Gender+Inequality

**Gender Inequality** **Background** In today's culture, we see gender inequality through norms and interactions between a range of people. These norms are often created and perpetrated through the media, which consistently depicts gender specific, and sexist expectations of women and relationships ( Jhally, 2000 ). Gender inequality is then expressed through gender roles, sexism, patriarchy, and gender stratification in every day life( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ). Gender, which is the social, psychological, and cultural traits associated with either male or female, is often ascribed to individuals by others (Strasburger, Wilson, & Jordan, 2009). In doing so, the individual is attributed a gender role with particular rights, obligations, expectations, and appropriate relationships ( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ). These roles are often unequal and therefore represent gender stratification where “women are unequal in power, resources, prestige, or presumed worth” ( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ). These divisions assist in developing sexism against women and patriarchy- the affirmation that men are superior to females ad therefore dominate society ( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ).



**Media, Gender, and Sex** These images also have an effect on men and the way that they view real women in comparison to the “ideal” sexulized woman they see in the media ( Jhally, 2000 ). It is even more frightening that these objectified images of women may lead to violence and the justification of discrimination or abuse toward women ( Jhally, 2000 ). In fact, an ad agencies in the 1990's admitted that “sexism, sexual harassment, and the cultural portrayal of women in advertising are inextricably linked” ( Jhally, 2000 ). Another major effect is the dramatic decline in self-esteem of adolescent girls, which does not occur for boys ( Jhally, 2000 ). It becomes clear that these unachievable expectations that are communicated to women effect women, while abstaining from doing the same to men. Many have attempted to justify portraying women in such unequal ways in media by stating that men are also portrayed in sexualized way. While images of attractive and fit men are becoming increasingly common, the difference in the sexualized portrayals of men and women exist in the intent and outcome of the images; women who do not meet the ideal are ridiculed and judged while men are not scrutinized or harassed if they do not meet the same ( Jhally, 2000 ). Men are much less likely to be objectified, raped, harassed, or beaten as a result of perpetuation of these images in society ( Jhally, 2000 ). In addition, even with the media moving toward a more equal exploitation of men and women, “females are still more likely than men to be shown in submissive positions, sexually displayed, or included in violent imagery.” (Strasburger et al., 2009). Even a greater portion of women (43%) of women are reporting a greater dissatisfaction in sex than men (31%), because women feel they can not meet expectations they are given in the media (Strasburger et al., 2009). Television programming also reflects society’s assumptions about gender and the unequal expectations ( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ). Males are presented as role models in far greater proportions than women, as more powerful, with higher authoritative and respected occupations, with a disproportionately large portion of the workforce with a broader range of jobs, and as more intelligent, rational, successful, powerful, and tolerable than women. Women, however, are portrayed as younger, happier, and more attractive, sociable, peaceful, and conscientious than men. They are more likely to be depicted as married or promiscuous and are far more likely to be a leading role in a program if her family or romance is the essential story line ( Eitzen & Zinn, 2005 ). These portrayals tend to cast women in less appealing, insignificant, and trivial parts while portraying men as more essential, important, and the more superior gender. This continues to further the idea that women are sexual or romantic attributes to males, who should be the focus of attention and the superior gender. Finally, studies have shown that for college students, viewing of reality television is highly correlated with double standard beliefs about men and women's sexual relationships and activities (Strasburger et al., 2009). **Sexual Communication and Language** Sexual stereotypes, double standards, and expectations are represented throughout language and what is seen as appropriate conversation. One study showed that “social stereotypes can dictate that certain topics, such as expression of sexual desire, may be less permitted for women for men... also men and women are socialized to use certain forms of speech according to their sex” ( Marston, 2004 ). Most people are familiar with discrepancies of sexual terms to describe promiscuous men and women or even that when speaking generally about a group of people or items that the male noun is utilized. Some examples include calling females “whores” while calling males “pimps” or referring to the human race as “mankind”. However, appropriate speech according to sex is often unidentified as being restrictive, let alone as an inequality. In American media, women are portrayed often as deniers of sex, emotional, and focused on the relationship aspect where as males are portrayed as sexual beings who not only initiate sex but talk openly and freely about it as an act (Strasburger et al., 2009). This carries to real life where women are often unwilling to initiate talk of sexual intercourse ( Marston, 2004 ). Furthermore, research has shown that in some cultures, women are seen as less appealing when they have had previous partners, since she may now verbally express expectations of the male, instead of remaining passive ( Marston, 2004 ). After all, the typical male is “strong, dominant, and aggressive and the stereotypical woman weak, passive, and obedient” ( Marston, 2004). Men share and exaggerate sexual stories and objectify women in groups of friends to gain status while women typically talk with only a few close friends about the relationship aspect of the sexual interactions ( Marston, 2004). Such limitations and expectations “reduce the common forms of expression available to them” ( Marston, 2004 ). **Double Standards in Dating and Sex** Gender inequalities portrayed on television may represent what our culture truly believes about gender roles and sexuality. However, these sexually communicative images also affect how people view their roles in a sexual relationship and therefore how couples communicate with one another. A gender roles study about sexual communication found that “more than one third of teens say there is a double standard for boys and girls” ( Sex Smarts, 2002). One of the most persistent inequalities between males and females relates to the pressures to have sex and the resulting negative consequences of either decision. A woman must guard her reputation while a man must earn his ( Marston, 2004 ). Only about 40% of boys carrying condoms are seen as “easy” whereas more than 70% of females are. In addition, 9 out of 10 females feel pressured by males to have sex, whereas 5 out of 10 males feel pressured ( Sex Smarts, 2002). However, “nine in ten say that girls get bad reputations because of having sex... (while) three-quarters say that girls often lose their boyfriends because they won't have sex” neither of which is true for boys ( Sex Smarts, 2002). The woman is to be innocent and virginal for her partner and “a young woman starting her sexual life outside marriage risks being perceived as worthless and dubious of sexual morals”, a standard that men are not held to ( Marston, 2004 ). Therefore, not only do the females feel pressured to have sex and likely give into those pressures in order to maintain relationships, they also risk losing those relationships and a positive reputation in doing so. It is likely that these expectations and double standards originate and are reinforced in mass communication since these sexual scripts are wide-held and perpetuate the young generation that receives a majority of their information about sex from the media (Strasburger et al., 2009). **References** Eitzen, S., & Zinn, M. (2005). //Social Problems (10th ed.).// Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Jhally, S. (2000). //Killing us softly 3: advertising's image of women.// United States: Media Education Foundation <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Kilbourne, J. (2011). //Jean Kilbourne.// Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://jeankilbourne.com <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Marston, C. (2004). Gendered communication among young people in Mexico: implications for sexual health interventions. //Social Science and Medicine, 59, 445-456.// <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Moshell, M. (2008). //Ban or Boycott? A censorship of sexist displays.// Retrieved April 8, 2011, from http://fashionindie.com/ban-or-boycott-a-censorship-of-sexist-displays. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Sex Smarts. (2002)//. Gender roles: a series of national survey of teens about sex.// The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Seventeen Magazine. <span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Strasburger, V., Wilson, B., Jordan, A. (2009)//. Children, adolescents, and the media// (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc.