Gender Norms: An Analysis Of Gender Roles In Film

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For as long as I can remember, women and men have almost always played completely different roles in films. Men are most likely more masculine than women in movies while females are more nurturing. In the article based on a research project written by Doug Meyers, the author informs is audience about the gender roles in films and compare women and men characteristics. As the article continues, the author pointed out something very important to me. He went on to say “Furthermore, social control mechanisms reinforce female passivity, as women are rewarded for following gender norms and punished for violating them.” This quote means that many women are expected to only have feminine characteristics which just so happen to be considered “Gender Norms”. Characteristics such as nurturing, caring, and emotional are what society thinks is normal for women. In films today we have women …show more content…

Movies and social media have a huge impact on societies’ gender roles and norms. I personally believe that everyone has the right to do what they please when it comes to their own life. Relating back to the article, after the research project was completed “Results indicate that respondents praised violent female characters for stereotypical feminine characteristics and condemned them for using violence.” This supports my opinion because people actually do like to see women empowered. Witnessing a women fight or stand up for herself is something that wasn’t always shown. I believe that social media and things related to the media created gender norms to keep society a certain way. In class one day we watched a documentary on the affects social media has on today’s society. It has the power to influence if not the whole entire world, then most of it. I actually would love to know who created gender roles because they’re really unnecessary and affects everyone’s

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