Challenging Media Stereotypes Kristen Inigo Planning 10 Unit 4

Gender Stereotypes Gender stereotypes are often depicted through songs, movies, television shows, and many more.

Female Stereotypes I’m a Slave 4 U – Britney Spears This song implies that women are ‘easy’ and that just to get the attention of a man, she must give everything up for him and do what he wants/says. “I’m a slave for you/ I cannot hold it/ I cannot control it” “Baby, don’t you wanna dance up on me/ Leaving behind my name and age”

Female Stereotypes You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift This song implies that you have to meet a certain social standard in order to get the guy. “She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts/ She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers”

Male Stereotypes Like a Boy – Ciara This song implies that all men are cheaters and not trustworthy. “What if I?/ Had a thing on the side?/ Made you cry?/ Would the rules change up?/ Or would they still apply?/ If I played you like a toy?/ Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy”

Songs That Challenge These Stereotypes Single Ladies – Beyonce “I could care less what you think/ I need no permission, did I mention/ Don’t pay him any attention” Keep Your Head Up – 2 Pac “And since we all came from a woman/ Got our name from a woman and/ Our game from a woman/ I wonder why we take from our woman/ Why we rape our woman/ Do we hate our woman?” The Gender Equality Song - Pezicano

Gender Inequality Gender inequality has been a reoccurring problem in today’s society, as well as the past. For most occupations, women are often paid less per hour than men. Socially, men are often perceived as being tough, fearless, and manly which puts a lot of pressure on who they are. A majority of today’s music bashes on not only gender stereotypes, but body shaming as well. Female stereotypes connect to female body shaming because the media’s definition of a ‘perfect bikini body’ is a extra small, hourglass waist, or a 00. Men are also expected to have washboard abs and a body like Hercules.

Gender Equality Today’s media also contains positive messages about gender equality through songs, movies, and television shows. Since our generation is so focused on the media, that gives the media an opportunity to attempt to change the viewers perspectives on gender equality.