Critical Analysis: Media Representation of Gender Construction

This essay examines the media representation of gender construction, particularly focusing on the underrepresentation and stereotyping of women in American media, with an emphasis on Black women. It highlights the disparity between the portrayal of women in media and their actual roles and demographics, noting that media tends to showcase younger, thinner women in high-profile jobs, which contrasts with the reality of aging and diverse working-class women. The essay also addresses the 'Second Shift,' where women bear the burden of unpaid household work, which is often misrepresented in media portrayals that perpetuate traditional gender roles. By analyzing these discrepancies, the essay critiques how media reinforces stereotypes and traditional notions of gender, thus impacting societal perceptions.

Running head: MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF GENDER CONSTRUCTION
Media Representation of Gender Construction
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1Media Representation of Gender Construction
In a country like US, where the male outnumbers women in a ratio of three to one the
depiction of women in the American media is underrepresented, stereotyped and based on the
traditional notions (Bowden and Jane). Especially the black women of the country is faced
with double subjugation as they are mostly given the supporting characters (Griffin).
Moreover, the portrayal of women in the media differs from the reality. The women in the
prime-television are younger and thinner which does not substantiate the ageing and obese
population of the country. The American media reinforces the stereotype with more young
and beautiful newscasters (Wood).
As according to the video “Women have Class”, Second Shift, refers to the unpaid
workload that women have at home (Tortajada et al.). Women are generally paid less than
men and further the household unpaid work is also needs to be done by them (Gallagher).
This is not portrayed or underrepresented in the media. Moreover, the kind of work women
are involved in reality are more of lower middle class or working class jobs but the working
women projected in the media are involved in high profile jobs (Collins).
The division of labour that is observed at home and the one represented in the media
has an incongruity. The household chores are often distributed and done together by both the
male and female counterpart however, in the prime television it is always the benevolent
women who do all the chores. This again contributes to a stereotyped and traditional role of
women as promoted by the media.

2Media Representation of Gender Construction
References:
Bowden, Peta, and Jane Mummery. Understanding feminism. Routledge, 2014.
Collins, Patricia Hill. "Shifting the center: Race, class, and feminist theorizing about
motherhood." Mothering. Routledge, 2016. 45-65.
Gallagher, Margaret. "Media and the representation of gender." The Routledge Companion to
Media & Gender. Routledge, 2013. 41-49.
Griffin, Rachel Alicia. "Push ing into precious: Black women, media representation, and the
glare of the White supremacist capitalist patriarchal gaze." Critical Studies in Media
Communication 31.3 (2014): 182-197.
Tortajada-Giménez, Iolanda, Núria Araüna-Baró, and Inmaculada José Martínez-Martínez.
"Advertising stereotypes and gender representation in social networking
sites." Comunicar 21.41 (2013): 177-186.
Wood, Julia T. "on Views of Gender." 2019