Gender plays an important role throughout the news discourse of our current and past media. Whether it is in the private or public sphere, the paradoxical role of gender is always questioned by the normative values of society. The representation of women within mass media has been constructed on the ideology of a patriarchal society. Women are undermined and scrutinized due to commodification of their physical appearance and traditional role they are proposed to lead. However where do these representations of women originate, and how are they established into mainstream society? More importantly, how are these negative ideals of women reinforced and to what extent can they be changed? Hidden under all the complexity of these questions, lies
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In his book ‘The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere”, Habermas defines the public sphere as “an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action” (McKee, 2005). Set up as a metaphorical, objective place, these types of discussions took place in public arenas such as coffee houses or salons in the late eighteenth century. Certain ideals upheld in this public sphere were disregard of status, inclusivity, independent of government or private interests and to engage in rational debate and informal argument (Unitec, 2014). During this era however the elite masculine society did not uphold these ideals, but rather undermined and excluded the women as a minority class. This was the social norm, as women had no right to vote, where excluded from high forms of education and were expected to raise children. The public sphere at the time met the ideals of the elite and undermined women. It wasn’t until women gained the right to vote that more political discussion and inclusion was involved. Media became an outlet, which encouraged women to speak up and defend their rights. The media involved women into the public sphere along with numerous other minority groups, however the media was, and is not fully transparent causing symbolic …show more content…
Established in the book “Four Theories of the Press”, the normative ideal is concerned about the ownership of the media and who controls them. An important aspect is the fourth estate, which “positions the press (newspapers) as a fourth branch of government and one that is important to a functioning democracy” (Gill, 2014). The fourth estate acts as a type of watchdog within society, insuring a balance of representation of gender and equality. Until recently however the fourth estate has encompassed a more public aspect such as the case of the Nicky Hager book “Dirty Politics” and Cameron Slater’s blog Whale Oil Beef
In his book ‘The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere”, Habermas defines the public sphere as “an area in social life where individuals can come together to freely discuss and identify societal problems, and through that discussion influence political action” (McKee, 2005). Set up as a metaphorical, objective place, these types of discussions took place in public arenas such as coffee houses or salons in the late eighteenth century. Certain ideals upheld in this public sphere were disregard of status, inclusivity, independent of government or private interests and to engage in rational debate and informal argument (Unitec, 2014). During this era however the elite masculine society did not uphold these ideals, but rather undermined and excluded the women as a minority class. This was the social norm, as women had no right to vote, where excluded from high forms of education and were expected to raise children. The public sphere at the time met the ideals of the elite and undermined women. It wasn’t until women gained the right to vote that more political discussion and inclusion was involved. Media became an outlet, which encouraged women to speak up and defend their rights. The media involved women into the public sphere along with numerous other minority groups, however the media was, and is not fully transparent causing symbolic …show more content…
Established in the book “Four Theories of the Press”, the normative ideal is concerned about the ownership of the media and who controls them. An important aspect is the fourth estate, which “positions the press (newspapers) as a fourth branch of government and one that is important to a functioning democracy” (Gill, 2014). The fourth estate acts as a type of watchdog within society, insuring a balance of representation of gender and equality. Until recently however the fourth estate has encompassed a more public aspect such as the case of the Nicky Hager book “Dirty Politics” and Cameron Slater’s blog Whale Oil Beef