ASSIGNMENT
Instructions: Answer the following questions by reflecting back on what you learned this semester. Each of your answers should be about one paragraph long and include examples from media to help make your point.
- Why is it important to analyze media from the perspective of gender and sexuality? Examples?
- How is social construction evidenced in the portrayal of sex/gender systems in the media? What do we learn about how to perform our identities off screen? Examples?
- What are the sources of Power and Oppression in relation to media representation and media production opportunities for women and members of the LGBTQ community? Examples?
- How can an analysis of the sex/gender system seen in the media help to resist essentialist claims about femininity and masculinity? (i.e. there’s not only one way to be feminine or masculine) Examples?
- What responsibility does the media have to ensure representation of diverse experiences of gender and sexuality? Why? Examples?
- What has been the role of digital media technologies (like social media) in challenging and/or reaffirming traditional constructions of gender? Examples?
- How far have we come in terms of gender equality in the media? What are the biggest hurdles we have yet to face? Examples?
- Alvernia’s five core values are humility, collegiality, contemplation, peacemaking, and service. How might an Alvernian approach the study of gender identity in the media through the context of one or more of these values?
- How will the messy concepts we talked about this semester impact your interaction with media going forward?
