Help me with my Master's research class...subject is: gendered messages in media?

Question

In this, the 21st century, is new media, ( i.e., web sites, chat rooms,

web advertising, virtual reality environments) telling boys how to be

boys and girls how to be girls?

Example:

girls: have to look pretty, are not good in math, are nurturing, etc...

boys: aggressive, breadwinners, not good at verbal communication, etc...

Is new media in control of these gender definitions?

Are kids today accepting of what media tells them to be about their

gender?

Has this in any way changed in media, yes or no? Please explain. (Grimm’s Fairy Tales are loaded with gender messages)

Where do you feel kids get their biggest gender influences from? Please

explain...

if you would also include your age, that would help us.

Answer 1

Well the obvious answer is yes.  On tv we are told how we should dress, talk, behave, etc according to our gender.  However, I would say that we are now being exposed to opposing views of gender.  Ten years ago we would only see boys acting like boys and girls acting like girls, but now we see same-s*x people adopting children, shows about transgendered people and media where the daddy stays home while mommy works.  

I would not say news media is in control of gender definitions.  We are responsible for the definitions.  When our little girl is born she goes into a pink blanket and the little boy in a blue.  We dress our girls with bows and in pink.  We encourage our boys to play sports and girl to take dance lessons.  I'm sure the media has some affect, but I would say it has more to do with how we are raised.  If we were placed in a vacuum I am sure we would be much more similar regardless of gender, but since we cannot do this I would say many things affect how we expect boys and girls to act.  

I think that kids do watch tv and want to emulate it, but I also think tv is helping tell people it is okay to be different.  MTV (which is worshiped by many teens) has many shows that depict g*y/L*****n/transgendered teens, teens bending gender roles, and many other "taboo" topics.

As far as fairy tales go, they are definitely changing.  No longer is the little girl the timid damsel in distress, but many times the rescuer.

Age: 21