Kaylyn Stefanski
Professor Lehman
Com260
27 April 2022
Representation of Women and Men in film
Despite a significant shift in the entertainment industry in the 21st century, media and films remain one of the most established partsof global culture. The rationale behind media’spopularity in the film industry is that the media reflects on future, current, and historic world norms. Due to the film industry’s popularity as an integral part of society, most people in the diverse society are shifting to cinematography, including TV shows and film series. Based on historical context in film representation, films were mainly oriented toward promoting masculinity, with the most protagonist and dominating heroes in the movie being men. On the other hand, women’s representation was especially offered supportive roles.
However, due to changes and industry growth in culture, females are being incorporated into media playing various roles in the films. Due to the current shift toward the inclusion of women in cinema, the representation of gender in most films has significantly improved, reducing the approach toward objectification of females(Morgan, 70). However, Such gendered representation has resulted in various disadvantages and advantages concerning women’s sexual image. The primary issue related to current media is gender representation. The paper aims to analyze the problem of gendered film representation based on the popular film, Jism 2, released in 2012, and deduce various disadvantages and advantages of such representation in women.
Most films have been objecting to including female characters to play major roles despite the film industry allowing women to acquire modern films. Women are presented differently in contemporary films, as portrayed in Jism 2, one of the most popular films in Bollywood film produced by Pooja Bhatt. The story protagonist, Izna, works intelligence agency to carry out criminal investigations leading to the arrest of Kabir, a wanted terrorist. However, to trap the assassin, Izna is assigned the role of a prostitute. This representation is an apparent female objectification as suggested by the male gaze approach and objectification theory(Morgan, 70). According to objectification theory, the presentation of females in the female should aim at pleasing male viewers while considering the women as objects. The film protagonist is represented as a prostitute and contributes to the male gaze theory since she can be manipulated to suit men’s desires. This contradicts the fact that Izna is one of the highly educated elites in the society which is stereotyped as being submissive in the film. She is considered a lady who presents her body to men for pleasure.
Scopophilia is the main reason that can help explain female objectification in films. Scopophilia refers to an instance where the intense desire for the opposite sex overcomes an individual’s ability to control themselves. For example, the existence of Erotica movies is due to the content they portray aims at fulfilling male scopophilia. Izna can be considered to have been presented based on the scopophilia dimension. The film focuses on exploiting are sexual image showing attractive body parts wearing a sexually attractive outfit to lure men (Morgan, 70). Despite her role in the movie, she has to conform to men’s desires playing her role while directly contributing to the male gaze theory.
Contrary to female representation in the film, male characters, despite being supporting characters, they are shown as smartly dressed, intelligent, and independent individuals. The film, therefore, focuses on portraying patriarchal male dominance conformity(Griffin 30). Therefore despite women being given critical roles such as film protagonists, the film still tries to reflect female objectification.
Although society has some negative representation views, different ideologies have dominated gender representation in media(Benshoff,14). For example, the organization’s community is currently aware of lesbianism, and women’s empowerment in society has increased. Moreover, transgender people have been recognized in the film industry; for instance, Janet Mock was featured as a transgender advocate in a popular magazine.Media programs that identified with queer individuals did not represent them well.
In most films, LGTBQ characters were portrayed as weak people who could not play an important role; however, the view of LGTBQ people has contributed to the film industry having dominated by heterosexuality(Sempol., 300).For instance,in the film Batwoman, the protagonist is a lesbian lady,the superwoman incharge of maintaining security in Gotham when Batman is absent.The film Batwoman is crucial in the LGBTQ as it portrays how the society in Gotham city depends on a lesbian lady for security. The film demonstrates that lesbians are ordinary people and can contribute tocommunity well-being.For example, the Batwoman plays an essential role in protecting society, although she has a complicated relationship with her partner Sophie. The Batwoman is the first film to recognize and portray lesbians as superheroes and protagonists. The media is changing society’s perception that lesbians and guys are weak people that could not be associated with crucial roles in society. In other comic superhero films, there is less representation of women as straight and muscular.
The media is changing society’s view of lesbians, gays, and transgender people. The media encouragesculture to accept all people despite their sexual orientation. For example, in the film Batwoman the lesbian superhero represent the idea that everyone has a crucial responsibility to fulfill in society despite their gender.The film is an example of a few films that encourage organizations to accept everyoneirregardless of gender. Such films are appropriate in sharing the ideology that all people have a responsibility to play in promoting gender equality.
The media platforms are an eye opener to how the future will look like.The media will continue to change people’s cultural norms in society.For instance, the presscan predict or imagine how the future gender issue will be interpreted by culture through scientific fiction movies, also called futuristic(Djerf-Pierre, 20). For example, the Alterd Carbon presents an idea of how the LGBT community will change in the future.In the Film Altered Carbon,Takeshi l enjoyed being both male and female at different times in the film. Takeshi was a female before transforming to Mackie, a male. However,it is essential to note that futuristic films’ miniature representation of gender issuesis primarily technological. The film represents how the future society will support queer as it will be a trending topic in the future.
Different media shares different content, resulting in different gender ideologies. The media industry is evolving, trying to reach the majority of people(Gupta, 220)Comprehensive coverage of media will share different ideologies of gender perception. However. Society’s representation of females is still not appropriate as most media contents represent women’s sexuality inappropriately.
In concussion, the media highly contributesto promoting acceptance of people regardless of gender. Media platforms have changed the notion that the LGBTQ community is not equal to other people.Media platform has encouraged and promoted gender equality.
Work cited
Benshoff, Harry M., and Sean Griffin. America on film: Representing race, class, gender, and sexuality at the movies. John Wiley & Sons, 2021.
Djerf-Pierre, Monika, and Maria Edström. Comparing Gender and Media Equality Across the Globe: A Cross-National Study of the Qualities, Causes, and Consequences of Gender Equality in and Through the News Media. Nordicom, 2020.
Griffin, E. M. A first look at communication theory. McGraw-hill, 2006.
Gupta, Geeta Rao, et al. “Gender equality and gender norms: framing the opportunities for health.” The Lancet 393.10190 (2019): 2550-2562.
Morgan, Michael. “Cultivation analysis and media effects.” The SAGE handbook of media processes and effects (2009): 69-82.
Sempol, Diego. “La diversidaden debate. Movimiento LGTBQ uruguayo y algunastensiones de surealineamiento del marcointerpretativo.” Psicología, Conocimiento y Sociedad, 6 (2), 321-342 (2016).