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Yeah, the study showing a correlation between a country's economic status and its gender differences is interesting, but all it really means is that economic fa

Yeah, the study showing a correlation between a country's economic status and its gender differences is interesting, but all it really means is that economic factors might have an effect on gender equality IN ADDITION to cultural and biological factors. Besides her one caveat at the end of the article, the author seems to be making the case that this study implies that cultural factors are non-existent. I don't see how that makes any sense. One might also conclude from the study that in the absence of economic pressures, cultural forces have a much greater effect on gender inequality. Perhaps wealthy countries can spend more on luxuries like toy dolls and action figures that have a conditioning effect on young boys and girls?

azakai 13y ago
> Besides her one caveat at the end of the article, the author seems to be making the case that this study implies that cultural factors are non-existent. I don't think she's saying that at all. It's not one caveat at the end - the rest of the article is described as presenting a possibility, not an absolute truth. Hence she uses the words "hypothesize", "far from conclusive", "what if", etc. etc. Of course since she is arguing against the point of view that cultural factors are everything, she focuses on the other possibility. But she writes well and is very careful to not say that cultural factors are nothing - which is a correct position to take, because scientific research into this area, as she points out, is ongoing. We just don't know the answer to where things are along that continuum.
aestra 13y ago
>a country's economic status and its gender differences is interesting, but all it really means is that economic factors might have an effect on gender equality IN ADDITION to cultural and biological factors One theory, purely my own. It is well known that women are portrayed a certain way in fiction (TV, movies, books) that reinforces and may even create some ideas of gender roles. When a country's economic status increases, they have access to more American media, so their children start to internalize these roles. TV and movies are written and produced by mostly men from mostly a man's prospective. http://www.seejane.org/research/ http://www.seejane.org/research/ http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/elb9501.html http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/elb9501.html
- whiddershins 13y ago
  I like this theory. I think, but cannot prove, that cultural norms are propagated much more forcefully by TV than person to person, for example standards of beauty, expectations of behavior. Partially because TV gives the illusion you are seeing a complete person, while in real life, behavior tends to be more varied even within one person than any character on any show. I tried not watching any TV or media for about 6 years, and after that period I saw a commercial at a friend's house, I thought "Holy cow! That is so incredibly sexist! When did they start running those commercials?" ... no one else in the room had that reaction, it was only from lack of exposure that it seemed so surreal and over the top to me.
  - aestra 13y ago
    I'm guessing almost nobody read the research I linked to, but it is pretty damning and eye opening. Here's some of the summary from the first link. Males outnumber females 3 to 1 in family films. In contrast, females comprise just over 50% of the population in the United States. Even more staggering is the fact that this ratio, as seen in family films, is the same as it was in 1946. Females are almost four times as likely as males to be shown in sexy attire. Further, females are nearly twice as likely as males to be shown with a diminutive waistline. Generally unrealistic figures are more likely to be seen on females than males. Females are also underrepresented behind the camera. Across 1,565 content creators, only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. This translates to 4.8 males working behind-the-scenes to every one female. From 2006 to 2009, not one female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in law, or politics. In these films, 80.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female, which is a contrast to real world statistics, where women comprise 50% of the workforce. All facts are supported by research conducted by Dr. Stacy Smith, Ph.D. at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism Gender in Media: The Myths & Facts MYTH: Boys and girls are equally represented in film and television. FACT: Even among the top-grossing G-rated family films, girl characters are out numbered by boys three-to-one. That's the same ratio that has existed since the end of World War II. For decades, male characters have dominated nearly three-quarters of speaking parts in children's entertainment, and 83% of film and TV narrators are male. The Institute's research indicates that in some group scenes, only 17% of the characters are female. These absences are unquestionably felt by audiences, and children learn to accept the stereotypes represented. What they see affects their attitudes toward male and female values in our society, and the tendency for repeated viewing results in negative gender stereotypes imprinting over and over. MYTH: Family entertainment is a safe haven for female characters. FACT: Astoundingly, even female characters in family films serve primarily as "eye candy." Female characters continue to show dramatically more skin than their male counterparts, and feature extremely tiny waists and other exaggerated body characteristics. This hypersexualization and objectification of female characters leads to unrealistic body ideals in very young children, cementing and often reinforcing negative body images and perceptions during the formative years. Research shows that lookism still pervades cinematic content in very meaningful ways. MYTH: Things are looking great for females behind the camera. FACT: Females behind the camera fall far behind their male contemporaries and are at a distinct disadvantage in the entertainment industry. Only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. With such a dearth of female representation in front of and behind the camera, it's a struggle to champion female stories and voices. The Institute's research proves that female involvement in the creative process is imperative for creating greater gender balance before production even begins. There is a causal relationship between positive female portrayals and female content creators involved in production. In fact, when even one woman writer works on a film, there is a 10.4% difference in screen time for female characters. Sadly, men outnumber women in key production roles by nearly 5 to 1. MYTH: Girls on screen compare favorably to their male counterparts. FACT: Messages that devalue and diminish female characters are still rampant in family films. Gender stereotyping is an inherent problem in today's entertainment landscape, and children are the most vulnerable recipients of depictions that send the message that girls are less valuable and capable than boys. The Institute's research illustrates that female characters who are lucky enough to garner speaking roles tend to be highly stereotyped. From 2006 to 2009 not one female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in the law, or in politics. 80.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female, which is a contrast to real-world statistics of women comprising 50% of the workforce. With repeated viewings, young audiences may fail to realize this lopsided view is not, in fact, reality and believe there is no need for gender parity or industry change. Today's children will be our future business leaders, content creators and parents and the ones who need to lead the charge for future generations. MYTH: Gender imbalance issues have gotten better over time. FACT: Statistically, there has been little forward movement for girls in media in six decades. For nearly 60 years, gender inequality on screen has remained largely unchanged and unchecked. Without an educational voice and force for change, this level of imbalance is likely to stay the same or worsen. Only through education, research, and advocacy both from within the studio system and entertainment industry, and with parents and kids, can we effect real change in this heavily gender-biased media landscape. Then we have the Bechdel test for works of fiction. It is a simple test that says the work of fiction: 1) It has to have at least two women in it, 2) who talk to each other, 3) about something besides a man. in order to pass. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test Here's a crowdsource list of movies and how they score on the Bechdel test http://bechdeltest.com/ http://bechdeltest.com/ out of the 4416 movies in the database, only 55% pass.

azakai 13y ago

> Besides her one caveat at the end of the article, the author seems to be making the case that this study implies that cultural factors are non-existent. I don't think she's saying that at all. It's not one caveat at the end - the rest of the article is described as presenting a possibility, not an absolute truth. Hence she uses the words "hypothesize", "far from conclusive", "what if", etc. etc. Of course since she is arguing against the point of view that cultural factors are everything, she focuses on the other possibility. But she writes well and is very careful to not say that cultural factors are nothing - which is a correct position to take, because scientific research into this area, as she points out, is ongoing. We just don't know the answer to where things are along that continuum.

aestra 13y ago

>a country's economic status and its gender differences is interesting, but all it really means is that economic factors might have an effect on gender equality IN ADDITION to cultural and biological factors One theory, purely my own. It is well known that women are portrayed a certain way in fiction (TV, movies, books) that reinforces and may even create some ideas of gender roles. When a country's economic status increases, they have access to more American media, so their children start to internalize these roles. TV and movies are written and produced by mostly men from mostly a man's prospective. http://www.seejane.org/research/ http://www.seejane.org/research/ http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/elb9501.html http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/elb9501.html

whiddershins 13y ago
I like this theory. I think, but cannot prove, that cultural norms are propagated much more forcefully by TV than person to person, for example standards of beauty, expectations of behavior. Partially because TV gives the illusion you are seeing a complete person, while in real life, behavior tends to be more varied even within one person than any character on any show. I tried not watching any TV or media for about 6 years, and after that period I saw a commercial at a friend's house, I thought "Holy cow! That is so incredibly sexist! When did they start running those commercials?" ... no one else in the room had that reaction, it was only from lack of exposure that it seemed so surreal and over the top to me.
- aestra 13y ago
  I'm guessing almost nobody read the research I linked to, but it is pretty damning and eye opening. Here's some of the summary from the first link. Males outnumber females 3 to 1 in family films. In contrast, females comprise just over 50% of the population in the United States. Even more staggering is the fact that this ratio, as seen in family films, is the same as it was in 1946. Females are almost four times as likely as males to be shown in sexy attire. Further, females are nearly twice as likely as males to be shown with a diminutive waistline. Generally unrealistic figures are more likely to be seen on females than males. Females are also underrepresented behind the camera. Across 1,565 content creators, only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. This translates to 4.8 males working behind-the-scenes to every one female. From 2006 to 2009, not one female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in law, or politics. In these films, 80.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female, which is a contrast to real world statistics, where women comprise 50% of the workforce. All facts are supported by research conducted by Dr. Stacy Smith, Ph.D. at the USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism Gender in Media: The Myths & Facts MYTH: Boys and girls are equally represented in film and television. FACT: Even among the top-grossing G-rated family films, girl characters are out numbered by boys three-to-one. That's the same ratio that has existed since the end of World War II. For decades, male characters have dominated nearly three-quarters of speaking parts in children's entertainment, and 83% of film and TV narrators are male. The Institute's research indicates that in some group scenes, only 17% of the characters are female. These absences are unquestionably felt by audiences, and children learn to accept the stereotypes represented. What they see affects their attitudes toward male and female values in our society, and the tendency for repeated viewing results in negative gender stereotypes imprinting over and over. MYTH: Family entertainment is a safe haven for female characters. FACT: Astoundingly, even female characters in family films serve primarily as "eye candy." Female characters continue to show dramatically more skin than their male counterparts, and feature extremely tiny waists and other exaggerated body characteristics. This hypersexualization and objectification of female characters leads to unrealistic body ideals in very young children, cementing and often reinforcing negative body images and perceptions during the formative years. Research shows that lookism still pervades cinematic content in very meaningful ways. MYTH: Things are looking great for females behind the camera. FACT: Females behind the camera fall far behind their male contemporaries and are at a distinct disadvantage in the entertainment industry. Only 7% of directors, 13% of writers, and 20% of producers are female. With such a dearth of female representation in front of and behind the camera, it's a struggle to champion female stories and voices. The Institute's research proves that female involvement in the creative process is imperative for creating greater gender balance before production even begins. There is a causal relationship between positive female portrayals and female content creators involved in production. In fact, when even one woman writer works on a film, there is a 10.4% difference in screen time for female characters. Sadly, men outnumber women in key production roles by nearly 5 to 1. MYTH: Girls on screen compare favorably to their male counterparts. FACT: Messages that devalue and diminish female characters are still rampant in family films. Gender stereotyping is an inherent problem in today's entertainment landscape, and children are the most vulnerable recipients of depictions that send the message that girls are less valuable and capable than boys. The Institute's research illustrates that female characters who are lucky enough to garner speaking roles tend to be highly stereotyped. From 2006 to 2009 not one female character was depicted in G-rated family films in the field of medical science, as a business leader, in the law, or in politics. 80.5% of all working characters are male and 19.5% are female, which is a contrast to real-world statistics of women comprising 50% of the workforce. With repeated viewings, young audiences may fail to realize this lopsided view is not, in fact, reality and believe there is no need for gender parity or industry change. Today's children will be our future business leaders, content creators and parents and the ones who need to lead the charge for future generations. MYTH: Gender imbalance issues have gotten better over time. FACT: Statistically, there has been little forward movement for girls in media in six decades. For nearly 60 years, gender inequality on screen has remained largely unchanged and unchecked. Without an educational voice and force for change, this level of imbalance is likely to stay the same or worsen. Only through education, research, and advocacy both from within the studio system and entertainment industry, and with parents and kids, can we effect real change in this heavily gender-biased media landscape. Then we have the Bechdel test for works of fiction. It is a simple test that says the work of fiction: 1) It has to have at least two women in it, 2) who talk to each other, 3) about something besides a man. in order to pass. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test Here's a crowdsource list of movies and how they score on the Bechdel test http://bechdeltest.com/ http://bechdeltest.com/ out of the 4416 movies in the database, only 55% pass.