Of the many influences on how we view gender, media are the most pervasive and one of the most powerful. Woven throughout our daily lives, media insinuate their messages into our consciousness at every turn. All forms of media communicate images of the sexes, many of which perpetuate unrealistic, stereotypical, and limiting perceptions. Three themes describe as to how media represent gender. First, women are underrepresented, which falsely implies that men are the cultural standard and women are unimportant or invisible. Second, men and women are portrayed in stereotypical ways that reflect and sustain socially endorsed views of gender. Third, depictions of relationships between men and women emphasize traditional roles and normalize violence against women. The core units have been conceptualized in relation to gender theory, media and communication and gender and media representation. The programme employs a gender perspective to critically examine such questions as to how representations in the media may reinforce or subvert social roles and ideologies; how gendered forms of address and identification have been theorised across different visual and print cultures; and the role of a variety of media forms in critiquing or contributing to wider social processes such as globalisation, conflict and migration.
Overview
Syllabus
Week
Module
Topic
1
Module-1
Communication: An Introduction
Unit-1
Concept of Communication, Definition, Process of Communication, Need for Communication, Human Communication
Unit-2
Functions of Communication
Different contexts, Functions of Communication according to Lasswell, McQuail, Marshall McLuhan
Unit-3
Communication TheoriesSocial Learning Theory, Dependency Theory, Uses and Gratification Theory, Film Theories
Unit -4
Communication and SocietyRole of Communication in Society, Impact of Society on Communication Processes, Communication and Social Change, Communication and Culture
2
Module-2
Media: Basic Concepts
Unit -5
The Mass MediaMedia of Mass Communication, Characteristics of Mass Media, Reach and Access, Role of Media
Unit -6
Development of Mass Media Early Communication Systems in India, Freedom Struggle and Role of Media, Pre and Post-Independence Era of Mass Media
Unit -7
Media AudienceDefinition, Brief History, Audiences and New Media, Types of Audiences, Characteristics, Theories
3
Module -3
Gender : An Introduction
Unit-8
Basic concepts of gender Social construction of Gender, Sex, Sexuality, Stereotype, Patriarchy, Queers
Unit-9
Feminist movements Different waves of feminism; Feminist Movements
Unit-10
Feminism : Contexts and consequences Discourses on feminism; Feminist theories ; Challenging the definition of theories ; Women, Minorities and Under-representation
4
Module-4
Gender Equality and Media
Unit-11
Gender EqualityDefinition, Concept, the GEM index, Gender Inequality
Unit-12
Gender Equality and MediaGender Equality in media content and in the media sector, Media and communication for Gender and Development, Gender and Media Equality across the globe
5
Module -5
Media Texts and Representations-I
Unit-13
Media agenda on gende rissues The gender politics of journalism, setting new agendas
Unit-14
Representation of Sexualities in MediaTheories (Michel Foucault and the ‘Invention’ of sexuality, Psychoanalysis and Sexuality, Queer Theory and Post Modern sexualities), Representations (Homosexuality, Lesbians, Heterosexuality, Teenage), Sexual cultures, the evolution of LGBTQ+ movements in contemporary discourse
6
Module-6
Media Texts and Representations-II
Unit-15
Media Representation and IntersectionalityUnder-representation , misrepresentation, causes behind misrepresentation of women, effects of misrepresentation of women in media, measures to improve women’s image in media
Unit-16
Bodies and Objectification: Female body image and the mass media Visual culture and gender constructions, feminist critiques of visual culture, Objectification
Unit-17
Gender, Language and Media Language and Sexism, Gender and Language use in Media
7
Module-7
Women in Media: Representation
Unit-18
Media Market and Gender Inequalities Gender inequality, dimensions of inequality, comparing gender inequalities in the media across countries, Gender mainstreaming
Unit-19
Advertising, Femininity and Commodification Concept of advertising, Commodification of postfeminist ideals in advertising
Module-8
Women in Media: Representation in the Industry
Unit-20
Issues of Empowerment Defining empowerment ; Finding a voice in the public sphere ; Empowerment in the media industry
Unit-21
Women and Media Leadership
Women and Leadership in Media, Challenges, Opportunities, Global and National perspective- gender power relations in media industry,
Case studies
8
Module-9
Media Audience and Gender
Unit-22
Feminism and Audience Reception Uses and Gratification theory, audience reception theory, gender based approaches to understanding audience
Unit-23
Media Fandom and Gender Concept offandom,Adaptation, fandom and gender
Unit-24
Media Audience, Gender and ActivismWomen and Media, women as audience,Viewer activism
Module-10
Mediated Stereotypes
Unit-25
Basic concept of Stereotype Definition, Types, characteristics, Meaning of stereotype according to Walter Lippmann, Orrin Klapp
Unit-26
Gender Stereotypes in Media Stereotypes ; Approaches to Stereotyping ; Gendered Stereotypes ; Stereotypes based on ethnicity ; Media portrayal of women; Women in Advertising ; Women and Television ; Problems of mediated stereotypes of women
9
Module-11
Digital Culture and Gender I
Unit-27
Gender, Technology and sexual identity Exploring the intersection of gender identity and technology, reflections on the past and provocations for the future
Unit-28
Online Communities and Gender Concept of online community, Types of online community, Exploring diverse gender issues in Online Communities, relation between gender and community development
Module-12
Digital Culture and Gender II
Unit-29
Social Media and Self representation Self-representation in social media, Idea on self-representation - Erving Goffman, E.T Higgins, David Snow and Leon Anderson, David Altheide
Unit-30
Gender and Online Activism Changing gender norms and social media activism, Women’s avenues of digital activism
10
Module-13
Gender and Popular Culture
Unit-31
Feminism and Popular Culture Liberal feminism and radical feminism, Popular culture and feminist activism
Unit-32
Post feminism and Media Culture Post feminism, postfeminist media culture
Module-14
Gendered Genres
Unit-33
Genre, Gender and Media Gendered genres, Gendered genres and Media
11
Module-15
Gender and Alternative Media
Unit-34
Alternative Media: Basic concepts Definition, Forms: non-mainstream media, political messages, ethnic and indigenous media, New Media as Alternative Media
Unit-35
Gender Representation: Role of Community Media
Participatory community media and women, CRS, CTV, etc., participation and social change
Unit-36
Gender and Cinema-I
Concept, Theories, Representations
Unit-37
Gender and Cinema-II Gendering the Gaze, Representations, Censorship, Spectatorship and critical analysis
12
Module-17
Gender, Society and Media
Unit-38
Gender in policy making Concept of Gender Mainstreaming, Gender Mainstreaming in Policy Making
Unit-39
Health communication and gender Health Communication-concept, Gender concerns in health communication
Unit-40
Media and Ecofeminism Concepts, Intersections, Representations, Challenges
Unit-41
Women and Media in North east India Women and media in Assam – pre and post independent era , reflection of women’s issues in media, news and visual content analysis , Media, Gender and Peace Initiatives in Northeast India
Taught by
Dr. Trisha Dowerah Baruah and Dr. Juri Hazarika
