week 1 -intro to gender

8/12/2019 Week 1 -Intro to Gender

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GENDER & MEDIA STUDIES

AN INTRO. TO GENDER

Albert Anani-Bossman

Lecturer and Communication Consultant

[email protected]: 0244767223

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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AN INTRO. TO GENDER

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Women and men are more alike than they are

different. Men are not from Mars; women are not from

Venuswe are all from planet Earth. Michael S.

Kimmel


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Introduction: definitionsKey Concept in Gender Perspectives

Gender

Sex Gender Analysis Gender relations Gender issues Women issues Gender inequality

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Introduction: definitions Gender

Gender is a socio-cultural construct of the society that

determines the identity, roles or obligations/duties,and entitlements of women and men and girls andboys in the society.

It therefore defines women and mens position in their

society. Gender classification changes with time, spaceand needs of a society

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Introduction: definitions Sex

Sex is a biological identification of females and males

based on their physiological characteristics. Sexcharacteristics are natural and determined duringconception; compared to gender which identifiesqualities that are shaped through the history of social

relations and interactions in society

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Introduction: definitions of concepts Gender Roles

This is the set of roles, activities,

expectations and behaviors assigned tofemales and males by society.

Masculine (having the qualities attributed

to males) and Feminine(having the qualities attributed

to females).

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Introduction: definitions Gender relations

Gender relations are social-cultural relationships

between men and women in a given society. They aresocially constructed and not derived from biology.Gender relations distinguish social relations betweenmen and women from those characteristics which can

be derived from biological differences

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Introduction: definitions

Gender inequality

Gender inequality means unequal access to resourcesand benefits by women and men and therefore holds

back the growth of individuals in society Gender gaps

Gender gaps refer to the differences between women

and men in relation to their participation in and benefitsfrom different socio-economic sectors. Gender gapscome about as a result of unequal power relationsbetween women and men and between boys and girls

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Introduction: definitionsThe gender gap measures the magnitude of disparities andis normally computed in percentage points or the differencebetween percentage for females and percentage for males.

Gender Parity Index

Gender Parity Index (GPI) is a socioeconomic index usuallydesigned to measure the relative access to education for

both females and males. It is calculated as the ratio of thenumber of female students enrolled at primary, secondaryand tertiary levels of education to the number of malestudents in each level

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Gender analysis

This is the process of examining roles and responsibilities

or any other situation in regard to women, men, boys andgirls, with a view to identifying gaps, raising concern andaddressing them, investigating and identifying specificneeds for policy and programme development and

implementation

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Gender-Aware Planning

This is the process of taking gender into consideration

(gender mainstreaming) in development planning;planning with women/girls and men/boys in mind.

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Gender issues

Gender issues refers to opportunities, challenges and

constraints that affect both women, men, girls and boysin the society. Gender issues are not synonymous withwomens issues

Womens issues

Women issues refer to opportunities, challenges andconstraints that affect women/girls only

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Gender Socialization

The gender socialization process starts at birth and

involves learning cultural roles according to onessex.

From the start, boys and girls are treated differently

by people in their own environment (for example,parents, siblings and caregivers), and thus learn thedifference between boys and girls, women and men.



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An intro. To gender

We are surrounded by gender lore from the time we arevery small.

Ever-present in conversation, humor, and conflict, and itis called upon to explain everything from driving styles tofood preferences.

Gender is embedded so thoroughly in our institutions,

our actions, our beliefs, and our desires, that it appears tous to be completely natural

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An Intro. To media and gender

1960s witnessed a steady and systematic research into

media images of women.

Feminist scholars and activists began to examine howwomen were being portrayed in a wide array of mediaforms - including films, prime-time television dramas,newspapers, pornography, news magazines, women's

and girl's magazines, popular music, comic books,advertising and soap operas.

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An intro. To media and gender

The concern was that the sexist messages of thesemedia forms socialized people, especially children,into thinking that dichotomized and hierarchicalsex-role stereotypes were 'natural' and 'normal'.

The Aftermath of the Second World War brought alot of changes including changes in the way middle

class women who were ambitious were regarded.

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An Intro. To media and gender

Betty Friedmans book the feminine mystique,shows how in the early 1960s to be a woman

meant that you lived in a fake world. Ahusband, a home and children weresupposed to provide instant gratification but

did not

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An intro. To gender and media

Gender, for both men and women in the C21st,still consists of a complex set of rules,

distinctions and ideals that are difficult to live upto. It requires extensive cultural knowledge toknow what behaviour and dress style are

appropriate under specific circumstances

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An Intro. To gender and media

The media guide us in this regard. They offer examplesof what is done, and what not, of how to combine

different types of gendered behaviour. They teach ushow to enjoy both traditional and innovative ways ofdealing with gender, and offer examples for us to discuss

with others.

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Assignment

Why do we need to study Gender andMedia studies.( media representation of

Gender)

2-3 pages font size 12, double space. Be sure to indicate references.

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week 1 -intro to gender

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