Question

Critically discuss the media portrayal of masculinity and femininity with appropriate example

Answer 1

Answer:

There is no longer a clear cut understanding of “masculinity” and “femininity” in western society due to manipulation in the media, affecting the views of individuals on these two terms.  Concepts and ideas formed by the media have created inferable connotations that stray from the formal definition of these words. Masculinity portrays men as strong, dominant, aggressive, independent, breadwinners, and main directors of attention. Women and femininity are defined as weak, submissive, vulnerable, dependent, emotional, nurturing, and targets of attention (5 Gender).

Webster’s dictionary defines masculinity and femininity without social qualities. Masculine is “having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man” (1B Full Definition of Masculine). Femininity is “the quality or nature of the female sex” (1 Definition of Femininity). Nowhere in Webster’s definitions is weakness associated with femininity or dominance associated with masculinity. This shows that media has constructed these subjective definitions and over multiple exposures (i.e. television and magazines), society has accepted the media’s definition as the norm.

The popular television show, Modern Family, enforces these concepts through traditional gender roles that characters portray. Claire Dunphy is the bossy, overprotective mother. She is seen taking care of the family and household; rarely is Claire shown working outside of the house. Claire is the typical mother. The popularity of Modern Family and Claire Dunphy reinforces the values of femininity (21 Gender). Phil, a realtor and Claire’s husband, is clearly the “breadwinner” of the Dunphy residence. Episodes show him working overtime and on days off. The Halloween episode shows Phil promoting a house to treat-or-treaters while handing out flyers to parents; Claire, on the other hand, has spent the whole day decorating her “haunted” house for the pride of having the scariest home in the neighborhood. This episode, like others, promotes the idea that women have more fun being a homemaker.