Essay Plan

How has the stereotypical representation of women changed and developed since the past, giving rise to a new and more acceptable image of a protogonsit? Paying particular reference to Ugly Betty

The question in my essay focuses on the representation of women within the media and how their image has changed and developed dramatically. To find these significant changes i will watch a number of different movies and television programmes varifying from the different era's in time to pick out the major differences between then and comtemporary society. My main focus is on the television series Ugly Betty as this is a prime example of change within society, it also focuses on contemporary images of characters. Below i have constructed a detailed essay plan that will later on help me structure my final version of the essay. This structure will allow me to form an arguement for and against my hypothesis, and come to some sort of conclusion about this whole debate.

Introduction:

• In the introduction im am going to rewrite out the question that is being asked and then state the hypothesis to show clearly to the reader what i assume the findings will be.
• I will then briefly touch upon the arguement for and against not revealing the finished conclusion to the readers.
• I will name a few theorists that look at the representation of women and look at the significant changes and the developement of their characrteristics. I'll name only the theorists that relate to my study, stating their name and not what they found
• Mulvey, Gunter, Tushmen are some theorists that i will use.
• I will also state the text that im paying particular reference to which in this case is Ugly Betty, i will give the background information so that i can later relate to this information if needed.
• Finally i will give a brief insight into the historical texts that i am going to use again breifly explaining how they link to my study.

[ Th, I, H, G ]

Paragraph 1:

• I have to make clear reference to SHEP, so that the reader can see the distinctions made clearly
• I am going to talk about the historical representation of women and discuss how it has developed before the second world war
• studies in the 1970's showed that Women were seen as "doormats", (things the men walked over).They were portrayed as obedient and very dependent on the man. Obeying and fufilling his every wish, without questioning whats right and whats wrong.
• According to marxism "women had to breed the next generation of workers and support them emotionally"
• The main image of a women in the media was that of a housewife, cooking and cleaning making sure the environment is suitable for her husband. Women had to take on this role while the husband went out to work to provide for the family as the "breadwiner".
• David Gauntlet: suggested that males were more dominant in the film industry, making it difficult for females to become successful
• Men were the more dominant characters and the decision makers, whereas women would be presented as the obedient housewife who is inferior and powerless
• I am going to use a different number of quotes and explain them in detail what they mean, making sure their is clear relation with my study.
• Historical Tv programmes that show the sterotypical image and character of a female

[ H, Th, R ]

Paragraph 2:

• Discuss points for my arguement, talk about how the characters in Ugly Betty show a change of representations of women. Paying particular reference to the main protogonist Betty Suarez.
• She is unattractive buh is still shown to be successful and popular amongst her peers
• Use MIGRAIN to fully analyse the programme, giving detailed description of each concept. I am going to use MIGRAIN to help me discuss the representtion of the character, by using each section and linking them together.

[ M, I, G, R, A, I, N, ]

Paragraph 3:

• Talk about contemporary society
• Discuss other films and TV programmes that show a similar character to Ugly Betty
• Legally blonde (2001) - Talk about the protogonist - how shes the "blonde bimbo" and is portrayed as 'dumb' and 'slow' but proves them wrong and becomes a successful lawyer. This is a change from the past as she is shown as independent and more superior and not the sterotypical character that of being a housewife and being dependent on a man.
• The devil wears parada (2006)-
• Heather (eastenders) - Shes unattractive, but has been given a leading role on this popular Tv series. She is not the stereotypical view of a women so it shows that society is changing and is now beggining to accept a newer image of a women.
• Women are no more independent financially and no longer need to wait on a man to help support her.
• waltons

Paragraph 4:

• Even though a wider range of women are becoming more acceptable, women with a perfect figure and appearance still remains important.
• Even though Ugly Betty is unattractive and is shown to be very successful, she undergoes and make over to make herself feel more comfortable and fit in within her workplace.
• Heather from Eastenders even though she has a leading role is still shown not to be taken seriosuly. She is unsuccessful with work, relationships, love and friends.
• Films and TV programmes in general still have the same similar image, that of a tall skinny girl, beautiful skin and perfect facial features.
• How it hasn't changed, Mulvey

[ Th, R, S, H ]

Conclusion:

• Restate my hypothesis
• Include my opinion, so the readers know how i feel about this topic
• Summarise my findings - to what extent it has changed and to what extent it hasn't
• Support the findings with the names of theorists

[ Th ]

Change Of Question

How have representations and the stereotypes of women changed and developed, paying particular attention to Ugly Betty?

Historical Text Task

The brady bunch movie (1995)

5 Female Directors

Gurinder Chadha:












Gurinder chadha is born 10 January 1960 and is a British film director of an Indian origin.In the 1980s she began making documentaries for the BBC, and in 1989 released "I'm British but..." for Channel 4 which followed the lives of young British asian's. In 1990, Chadha set up a production company namely, Umbi Films.

Films directed by her:
Bend it like Beckham (2002)
Angus, thongs and perfect snogging (2008)
This mistress of spice (2005)
Bride and prejudice (2004)

Jodie Foster:












Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster was born November 19, 1962, is a two-time Academny award, BAFTA, and Golden globe-award winning American actress, director and producer.
Although Foster's first acting appearance was at three years old, her first significant role came in 1976 as an underage prostitue in Taxi driver, for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1988 for playing a rape survivor in The Accused. In 1991, she starred in The Silence of the Lambs as Clarice Starling, a gifted FBI trainee, assisting in a hunt for a serial killer. This performance received international acclaim and her second Oscar for Best Actress. Her films and roles have spanned a wide variety of genres, including thrillers, crime, romance, comedy, children's films and science fiction.

Films directed by her:
Tales from the dark side (1988)
Little man tate (1991)
Home for the holidays (1995)

Sarah Polley:












Sarah Polley was born January 8, 1979 is a Canadian actress, singer, Genie Award-winning film director and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. She has starred in such films as The Sweet Hereafter, Guinevere, Go, The Weight of Water, My Life Without Me, and Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Her first cinematic appearance was at the age of four, as Molly in the Disney film One Magic Christmas. At age eight, she was cast in the title role in the television series Ramona, based on Beverly Cleary's books. The same year she also played one of the lead characters in Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

Films directed by her:
The best day of my life (1999)
Don't think twice (1999)
I shout love (2001)
All i want for christmas (2002)
Away from her (2006)

Julie Taymor:














Julie Taymor (born December 15, 1952) is an American director of theater, opera and film. Taymor's work has received many accolades from critics, and she has earned two Tony Awards out of four nominations, an Emmy Award, and an Academy Award nomination for her work. She is widely known as the first female to win the Tony Award for directing the musical The Lion King, for which she also received a Tony Award for her original costume designs.

Films directed by her:
Titus (1999)
Frida (2002)
Across the universe (2007)
The tempest (coming out 2009)

Arlene Sanford:

Arlene Sanford is an American film and television director. Sanford has directed for several present-day network television series and several motion picture and television movies which include A Very Brady Sequel, I'll Be Home for Christmas and Welcome Home. More recently, Sanford has directed episodes of ABC's popular soap drama, Desperate Housewives and also two episodes of Boston Legal.

Programmes directed by her:
Desperate houswives (2004)
Eve (2003)
Gilmore girls (2000)
Malcom in the middle (2000)
Dawsons creek (1998)

Why Are Women Directors Such A Rare Sight?

• Women are not seen as strong and able to carry this kind of jobs as their are a number of different physical and emotional stress for them in this type of job. Women are more likely to get pregnant and take more time of work as they'll need time to look after the new born children and to take time to recover from the stresses of pregnancy itself.

• This industry is seen as more male dominated so therefore makes it harder for women to get jobs in this workforce as they may feel intimidated and not up to the challenge, as men and portrayed to be better in this sort of area.

• Their are a lack of role models in this industry, so women have no-one to look up to and admire to be like them. As their is a lack in female directors they may feel that they are not as good and valued as the male directors in this industry. It may give women a sense of false consciousness and make them belive that they are not ready for this sort of challenge.

• Women are seen to be better writers than directors as women are known to be better at the more mental activities where their use and apply their knowledge and skills. Whereas men are portrayed to be more creative and more up for the challenege of directing and creating a whole film.

3 Ways The Amount of Female Director's Can Be Improved

• Making conjugal roles more integrated between men and women could mean that women no longer have to take longer time periods of work and focus and spend more time on the film or the programme that they are directing. By sharing chores such as domestic tasks and looking after the child would then make their jobs more easier for them to do so.

• Women should receive further training in this sort of professional field. They should be encouraged to take up this training when either to old to act or lack knowledge in this sort of field.

• By raising awareness at a younger age may influence young girls to take up a career in this sort of profession. By promoting film studies in an all girls school may influence students views and then take up further training in this specific feild.

Subervertisments...

Contemporary:

Teacher: "come on now nobody wants to be punished"
Student: "I'm just an ordinary schoolgirl, just wanting to learn"


women:"You promised me Hardy's bowler, not Laurel's bowler"

Historical:

Women: "I might not be tall, big and handsome, but i know that i can bring out the man in me"

Representations Of Women in adverts (Historical && Contemporary)

Historical:
Lysol


In this advert, women have been stereotypically represented. They have been portrayed as the primary carer of the household and have been shown to have an immense passion towards household chores. In this advert the male is shown to be the untidy one creating a mess for his wife, whereas the women is shown to be the stereotypical housewife who cleans after her husband and accepts the idea that this is her role and also feels happy to carry out these domestic chores, as this is reinforced by her faicial expressions. The clip shows a man in a stereotypical position, he is shown as being messy and not caring about no-one, behaving as if he is more dominant than the women. He then behaves in a childish way and leaves the women to clean the mess showing that he is an immature person. However It also shows that the mothers cleaning brings the family to gether as theyre playing on a clean surface without any germs.

Stove Top Stuffing (1970s)


This advert reinforces the idea of a patriarchal ideology, it shows the idea of male dominance within an familial institution. The female in the advert is shown to be cooking, a characteristic that is stereotypically associated with women, where as her husband is sitting down and relaxing giving orders to her telling her what to cook and when to do it. 'We're having pork chops to night...I have this great idea'. This shows that he 'wears the trousers' in this household as the wife happily agrees to do as she is told.

Shake n Vac


This advert shoow women to enjoy doing housework, they are shown to see it as a hobbie, as something that keeps them busy and entertains them when they need to be. It also makes the women believe that they have to accpet this type of character as if its their job to do the household chores. Instead of being upset to do it the female in this has made up her own song and is singing along while doing the vacuming in the house.

Contemporary:
Flash cleaner


This advert shows the rise in the 'new man', this type of man is different to any ordinary man. A definition of the 'new man' is a man who, rejecting sexist attitudes, aims to be caring and sensitive, and to take a substantial role in the domestic routine. As shown in this advert the male still reinforces the stereotypical image of a man, he is portrayed in a stereotypical fatherly role as he leaves the mess on the kitchen workforce and instead goes and watches football with his son. However during the half time of the footty match a new character of a man is shown. He is shown to be doing housework as he cleans the dishes and the kitchen, he also knows all the latest products to use as he explains the difference between the two products to his son. This image however is not well known as this is reinforced by the female in the video as she is shocked that the work has been done and replies with 'I thought you'd be watching the football', a sport that is normally associated with men, something that they wouldn't miss. This advert show women to be the breadwinners as they go out to earn and provide food for the family whereas the man stays at home and cleans and looks after his son.

Diet coke advert - Close friends


In this advert women have now changed positions with men and have brought about something known as the female gaze. Instead of men objectifying women, women are portrayed in this advert as objectifying men. This is reinforced by the way the women sort of 'spies' on the man through her mirror until he is visible to her to make her move. The walls tend to get tighter and closer so that the women in the advert can take full advantage of this moment. To an extent the women is however still being objectified as she is using her body to get around the man, she is shown to be flirting with him to get infront of him in the queue.

Givenchy - very irresistable


The female in this advert is portrayed in a more controlling and more dominant way. At the begining of this advert the women is shown to use her smell and charm to get a taxi before the man, usually the man tends to get his way, however it is portrayed differently in this advert. The females appearance is also similar to the image of how women are stereotyped to be, she is shown as pretty, tall and slim, this may then later put pressure on young girls and force them to look this ccertain way.

Films In The Media From 1950's To 1990's

1950's:
In this era men were portrayed as the protognist and were shown by the producers as characters that the male audience could identify and relate to. This then meant that the female audiences had to cross gender as there were no female roles for them to identify with. Women in this era are portrayed as vulnerable and dependent on the male characters within a film. They were portrayed as inferior to men and were given small roles compared to the larger roles that men had to play. Filrms such as High noon (1952) showed men as the protognists, it is a conventenal western film that portrays the message that off 'the wild wild west is no place for a women as she wouldnt be able to cope'. This is also supported by the movie 'The searchers' (1956) as John Wayne is portrayed as a the protogonist with little or no appearance of the female character. This also folllowed the conventional idea's of a western film.

High Noon (1952)


The Searchers (1956)


1960's
It is evident from researching films produce in the 1960's that films produced in this era had the lead role of a male being the protogonist of the film. Men still remained to be shown as assertive and more independent where as women were still shown as holding cameo roles and were still portrayed as the 'damsal in distress'. Women were portrayed as having the more maternal role and more integrating with the children. This role is portrayed in the movie 'The sound of music' (1965). 'Psycho' (1960) on the other hand shows women to be dependent on men and mainly the victim in these slasher genre.

The sound of music (1965)


Pyscho (1960)


1970's:
In this era the second wave of feminism came about, the roles of women began to change dramatically and females now began to stand of for their rights politically, they argued for the right of equality between men and women. Even though this was the case in reality the media chose to blur this significant change out of the media. Women were still portrayed as dependent and followed the Proprian thoery of films containing mythical creatures, where the women are portrayed as the helpless princess who waits to be rescued by the prince. Even though women still remained in this role, a new role began to raise that of women taking leading and/or more bigger roles. An example of this change is in the movies 'Alien' (1979), the female character is shown to be in power and control as she is the one who defeats all the aliens, this could be said that it is reinforcing the idea of power of women as mentioned before began to stand up for their rights, as this was the era that was associated with the second wave of feminism, which also portrayed females as powerful and getting their right of way. Another film that also portrays this idea is the movie 'Star Wars' (1977), Princess Leia even though she appears to be quite weak is also portrayed as more dominant and can be asked fight when needed to do so. She is not portrayed as the stereotypical image of women.

Alien(1979)


Star wars (1977)


1980's:
As attitudes of individuals within society began to develop and change, female roles within the media also began to change. Women began to take on leading roles as mens roles in the media also changed dramatically. There was a significent change in their roles, something that was different and not acceptable. There was a huge rise in the 'new man', the characteristics of this man include being more feminine and taking on more female roles within the movies. 'Three men and a baby' (1987) is a perfect example that supports the idea of a new man. In this film the men are shown to be looking after the baby as their wives go out to work for the family. The men are shown to be more in touch with thier feminine side as they have female characteristics such as singing to the baby, feeding the baby, changing the baby and showing love towards the baby. During the trialer it is also made clear that this is not normal behaviour for men as one of the lead female roles says 'I want to see how u fellah's handle this one'. Terminator (1984) on the other hand still portray men as superior to women. Even though the female character is shown to be able to hande herself the film still shows how they send a man back in time to help her survive society.

Three men and a baby (1987)


Terminator (1984)


1990's:
In this era theorist 'Flaudi' found that their was a backlash against females and the dramatic change in their roles. The film 'fatal attraction' shows the two different roles played by women that off either being the 'madonna', the housewife who looks after the family and children or the 'whore' who acts and behaves in an unacceptable way. This film is known to put pressure on men as they began to worry that all females may turn this way if they gain power and status. Even though the roles of women are changing at an alarming rate, females are still portrayed in favour to the men through the male gaze. This is made clear in the James Bond film 'Die another day' (2002) where Halle Berry is shown as coming out of the sea wearing promiscuious clothing with suductive body language. This appeals to the male audeince, even though it allows the females to identify with her to. This then reinforces the idea of men are superior than women within the media.

Fatal attraction


Die another day (2002)

10 Book Bibliography

• David Gauntlett: 'Media, gender and identity' Published by: Routledge; 2 edition (18 Mar 2008)

“She doesn’t lead the story, she doesn’t make the central decisions, she doesn’t repeatedly save her male colleague, and she’s not the star of the film.”

"Film... often and anxiously envision women stereotypically as 'good' mothers or 'bad' hysterical careerists"

This book is relevant to my study as it shows in depth analysis of women in the media in the contemporary society and the representation of women in the past. I can use this in my coursework as i can analyse the different representations throughout history. This will also allow me to score marks for discussing historical facts.

• Roger Martin: TV for A level media Published by: Hodder Arnold (25 Aug 2000)

"womens roles and characters changed dramastically during the world war II as men went out to fight"

"David Morley suggested that the way anyting is read will in part be determined by a complex interaction of at least these factors, which inlcude their age, sex, class, culture identity and their experiences."

This book is relevant to my study as the author of the book discusses the different characteristics of females in different types of programmes throughout the TV. It discuss's in detail the evolving of the roles and how they differ today. Its structured to give complete coverage of the topics focused around TV. It has detailed case studies and key critical concepts place media theory in the conext of real scenario's. It is also written by a senior examiner for a leading board, so this then benefits me as it will help me make sure my work is up to statndards.

• Richard Maltby: Popular Culture In The Twentieth Century Published by: Grange Books (1994)

This a relevant book to use as it discuss's the change in womens fashion from the past to contemporary society. It also disscusses issues such as to what extent the media and magazine pressure and influence young women within society to dress and look a certain way. This is relevant as it discusses the issue's that i am researching for my independent study. This links to Ugly Betty aswell as they also are a fashion magazine, which then represents the fashion world that is discussed in this book.

• Bonnie J.Dow: Prime-time Feminism: Television, Media Culture and the Women's Movement Since 1970 Published by: University of Pennsylvania Press (1 Jun 1996)

"Through a womens function as a mother, daughter and sister within her work family, she also becomes the career true women"

"A 24 hour general strike...of all women in america against the concrete conditions of their opressions"

This book allows me to add relevant studies and new feminists into my independent study, as i am looking at representation of women. It allows me link sociology into media and talk about how feminists feel about the representation of women. This book explores the dramatic change of feminism and how their views have changed over time since the first wave of feminism.

• Hollows Joanne: Feminism, femininity and popular culture published by: Manchester University Press (10 Feb 2000)

"Male character is presented as doing a favour for his wife by helping out in order to get in her good books"

"Confirming the nation that it is normal for women to be responsible for domestic labour."

This book again shows feminists ideas of the media, as its focused on the fashion side of things it makes it more relevant for me to use in my independent because as mentioned before Ugly Betty is based around the fashion industry. It focuses on how not following the fashion do's within society is more praised than actually following them. This relates directly to the main character as Betty makes no effort when attending work and is seen as the odd one out in the workforce.

• Laura Mulvey: Visual and Other Pleasures: Collected Writings (Language, discourse, society) Published by: Palgrave Macmillan (1 Mar 1989)

"The woman's lack of a phallus gives meaning to the man's possession of such, and the power and status it brings. This process is both displayed and reinforced in the cinema".

"The female body exists for the pleasure of the male gaze. However, since the female form has no phallus, it is identified with the `threat' of castration and the spectator resorts to either the sadistic, voyeuristic pleasure in the spectacle of the punishment of women, the bearers of guilt (who, being `castrated', must have done something to deserve it) or disavowal of the threat of castration through `fetishism'"

As Laura Mulvey studies the 'male gaze' this relates to my study nicely as i am discussing whether or not the media portray women in way that they are present for male satisfaction. This book argues and discusses all the factors to find out whether the media does or whether the media doesnt.

• Suasn Faludi: Backlash: the undeclared war against women (1991) published by: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group; Reprint edition (1 Sep 1992)

"Women are being 'reduced to mute and incidental characters or banished altogether' in action movies like preditor (1987), lethal weapon (1987) and days of thunder (1990)"

"There is a huge male backlash in society as they are against women in control and power"

Representations Of Gender Today

`During the 1990's and into the new century, gender roles on television became increasingly equal and non stereotyped.

Key studies:

1992-1993 season by Elasmar, Hasegawa and Brain.
1995- 1996 season by Lauzen and dozier.

Elasmer et al report the numbers of TV women who are employed and who care for children, but we can't really interpret these figures without knowing the parallel figures for male characters in these positions, which they failed to record.

1995-1996 study showed that men took 63% of the speaking roles, with women taking the other 37% of those speaking roles.

1992-1993 study found that a startling 18% of the major character were females, with two-thirds of those stars in domestic comedies.

1995-96 study, which examined a greater range and number of popular programmes showed that 43% of major characters were females.

1992-1993 study found that only 3% of women were represented as housewives as their main occupation, a massive decrease from the 1970's. An additional of 8% of women were shown as 'homemakers'.

Overall, the 1992-1993 study by Elasmer, Hasegawa and brain found that "the woman on prime time TV in the early 1990 as was young, single, independent, and free from family and work place pressure."

Gender in contemporary movies:

Maggie Humm's Feminism and film: "Film... often and anxiously envisions women stereotypically as good mother and bad hysterical careerists. in the past and today, every Hollywood women is some eles's other."

Michael Thomson: "By all means be feisty, but never forget to be feminine".

A study by psychologists, Muncer, Campbell, Jervis and Lewis (2001), talks about whether "girls power" leads to "girl violence".

This study was in respond to the growing concern of the Media term "Ladettes", these are women who are assertive with an aggressive attitude which are usually associated with "Lads".

There are a number of different smash hit films, where the male action hero works along side a more or less equally powerful female action heroes. A few examples of this have been mentioned belowed.

• Charlie's Angels (2000):

'Barrymore, Diaz and Liu represent redhead, blond and brunette respectively ( as David Poland has pointed out, T[its], A[ss] and [H]air.

This movie reinforces the idea of marxism, as charlie is seen as the leader and has workers below him.