Popular Media and Society in Gender - Report Example

POPULAR MEDIA AND SOCIETY by Student’s name Course code+name Professor’s name University name City, State Date of submission In different societies globally, consideration and address of gender issues in relation to women is of paramount significance. Problems facing men are widely unsolved and increasingly overlooked still though women bear the major and critical concern, to enhance equality everybody considerations are then core (Gauntlett 2008). Gender is not just a matter of women, but instead it concerns everybody. A clear definition of gender is the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. The society should there be enlightened with issues that affect both man and women so that gender equity may be fairly enacted. Gender relations have been an area of great interest to the researchers since the beginning of this century. The relative power between and among women and men is affected by how gender is conceptualized. This power emerges from the need to communicate and relate effectively. As a result, many inequalities identified especially towards women thus making them feel inferior. Feminism is one of the social, economic and political movements that fight against unequal rights against women (McRobbie & Angela 2007). However, women have not only gained the gender sensitivity through feminism, but they have also gained power through the various environments exposed to that in turn dictates their personality. Money is one major source of power that dictates relationships between men and women. It can affect human relationships either positively or negatively, depending on the personality of the individuals relating. The society perceives man as the sole breadwinner in a family and more as the source of money in a relationship (McRobbie & Angela 2007). This stereotype has yielded inequality in workplaces and gender responsibilities. Other aspects include fame and pride. Females also develop the sense of authority once the males undermines and neglect their social responsibilities. A really functional and mature relationship will lay no emphasis on issues about power or control. Instead, both the partners should feel closely linked while maintaining a strong sense of individuality and independence within the relationship. The two individuals ought to have the same motifs as they relate with each other. This critical issue affects the results of relationships since one may be satisfied whereas the other party has not achieved. Men and women have different interests, which drives them to relate which the opposite sex should be in a position to offer. Power and control leads to an individual overlooking the purpose of the relationship (Cranny et al 2003). Social expectations and patriarchy formulates male-female power dynamic, which is absent. Contrary, now we have a male-male power dynamic which social expectations and patriarchy structures. Men that have this character exhibit some deficits, which are inherent in the male gender role. Gender and power are deeply coherent, but not every power negotiation is through with gender issues. More so, not every aspect of gender involves thinking about power dynamics. Media has played a great role in reproduction and resistance of gendered power relationships. It has enforced these relationships deliberately through feminist magazines, newspaper editorials, movies, gender sensitive programs and art. However, it has affected both Jonny’s and Tracy’s life. Probably her former boyfriend introduced her to the behavior to which she conformed and became a part of her life. This tragedy not only affects her life, but also extends to her stepfather who is also suffering addiction. Her former boyfriend, Jonny is also a former heroin addict who has already recovered. Drugs had therefore dominated their relationship, which is a vice. The film is much communicative on the effect of drugs in our social lives and challenges gendered power relations. Drug addiction incorporates a feeling of power even after quitting. Both have a long way to reform, especially socially. Having parted ways, the romance between Jonny and Tracy rekindles by the fact that he now has money. She portrays a materialistic character, which powers back their relationship. If she met Jonny broke, she could have probably deferred from relating with him any further. Therefore, finances dictate their relationship and not love. Women portrayal to be materialistic especially when dealing with men is the result. On the other hand, it portrays money as the stimulator of their relationship. In search of money, Tracy had to lie twice. She is not satisfied with the situation that she cannot afford to collaborate with the video store that she normally works in. Her financial and legal conditions limit her, but she is more persistent. It is a characteristic of women she portrays, lack of contentment. If she was, she could not have gone to the extent of reuniting with Jonny, her former boyfriend. Lack of settled mind and acceptance of oneself leads many women to relating with men, only those who can satisfy their needs This is one of the aspects that dictates many relationships and causes great harm to individuals. The greed for money in today’s society has diminished the gender roles and responsibilities in relationships (Barker & Chris 1999). It also hinders independence of mind, as one tends to conform to the resources. Considering women, the greed of money yield selfishness and self- centered characters. This has been depicted by Tracy falling back to love with her former boyfriend. She is a typical woman who has a very strong desire for money and can hardly accept to live a cheap life. This concept decreases the sincerity of the relationship between men and women. More so, it creates a competitive environment between men and women. This is because of post feminism where females strive to succeed alone. Submission to the authority of men in gendered relationship diminishes. This implies that post-feminism positively draws on and invokes feminism, to suggest achieve of equality (Barker & Chris 1999). As a result, it installs a whole range of new meanings and ideologies, which emphasize that it is no longer in need therefore it is a spent force. Females, therefore, tend to operate forcefully to attain what we may term as freedom. This explains why Tracy acts beyond personal respect and integrity to be outstanding. In the film Muriel’s’ wedding, we get to see a naive woman who works in every possible way to raise her self-esteem. This is a clear indication of how women take advantage to gain power though a relationship. As seen previously, the interests of the two parties may differ, but the question that withstands is whether both will be satisfied. Muriel looks forward to a great wedding, which will raise her self-esteem. Considering that she is target ridicule by her friends who are fashion conscious, she is very determined to be outstanding. At the end of it, the relationship between her and her spouse serves the purpose she wanted. Despite the psychological oppression by her father, she still made to the marriage of her choice. This is what she considered most important. This is gender oppression as her father had dictated her life. The gender power relationship comes in, that she goes to extent of stealing her father does the money to assist her accomplish the marriage of her choice. Realistically, we can deduce that Muriel is not only in the urge to marry, but also to evade the oppression of the father. This encourages gendered power relationship so that individuals may be realistic while relating with one another. Muriel’s wedding is amongst the Australian movies that try to conform to gendered power relationships. Muriel uses a relationship leading to marriage, to improve her personal life as well as to free her from a tedious life dominated by her demanding and often psychologically abusive father Bill. More so the she works hard to overcome the ridicule from her friends and probably since her body is ridiculous in whichever fashion. However, it is full of disappointments resulting from inconsiderate reason in pursing the relationship, since what majorly compels her is the outlook of her wedding. Feminine’s has given rise to development of ambition in women. The traditional culture hinders women from making their own decision. However, gender equity programs have contributed in creating awareness and installing ambition this is a revolution affecting the gender roles and social responsibilities (Wood 2011). Women have conceived great ideas which they strive to answer some life problems, through which they become innovative and hardworking. Different ethnicities carry initiation for men only and recognize that women have moved from one stage to another. She can now perceive things and become extravagant to achieve. Tracy exhibits her ambitious character through her determination to join the business partnership. She is motivated to do anything that will lead her in to the business. She goes to extent of lying to her mother and boss as well. Her reunion with Jonny is of her own ambitious. Women therefore affect men’s life as they pursue their selfish ambitions. They are very persistent and not easily giving up despite the unfavorable conditions. Her demanding and often psychological abusive father drives her strongly towards her ambition. More so, the ridicule by her age mates which was due to her outward look. She is very ambitious to see that she gets the attention of everyone during her wedding. The film portrays females’ characters have also been portrayed as seekers of power in relationships. In this context, power is because of sense of authority, or rather feeling that you above someone. For Tracy, she is seeking the power of money. One would not love to be feel superior to her partner as a probably that she may not be oppressed. The traditional set up views as inferior and have an obligation to submit to the authority of men. However, post feminism inspired women to develop the independent characters, which would provide a way for equality. Muriel grew up in conditions that lowered her self-esteem. Her authoritative and abusive father really poisoned her conscience as well as her ridiculous friends. She struggles with this inferiority and works hard to have a sentiment, which can raise her power. Tracy has been a victim of many circumstances and had kept a negative report financially, legally and morally. However, she denies feeling inferior and working all means possible to maintain the power of money. She is so daring that agrees to go back to the same life that she had struggled to quit. She considers money as the source of power that she must attain it. Co-dependent relationship The two films challenges lack of co-dependency. A co-dependent relationship is a relationship that finds the relationship more important that the independence of the individuals. In a co-dependent relationship, each partner focuses on finding ways to make the relationship successful. They must be ready to lose their individuality and account this to one another. Engulfment-Abandonment relationship This is a relationship where each partner exercises control of each other. However, what controls one differs with what controls the other. However, the reasons of their control dictate the closeness and the whole relationship. Such a relationship experiences power and control issues. For instance, when one is concerned about losing his or her own identity whereas the other one fears that he or she may be abandoned. This is an indication of how the media has enforced feminism actions at some levels, through accurate remarks on the keen interest in ideas of female success (Cranny et al 2003). Feminists’ values actually comprises on aboard within a range of institutions, which include medicine, law, education, employment, as well as the media. However, the Feminism that has been taken into account is liberal equal opportunities but the above discussed films invokes more negatively radical feminism which is concerned with social criticism rather than in the progress of position of women in the society and altered social order. The social dynamism of the current culture reveals an unequal gender prominence. Women exercise their liberty with a full force as revelation of total freedom and liberty (Wood 2011). However, the films are set on fantasy and expectations that are deep the mind and circles of gender. This modern instrument is solely shaping the future of our gender relations with the view toward equality and may be dominance by the women. The themes and objectives contravenes the current social order and inculcate a free thought to independence and self-expression without regards of deterministic set procedures handled down without being challenged. Films are the most interesting in catching the attention, retention, retrieval of information, which can spread to a large audience with little challenge since the response, is an inferential one, and this delayed feedback is an important tool to support acceptance and influence without challenge. The popular culture is unanimously instrumental as a forceful tool affecting the dynamism of current and future gender relations. Since it is attracting a widespread influence, and constantly shaping social preferences and values on a more rationalized thinking that emphasizes individual self-awareness, control and independence. The thoughts toward clothing, self-expression as long one does not inflict other people’s rights are widely receiving a positive acclaim and adjusted to shape the frameworks of gender relations. Globalization has enhanced a common and seemingly desirable way of gender relations in democratic, useful and practical orientations. The current speed and growth of technology has increased mass migration, trade, education and exchange programs that are centered on gender sensitive issues. Women presented in their lucrative and self-empowered roles without possession of feminine character that is a preoccupation with the past society (Cranny et al 2003). Depicted as exerting their thought and action toward a challenging set goal of self-determination. These issues challenge the existing priorities and revolutionize the mind shift on more acceptable priorities. They also represent a might force toward men achievement of power and resource. Women subjection and identification with naivety and second position material of support is slipping away fast and support of proactive modern and independent notions with a self-actualization objective set as the desirable. Control of resources and management of issues with authority, accountability and responsibility is endeared through sensitive cultural, social, economic and political scenes. There bus depiction of challenged social institutions and agency contribution to change of such structure has been paramount as women takes a confrontational character who opposes an intriguing phenomenon that result to social change and adjustment in power relations. A more informed steps toward self, family, and social set up taken by a woman character and the support of a man figure who sublimates the preconceived order are allowing women to indulge in progressive and structured way of thinking. With the gender inequality in consumption of media, stuff men are left behind. Women are more prone to adjust to new forms of thoughts and behaviors while men always strive to preserve the codes and ethics consistent with their working. Popular culture such as hip-hop, Jazz and rocks are attracting more women in the business who are seen as extremist and role models that are widely acclaimed. Fashions and preferences in the films are used to change values and support personal freedom. While this is a mundane way of enculturation it has an immense sublimation of held up and consistent norms and behavior regularities. Embracing of virtual lives makes it easy for a person to recreate themselves in their own desired norms. The films support a framework that creates an overhaul of personal goal and free will about the search of the highest degree of self-awareness and exploration. In an adventurous and reserved manner that which could have been criticized is disguised to reduce the magnitude of socially unaccepted orientation. It is therefore received slowly by the target audience and with the realization of the challenge adjusts alongside other systems. Humans are created with an evaluative thought that seeks from others how consistent one is to the commonly upheld values (Gauntlett 2008). . This brings a re-invention that adjusts to a system of behavior and enhances mechanisms for survival. No one would readily accept an inconsistent thought and therefore the reliance of individuals on others broaden the survival niches and the more adaptable one canto a different set ups the more chances of growth and endeavoring. The media today is the core and central instrument of enculturation (Gauntlett 2008). The shift of this from parents and the elders to the media has largely shaped the gender power relations and cultures have constantly compromised their hold. Women have broken loose the cultures undermining their exercise for power and will to drive changes as actively as their counterparts, the men do. They are now part of an active progressing society that endears them as instruments as well as beneficiary of changes to a better society. Films whether tragic or comedy turns personal issues into social issues. They enhance how the audience will respond to an issue in a massive scale and therefore there will be a spurned search for change, which can be gradual or revolutionary (Gauntlett 2008). The media has been the most appealing and forceful instrument in discussing gender issues in the family, social and political system which when acknowledged a level of compromise must be reached as a resolve to the divergence. A cycle starts that promotes a policy assessed on the bases of the results and it is adjusted repeatedly to achieve a complete state of functioning. To reduce friction in a challenging gender power relations groups reach a ground that ultimately alter the current state. Most of the issues in the movies surround inheritance, marriage, career and freedom that are contemporary and of interest to most of us. The two films address how certain gender problems change with a relentless conviction, which demonstrate a positive viewed goal. In every instance, a certain degree of positive achievement calls on support for more changes and, therefore gender policies are set in the real political, social and economic arenas to achieve such desired goals. The film also exposes the vices, hypocrisy and sentiments of a system. Many audiences are able to identify with practical situations in their personal experiences and this processes the knowledge toward taking a standpoint. Social change in gender power relations starts with the empowerment of personal decision-making and identification of a desirable way to implement changes. Determination of the extent of a problem promotes an active challenge to it creating change, moderation or adjustment. Reference List Gauntlett, D, 2008.Media, gender and identity’ : an introduction. London New York: Routledge p. 86. McRobbie, Angela 2007. Post feminism and Popular Culture: Bridget Jones and the new gender regime. In Interrogating Post feminism: Gender and the Politics of Popular Culture, edited by Yvonne Tasker and Diane Negra. Durham & London: Duke University Press, pp. 27-39. Cranny-Francis, Anne, Wendy Waring, Pam Stavropoulos & Joan Kirkby 2003. Gender Studies: Terms and debates. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 159-176. Barker, Chris. 1999. Television: Globalization and Cultural Identities. Buckingham: Open University Press, p. 97. Wood, J. 2011. Gendered lives : communication, gender, and culture. Boston, MA: Wadsworth/Cengage, pp. 54-78. Read More