Feminist Theory - blog tasks

Media Magazine reading:

1)
HBO's Pan Am and Beyoncé's why don't you love me music video.

2)
The first image is of the Pan Am stewardesses which was there to be admired and aspired to by women and to be enjoyed by men.

Beyoncé claims to be an independent woman but acts the complete opposite which relates to the 'male gaze' of Mulvey's' theory.

3)
I think that there is still need for feminism as inequality between the sexes are still existent within todays world. Even though there has been some amounts of progress over the years, females are so used to everyday sexism that that they see it as normality because it occurs so often. Times are moving on and people need to be shown that it isn't normal that women are getting harassed day in day out by men who think that they can do whatever they want.

4)
Patriarchy - The ideology of which men are dominant over women.

Feminism - The action of defining, establishing and defending women's rights and equality to men.

Post-feminism - The ideology within culture and society that society is somehow past needing feminism and that equality between the sexes are already in place.


Music Video analysis:

Beyoncé:

1)
Beyoncé is shown as very sexualised and overexaggerated. In other words, the most stereotypical female in the past.

2)
The music video can lean towards both sides of the argument as Beyoncé is clearly dressed and acting as a stereotypical female from the past times in which they were expected to be quiet housewives yet at the same time she breaks the idea that women should do as their told by doing whatever she wants. Depending on who sees this, it could change the meaning of the music video.

3)
Beyoncé shows her fights for feminism in a different way compared to the past. Her music videos show her self empowerment for being a woman (reclaiming her femininity and sexuality).

4)
To me, the lyrics are the story of music. She talks about how she's doing everything a stereo typical woman would do so why don't you love me. This message is to take note of. I think that the point of the song was to tell women that even if they act like a stereotypical woman who does the cleaning the cooking etc. it doesn't mean the man will love you so just be who you are and do what you want because its your life so you should choose what to do with it. This is her way of empowering women.


Will Jay:

1)
The music video shows that masculinity has changed significantly over the years. Stereo types of men not having emotion have changed and now me are allowed to express their emotions. Stereotypes that men must be strong are also broken within this music video as he pretends to be unable to lift the weight showing that not all men have to be physically strong.

2)
David Gauntlett suggests that masculinity of men have changed over time. Men are now more free to express their feelings and to show their weakness and vulnerabilities. This means that men are breaking certain stereotypes about them and growing into the new times.

3)
Yes the masculinity representation over the years has changed for the good. More men are expressing their feelings and acting more themselves. As a male myself currently in my teens, I feel think there actually quite a lot of pressure on the whole how men should act because there are obviously a huge number of other guys around you in which most are still immature and believe that they should all  have the stereotypical men traits. If you don't follow it, you're pretty much going to be the centre of attention for being called all sorts and stuff, therefore, most boys even if they're not the stereotypical male act as if they are in order to fit in and to escape the consequences after. Now that I'm in sixth form, I see a lot more change and more guys acting themselves than stereotypical. Perhaps it is because everyone is a lot older ad understand that it's okay to be different.