Feminist Approaches to Media Studies

1. Feminist Approaches to Media Studies By Kate Aristides, Lesley-Jane Carroll, Allison Lam, HegeBakken and Valerie

2. Differentiating between… • Feminist: “noun relating to or supporting the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of sexual equality.1” • Feminine: “the trait of behaving in ways considered typical for women.2” • Post-Feminist: “a reaction against some perceived contradictions and absences of second wave feminism. The term post-feminism is ill-defined and is used in inconsistent ways. However, it generally connotes the belief that feminism has succeeded in its goal of ameliorating sexism, making it fundamentally opposed to the third wave intention of broadening feminist struggle.3” http://learningarchitecture.wordpress.com/glossary/ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=femininity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postfeminism

3. Narrating Femininity • Thornham, Sue (2007) ‘Narrating Femininity’ in Women, Feminism and the Media. • Identification and Fantasy • Romance Narratives • Heroine • Soap Operas • Cultural Capital • Melodrama and Desire

4. Does a feminist analysis of the media only concern women? Can it only be carried out by female scholars? August Bebel (German Marxist politician) - publicised women’s rights in his book, Women Under Socialism. ? Dennis Porter– notable male scholar, studied soap operas in relation to female social narratives. • Bell Hooks - “it is obvious that the vast majority of men remain unmoved by feminist thought or action”. (1992: 111) • “...the earliest writings of the men’s movements expressed far more concern with dismantling patriarchy and eradicating male domination of women and children...” (1992: 111) Jon Snodgrass – For Men Against Sexism • “Feminist struggle should enhance the male quest for self-actualisation.” (1992: 113)

5. What does gender critique bring to media studies in terms of understanding popular/devalued/ trashy genres? • Feminism : women issues are always excluded from traditional high culture • Soap opera : constitute a minority in the media (focus on domestic issue) • Janice Radway: Reading the Romance • value / importance e.g. pregnancy • Women are still important in the society • Soap opera provides space for the creation and expression of women culture

6. Lady Gaga – Feminist? • Lady Gaga has been a powerful force in recent popular culture and is often seen to challenge the position of women in the music industry and images of female sexuality. • A sexual double standard continues to constrain both female pop stars and women alike. • While adopting the language of feminism and acknowledging the inequality women continue to face in popular culture, Gaga’s insistence that she is not a feminist is questionable.  • Angela McRobbie and Rosalind Gill call these contradictory gender politics indicative of a "post-feminist" media culture, where feminism is acknowledged, yet dismissed as unnecessary to today’s young women. • Is Lady Gaga then a post-feminist star?

7. Laura Mulvey • 1989 • Male Gaze • Sexual Objectification Rihanna – S&M Music Video

8. Key Questions • Do we need to retain the word feminist or is it outdated? • What are the implications for replacing feminism with empowerment? • Should we be encouraging girls to identify as feminist or can they become empowered without feminism?

9. Thank You For Watching!