Videogames: Further feminist theory

1) What definitions are offered by the factsheet for ‘feminism ‘and ‘patriarchy’?

Feminism - The movement which aims for the quality for women.

Patriarchy - The dominance of males in the society.

2) Why did bell hooks publish her 1984 book ‘Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center’?

Due to the lack of diversity in the feminist community hence publishing the book 'Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center'.

3) What aspects of feminism and oppression are the focus for a lot of bell hooks’s work?

Sexual and ethnic oppression is the main focus on bell hooks' work.

4) What is intersectionality and what does hooks argue regarding this?

Intersectionality - the interconnected nature of social categorisations.

bell hooks' argues that the use of intersectionality is a must for social equality.

5) What did Liesbet van Zoonen conclude regarding the relationship between gender roles and the mass media?

van Zoonen said that there is a correlation between gender roles and the mass media. The mass media structures these gender roles through the content they put online.

6) Liesbet van Zoonen sees gender as socially constructed. What does this mean and which other media theorist we have studied does this link to?

Gender being socially constructed means that society has created guidelines to making people think they are a specific gender because of a list of criteria. Other theorist who look into this include Butler.

7) How do feminists view women’s lifestyle magazines in different ways? Which view do you agree with?

In the feminist community, there is a range of views about women's lifestyle magazines where some think that they suggest a typically feminine content about cooking, make up and beauty. On the other hand, some feminists find these magazines quite empowering for themselves.

8) In looking at the history of the colours pink and blue, van Zoonen suggests ideas gender ideas can evolve over time. Which other media theorist we have studied argues this and do you agree that gender roles are in a process of constant change? Can you suggest examples to support your view?

Another theorist that talks about this is David Guantlett who talks about how gender roles are dynamic (always changing). One example is our CSP 'The Maybelline Boss Life' advert.

9) What are the five aspects van Zoonen suggests are significant in determining the influence of the media?

• Commercial or public institution
• Genre
• What type of platform
• Target audience
• Does it affect audiences' daily lives

10) What other media theorist can be linked to van Zoonen’s readings of the media?

Zoonen says that the media shows that audiences know that gender construction occurs in current time where both women and men actively engage. A theorist that can be linked to this would be Stuart Hall of his theory of different readings. 

11) Van Zoonen discusses ‘transmission models of communication’. She suggests women are oppressed by the dominant culture and therefore take in representations that do not reflect their view of the world. What other theory and idea (that we have studied recently) can this be linked to?

One of the theorist that you can link this to s Stuart Hall where he talks about how women feel oppressed by the dominant 'culture' of society.

12) Finally, van Zoonen has built on the work of bell hooks by exploring power and feminism. She suggests that power is not a binary male/female issue but reflects the “multiplicity of relations of subordination”. How does this link to bell hooks views on feminism and intersectionality?

bell hooks' talk about interesctionaliy which is the common point of two forms of oppression.