Classwork Gender

Here is a summary of what we have been learning about in class. We learned about different types of gender / identity theories. 

Genre Theory

All of these three theories build on each other and give us an idea of the role media plays in gender identity.

Judith Butler

Sex and Gender are not the same.

Sex is Biological

Gender is Behavioural

Butler argues that boys are not born wanting to wear blue, girls not born wanting to wear pink. This behaviour is learned. Each day men and women perform their gender rituals, small acts that are expected of them as men and women. 

This is called Gender Performativity

These rituals are shaped by our culture, our family and friends, by our society as a whole. These are then reinforces by the media.

The media primarily exposes us to heterosexual relationships. This Heteronormativity teaches people that being straight is the nromal, expected way to be. The media fails to represent LGBT characters equally. Even when they are included, the narrative is often about how difficult it is to be gay in society.

Reinforcing the message that straight relationships = normal

To break away from these fixed gender roles, people need to subvert gender expectations and perform their own gender rituals.