How do media portrayals challenge or reinforce traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations?
Media portrayals often reflect the values, attitudes, and beliefs of society. They are powerful agents that shape our perceptions of what is normal, desirable, acceptable, and even what is possible for men and women. Gendered sexual norms and expectations have long been a part of societal structures, shaping how people view their roles, identities, and relationships. In this article, I will explore how media can challenge or reinforce these norms and expectations, focusing on representations of heterosexual relationships between cisgender individuals.
Traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations refer to the social roles and behaviors that are attributed to each gender based on biological sex. These include stereotypes about masculinity and femininity such as aggressiveness and passivity, strength and vulnerability, assertiveness and submission, dominance and submissiveness. Such stereotypes can be seen in many forms of media, from movies and TV shows to advertising and music videos.
Popular culture often depicts men as sexual initiators who take control during intimate moments while women are portrayed as passive objects of desire. This may reinforce gendered power dynamics and lead to harmful behavior.
Some media portrayals offer alternative models of intimacy by challenging these traditional norms.
The HBO series 'Girls' features female characters exploring their sexuality and engaging in healthy consensual relationships with multiple partners without being stigmatized. This show challenges the idea that women should only have monogamous relationships with one man and promotes a more flexible approach to sex and love. Similarly, movies like 'Blue is the Warmest Color' and 'Call Me By Your Name' present same-sex relationships in positive light, breaking down homophobic attitudes towards queer identities.
Not all media depictions challenge traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations. Many still perpetuate problematic narratives around heterosexual romance and eroticism. Take, for example, the movie 'Fifty Shades Freed', which celebrates BDSM practices between a wealthy white man and his young, attractive assistant. The film glorifies domination, submission, and objectification and could reinforce abusive behaviors. Likewise, the sitcom 'How I Met Your Mother' often uses crude humor to joke about casual sex, implying that it is acceptable or even desirable for men to pursue numerous partners without consequences.
Media representations can both challenge and reinforce traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations. They reflect and influence societal values and beliefs, shaping our understanding of what is normal, desirable, or possible when it comes to intimacy and desire. It is important for creators and consumers alike to be mindful of how these portrayals may impact their own views on gender, sexuality, and relationships.
How do media portrayals challenge or reinforce traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations?
In contemporary society, the media plays an essential role in influencing people's perception of gender roles and behaviors, including gendered sexuality and relationships. The media often presents various images that have both challenged and reinforced traditional gendered sexual norms and expectations. Some studies have shown that media representations can promote progressive attitudes towards gender equity while others suggest that they perpetuate traditional values and beliefs about masculinity and femininity.