Representation of Gender in the Media homework: Week 5

Judith Butler (http://www.theory.org.uk/ctr-butl.htm) believes that we are not born into a gender and that gender is different to sex (male/female).   She say that we ‘learn’ how to be a particular gender through adopting characteristics that we ‘learn’ from society (the media included). What evidence (from the media) could be used to suppourt her opinion?

The media can be seen to have a huge influence on gender, and how we 'adapt it', especially within women. Women in the media are often sexualised and presented with the ideal and perfect body images which overall can have a huge impact on young girls who view these images/videos. It can drive young girls to achieve this unrealistic representation of what is normal and acceptable, when often these images are photoshopped or edited. An article about women in the media highlights how we are manipulated to achieve the unimaginable and also how the media has driven "29% of 11-16 year old girls to be "not at all happy with the way they look"". Overall, the media can drive a huge influence in gender, especially young girls and how it 'teaches' them to learn to adapt the female gender from what is shown to them on TV, in magazines and films etc.
http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/policy-research/attitudes-media-culture/