Gender Stereotypes/ Feminism and Post Feminism

Gender Stereotypes in music 

• Men engaged in significantly more aggressive and dominant behaviour
• Men are represented as independent, adventurous, unemotional and competent
• Stereotypical Gendered occupations apparent( i.e Males as Firefighters/ Mechanics women as cheerleader/Waitress)
• Women engaged in significantly more explicit, sexual and passive behaviour
• Women are represented as objects of sexual advances or as sexual objects
• Sex role stereotyping and negative attitudes towards females
• Women are more likely to be presented in provocative/revealing clothing
• Women portrayed as decorative objects that dance, pose and do not play instruments. These findings were not restricted only to hip hop.  

Feminism (1960/70's)

•  Movement in which women questioned their position within patriarchal society and the 'private sphere' of home/children/domestic bliss. 
• Serves to uncover, challenge and eliminate oppression and dominant gender imagery
• Women began to debate the narrow range of stereotypes present across all media
• Women as virgins, mothers or promiscuous
• Women were seen as sex objects
• Women are inferior to men
• Women as seen as the domestic based in the household
• Feminism is a controversial viewpoint for challenging traditions and supporting the political and economic balance towards women.
• Some feminists argue men cause and benefit from sexism whereas others argue all people are harmed by gender roles. 

Sexual Objectification and the Male Gaze(Laura Mulvey)

• Definition of Voyeurism: Erotic pleasures gained from looking at a sexual object (who is unaware of being watched)
• Presence of women solely for the purpose of display (rather than narrative function)
• Female on display is passive and objectified for a male gaze regardless of viewers gender
• Voyeuristic treatment of female body in 'male' videos- use of dancers as adornments to the male ego
• The inclusion of women for display is a staple element in music video's in all genres
• Women connote to-be-looked-at-ness and are the object of the male gaze
• Women connoting promiscuity 

Post Feminism & The Female Gaze (1980's)

• A re-appraisal of feminist views
• Generally the belief that feminism has succeeded in its goal of ameliorating sexism, making it fundamentally opposed to the third-wave intention of broadening feminist struggle. 
• Does not strive for 'euqality' as this assumes men are 'the best'- they wish to surpass male achievements
• Objected to theories which position them as objects of the 'male gaze'
• Identifies a 'female gaze' as women actively desiring men. Women began to assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive as long as they maintain control and solid composure.