Discussion of GENDER AND DIVERSITY IN MEDIA

Sample 1:

The film “Tough Guise 2,” started out talking about the relationship between violence in real life and the violence in video games? Is there a connection? Does this affect different genders? Men are the biggest gender pool when it comes to video games and violence in real life, and the fact that violence is a men’s issue is extremely backed up by statistics. While men are the main gender within violence, the media always finds a way to gender neutralize it. They will use terms such as, “shooter” and “killer” rather than “he” or “the man.” Another interesting point is that the person, or rather thing, being blamed is the parents, media, gun, mental health, etc… and not the person who committed the crime. The media has also given men excuses when it comes to violence, because the old saying in the book is “boys will be boys.” However, all of these responses to male violence are extremely frustrating because it’s giving males an excuse… When in reality, women are exposed to all of the same experiences that men are, yet rarely are the ones committing these crimes. When women stand up against violence, it often becomes a women’s issue and not a men’s issue. Another common media trick is when women violence is referred to as “girl fights.” This is interesting considering any male related violence would just be referred to as a “fight.”

Sample 2:

My idea of socially responsible gender representation is showing characters of genders and sexual orientation equally, while also, breaking barriers of gender stereotypes. For instance, men don’t have to be violent or hide emotion and females don’t have to be overly emotional and be into hair, makeup or nails. I think showing genders in all lights and with all different personalities and interests is imperative to media culture. This being said, in Tough Guise 2, men were made to be interested in violence, weapons, explosives, etc. It shows how men are made to feel not masculine without these interests. That culture is dangerous.

In the show “Friends”, while it was made a couple of years ago, there were still glimpses of gender being responsibly shown in the media. One of the characters Ross, is a more emotional and sensitive character, and for a male role, I do not think this type of characterization is shown enough. This is a very light hearted show, however, the male characters are portrayed in a softer and more realistic light than many other shows I have watched.