summary OF GENDER             << page back

   and the different links

The word "Gender" is derived from Latin, meaning to beget, to procreate, to produce, to generate, or to create. The word has a much broader and more general meaning than the term "Sex," the latter referring to the physical distinctions between male and female living things. Essential elements of our own identity, and the identities we assume other people have, come from concepts of gender - what does it mean to be a boy or a girl?

Many objects, not just masculine or feminine, not just human, are represented by the media as being particular masculine or feminine, which is sown in abundance in the advertising industry, which is why, we grow up with an awareness of what constitutes "appropriate" characteristics for each gender, and we are all affected by the advertising industry whether we like it or not.

Furthermore, according to Foucault in The Reader: "In challenging our most basic assumptions about sex, gender and sexuality, including the oppositions between heterosexual and homosexual, biological sex and culturally determined gender, and man and woman, these thinkers are developing new ways of exploring the issue of human identity." (7) I assume that Foucault is referring to the exploitation of the mass media, when he refers to "these thinkers."

The chosen links are informative and reinforces what we learning in the class WS 350. For example; Representations of Femininity, Representations of Masculinity, and explicit and implicit rules, roles and scripts govern relationships in all cultures.

In addition, there are many interesting pictures and images of women. Consider the titles of following images: "Awesome Curves, Woman's Image in the Media, Men Who Love Curves."

Another interesting link talks about Queen Latifah, a female rapper, who was the first to bring a feminist consciousness to the genre's political agenda with her groundbreaking 1989 debut, "All Hail the Queen," and its single "Ladies First." April 29, Queen Latifah performed at a benefit convert in Washington DC in support of a gay and lesbian human rights campaign, as a part of "Equality Rocks."

ENJOY!