article, “Women make up at least half of the characters in soap operas.” This is true in Friends; there are three boys and three girls. Also true in The Office, they have just as many women as they do men. In the article I also found that “women characters have the stereotypical role of emotional, romantic, and affectionate emotions.” This is true in the way that Monica has a stereotypical occupation of a chef. That is very domestic. She also does all of the cleaning, and nurtures all of her friends. Another way is that Rachel is a waitress, which is also very domestic. They are both pretty emotional. The article also states, “On average women tend to be about 4 years younger then men.” I am not sure of the exact ages of the women or men in Friends, but they women do look a little bit younger. It makes sense; Ross is Monica’s older brother. The research in the Signorelli article states how women in television...
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...Briefly describe some of the ways changing gender roles have affected relationships between men and women in one of the following settings: a) social settings, b) families, and c) the workplace. Gender roles are the sets of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one’s gender status. In social settings, changing gender roles can eradicate the inequality between men and women, in terms of social expectations. For instance, women are now expected to help pay the bills when they go out with other men because many question why men must always pay for their dates. In families, women and men no longer have to abide by their traditional, familial roles. That is, women can be the head of the household as long as she can maintain the integrity of the family; men no longer have to carry the burden of the responsibilities of the “head of the family.” In workplace, changing gender roles has greatly expanded women’s gender roles and increased equality between men and women. Nowadays, more women are able to enter the job positions that are previously limited to men only. Women, therefore, have greater social mobility, but at the same time, they encounter visible and invisible obstacles. Visible obstacles include sexual harassment and assault. Invisible obstacles consist of glass ceiling—limits and restrictions that hinder women’s upward mobility in the occupational ladder, and glass escalator—the ease of men to take leadership positions in infeminized...
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...Essay: Distinguish between sex and gender and explain its implications for feminist theory Click here and here for two recent articles on contemporary Feminism from the New Statesman Magazine and here for a recent Observer article on biology, culture and gender. Click here for Varieties of Feminism In many past societies men and women have performed significantly different social roles and despite a range of economic, political and social changes such differences persist to a considerable extent in the contemporary world. For example in the case of the UK women are still more likely than men to take disproportionate responsibility for childcare and housework; their employment opportunities, although improving, are still worse than men’s and although they finally gained the right to vote in 1928 they are still much less likely than men to become local councillors, MPs or government ministers. There has been great controversy surrounding the extent to which these differences in social roles are explicable by biological sexual differences or by gender differences which are socially constructed rather than biologically determined. Sexual differences refer to biological differences between males and females such that there are variations between males and females in their chromosomes, their reproductive organs and their relative production of different hormones which in turn result in a range of physical differences. Males are on average hairier, have deeper voices and...
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...Outline and evaluate the view that families are now more egalitarian. In the past, families were seen as very traditional with the men back having the role of being the breadwinner and women dealing with the traditional domestic chores as well as other roles such as looking after the children. Whereas in today’s society, families are now more equal. Children today are much more dependent on their families. However some may argue that, even in the contemporary UK, families are still traditional and not equal. A study by Young and Willmott claimed that roles carried out by men and women were symmetrical, (and in the third stage) with a sharing of domestic tasks, childcare and decision making. They found that the roles were joint conjugal roles rather than single. This shows how families are now more egalitarian as tasks and chores were being shared out. However, this study can be criticised as Anne Oakely as she found that women spent 77 hours per week on housework. She also said that women take on a double burden as they have to deal with domestic chores as well as other roles such as looking after the children. As well as this, she claimed that men only have to do a few tasks in order to qualify as a ‘household husband’ and roles were segregated and not joint. This shows how families are not egalitarian. Families are now devoting their time and working around their schedule into family life. Rapoport and Rapoport found that working couples negotiated family and work...
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...Gender Roles and the Identities of Women During the late nineteenth century, there were many stereotypical attitudes regarding the roles of gender and the identity of women. Men were usually portrayed as the “breadwinners,” as well as the well-educated and the sole foundation of the family. Men had to show their masculinity by being the very upper-hand of the family. Women are portrayed as sensitive, sweet, caring, faithful, moody, naïve, etc. As a way to complete them as a whole, women needed men in their lives. However, women held the least power of the family and believed that they only had a purpose of being housewives. The ideal images of gender roles between men and women, and the identities of women can lead to stereotypes that are associated with Kate Chopin’s short story “Desiree’s Baby.” In “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, gender played a big role in the life Desiree as well as Armand Aubigny. Desiree was described as “beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere— the idol of Valmonde” (1). Desiree was illustrated as if she was down to earth and had a very warm personality. At first she was nameless, like most women when they are first named by their primary families and renamed when they get married. Desiree nameless when she was first found by the Valmonde family, and then they took her in as their own and she adopted their family name. Desiree undergoes another name change when she later marries a wealthy man by the name of Armand and inherited the...
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...Lastly, by creating and maintaining a rigid structure of gender role scripts, chivalric ideals have significant impacts on the intimacy aspect of a romantic relationship. Despite social progression in the past decade, such as feminist efforts shifting a notable percentage of women in the general workforce, and men and women's sexual roles becoming more modern, or egalitarian, over time, traditional gender roles continue to be the driving force in an intimate heterosexual relationship (Sanchez et al., 2012). Ironically, studies show that conforming to the traditional sexual roles (masculine man and feminine woman) has negative consequences and that relationships that are not guided by this traditional sexual script tend to have greater sexual satisfaction and better relationship outcomes (Sanchez et al., 2012). For women, the conformity to traditional masculine norms by their romantic partner is associated with intimacy dissatisfaction for...
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...Based on research from official statistics, there is clear evidence that in most countries, men commit far more criminal acts than women. For example, by their 40th birthday, approximately one in three males have a conviction of some kind, where as one in ten females have been convicted. This essay will explore the fundamental reasons as to why there is such difference between crime rates concerning men and women. It will also analyse theories from different sociologists including Carlen, Heidensohn and Lombroso. The statistics show how recorded crime comes predominately from males. This type of research reveals that males are responsible for approximately four know offences for every one committed by women, they are more likely to be repeated offenders as well as committing, in general, more serious offences. It also found that men are many times more likely to be found guilty of cautioned for offending. For example, men are 50 times more likely to be convicted for sex offences, approximately 8 times more likely to be found guilty for robbery and drug offences, and 5 times more likely to be convicted for violence against a person. Otto Pollack (1950) argues that official statistics regarding gender and crime are misleading, arguing that they do not account for the true extent of female criminality. He suggests that there are a number of crimes that females are more likely to commit than males. He states that nearly all shoplifting offences and criminal abortions are committed...
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...the idea of traditional social gender roles, to the modern gender roles that were developing. Writers during this time would portray men and women roles, as they saw it in society. As the Western culture progressed societies view changed as well with gender roles. In the early stages of the twentieth century, playwrights such as Strindberg, Ibsen, and Lorca, wrote characters such as men and women in gender roles that fit to the societal norms during that time. Plays like Trifles by Susan Glaspell, gave the appearance of the common societal gender roles in Western cultures. The play shows the controversy of men having the power and wisdom over women. Glaspell shows through...
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...Analysis The reactions towards gender roles differ from societies in the world and time periods. Families traditionally included a mother, a father, and the children. Women were thought to be the domestic mothers who would do the cooking, sewing, cleaning, and caring for the children. Men were thought to be fathers that had the role of working to making income for the family, playing sports, fixing cars, and smoking. World War I however broke these traditional gender roles. Men entered the roles of soldiers. Women had to take over occupations men had prior to the war and volunteered their time towards aiding soldiers. As of the 1900s women were mostly known to be working at home or a domestic related job. These jobs “Women's paid employment was typically low status, low paid, and involved fewer skills and responsibilities than men's. The types of work available to women were confined to a few sectors of the economy where the work could be...
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...Adolescent Men The relationship between muscularity, masculinity and dominance, propagated by advertisements and mass media, gives adolescent men a negative body image discrepancy. Men’s self-esteem is often tied to this discrepancy between the ideal body image and how they view their own bodies. Adolescent men attempt to diminish the difference between the perceived ideal body and their own bodies by lifting weights and taking supplements. Unfortunately, as they build more muscle their ideal body becomes more muscular, instilling a cycle of constant low self-esteem in adolescent men. This cycle is based on problems and contradictions inherent in this traditional notion of masculinity. Muscular, powerful male bodies are assumed to be related to social power. This gives them a perceived dominance over smaller, weaker men. Men believe that they will gain more self-esteem as they become more muscular. When confidence and self-esteem are defined by body image, men will never be confident because their body never reaches what they perceive to be the ideal. White and Gillett point out the fallacy that social power is related to physical power, when in reality social power is more closely tied to economic and political structures (35). White and Gillett summarize Brod’s ideas about the two primary reasons that cause men to feel insecure about their masculinity. The first is that there is an increasing gap between the institutional and personal forms of power. In public men are expected...
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...different sociological perspectives will have very different views on all of these matters. Feminists, for example, will most likely agree with the question and will try to prove that the British family is a patriarchal institute, whereas functionalists would argue that the members of the family all of separate roles and purposes in order to fulfil society’s needs, therefore being more likely to oppose the feminist view. Domestic labour is work performed in the home, e.g. cooking, cleaning, and childcare. Some functionalists, such as Parsons, view that traditional division of labour in a family reflects the biological differences men and women. He also believes that everybody benefits from this as society's needs are met due to the roles being complimentary of each other; the male’s traditional roles of being the “breadwinners” and the women's “expressive” role help everyone involved in the family and society. The “march of progress” view claims that the conjugal roles in the family are gradually improving and are becoming more equal and symmetrical. Willmott and Young have also argued that due to the fact that the number of women workers has risen significantly, men are more likely to help with the domestic duties; this has been called the rise of the “New Man”. However, feminists would disagree with the functionalist view...
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...gender differences. The chivalry thesis suggests that more sexism on the part of the criminal justice system, such as the male-dominated police and courts, means that women are treated more leniently than men. There is much evidence for the chivalry thesis, for example according to the Home Office, women are consistently treated less severely by the law, with first offenders about half as likely to be given a sentence of immediate imprisonment than males are. In addition, female offenders are generally regarded by the police as a less serious threat than men, and are therefore more likely to benefit from more informal approaches to their offences, particularly for minor offences, such as cautions or warnings rather than being charged. In addition, women do receive more cautions than men, but this is partly because they commit relatively more minor offences like shoplifting, and they are more likely than men to admit their offences, which is necessary before the police can issue a caution. As a result, the criminal justice system will appreciate their honesty and let them off with lighter punishments. Hence, showing how the chivalry thesis can be useful in explaining gender differences in crime. Furthermore, women offenders are more likely to be remanded in custody than men awaiting trial for serious offences, but in three quarters of cases, women do not actually receive a prison sentence when they come to trial. Hence, showing even though they’re more likely to be remanded...
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...Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Families In today’s society parenting roles are changing drastically on a regular basis. For generations the ideal family was patriarchal and consisted of a husband working outside the home and a wife keeping the home together, even when she may have outside employment. Today, fathers are taking on roles commonly accepted as female gender roles in the family unit. Sometimes even as full time caretakers. The movie “Cheaper by the Dozen” (2003) presents both traditional and non-traditional gender roles when it comes to parenting. As the story progresses things in the household change and the family must cope and adapt to the circumstances surrounding them. The subject of this paper centers around the differences between the traditional and non-traditional roles affecting this family and how they change as well as the distinct picture this movie shows in the fundamental way society is changing. Before diving into the non-tradition parenting roles that this film explores it is important to know the background of the story. The 2003 film Cheaper by the Dozen is a loose remake of the 1950 film and book, both of the same name. As you would expect it starts with a traditional and very large family unit. In the work of Parsons and Bales, as discussed in Kemp’s “Women’s Work” is says that “Task specialization led to two distinct roles for men and women- women in the expressive role of nurturing and socializing the family members, and men the instrumental...
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