Men and Masculinity

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Despite the fact that men are the most frequent protagonists in all forms of media, we sometimes have trouble defining what exactly makes a man. In this section, we explore how masculinity and maleness are constructed by the media.

Resources for Parents

Little Princesses and Fairy Tale Stereotypes

Backgrounder

Talking to Kids about Gender Stereotypes - Tip Sheet

Tip Sheet

Managing Superhero Play - Tip Sheet

Tip Sheet

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Resources for Teachers

TV Dads: Immature and Irresponsible? - Lesson

Lesson Plan

What's in a Word? - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Media Kids - Lesson

Lesson Plan

Gender Messages in Alcohol Advertising - Lesson

Lesson Plan

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Media Portrayals of Men and Masculinity - Introduction

"When I was born, they looked at me and said: 'What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy!' And when you were born, they looked at you and said:'What a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl!'" "What A Good Boy," The Barenaked Ladies

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How the Media Define Masculinity

Families, friends, teachers, and community leaders all play a role in helping boys define what it means to be a man. Mainstream media representations also play a role in reinforcing ideas about what it means to be a "real" man in our society. In most media portrayals, male characters are rewarded for self-control and the control of others, aggression and violence, financial independence, and physical desirability.

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Common Stereotypes of Men in Media

Various media analysts and researchers argue that media portrayals of male characters fall within a range of stereotypes.

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Children's Perceptions of Male Stereotypes

In 1999, the research group Children Now asked boys between the ages of 10 and 17 about their perceptions of the male characters they saw on television, in music videos and in movies.

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Masculinity and Sports Media

Sports media also contribute to the construction of masculinity in contemporary society.

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Masculinity and Advertising

In its study of masculinity and sports media, the research group Children Now found that most commercials directed to male viewers tend to air during sports programming. Women rarely appear in these commercials, and when they do, they’re generally portrayed in stereotypical ways. [1]

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Resources for Parents - Gender Representation

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Resources for Teachers - Gender Representation

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Men and Masculinity

In this section, you can find...

Resources for Parents

Resources for Teachers

Media Portrayals of Men and Masculinity - Introduction

How the Media Define Masculinity

Common Stereotypes of Men in Media

Children's Perceptions of Male Stereotypes

Masculinity and Sports Media

Masculinity and Advertising

Resources for Parents - Gender Representation

Resources for Teachers - Gender Representation

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