Gender Representation in Media

This page delves into gender portrayal across various media:

Television often objectifies women through full-body shots, while men are shown with facial close-ups. Unrealistic beauty standards in media can damage viewers' body image.

Historically, women were depicted as housewives subservient to men, considered the weaker sex both physically and emotionally. Men were portrayed as strong breadwinners and household heads.

In advertising, gender stereotypes persist:

• Women associated with dieting and shopping
• Female bodies used to sell products
• Men shown as desirable, strong businessmen

Quote: "70% of girls said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape"

Highlight: While men are also objectified in media, the consequences are less severe due to lower real-world threats of sexual violence or harassment.

Gender in Shakespeare's Sonnets

This page provides an overview of Shakespeare's sonnets and their treatment of gender:

Shakespeare's collection of 154 sonnets, written between 1592-1598, address themes of love, beauty, time, and death. They often take a pessimistic tone and serve to parody conventional love poems of the era.

Key features of Shakespearean sonnets:

• 14 lines with a specific rhyme scheme
• Written in iambic pentameter
• Addressed to a beloved person

The sonnets' popularity fluctuated over time, regaining significance during the Romantic period. They continue to be analyzed for insights into Shakespeare's views on gender and relationships.

Vocabulary: Iambic pentameter - A poetic meter consisting of five iambs (unstressed/stressed syllable pairs) per line.

Highlight: Shakespeare's sonnets often subvert gender expectations of traditional love poetry, offering a more complex view of relationships.