Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Human Sexuality – CAYW225

Jessica Milligan

Rachel Dutcher

Friday, February 16th, 2018

1
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Definitions

Racism: According to Heard-Garris et al. (2017) racism can be defined as advantage and

disadvantage of race, and is the negative attitudes or beliefs towards a racial group including

discrimination or different treatment of members of these groups most often those of colour

(Heard-Garris et al., 2017). Therefor, people who are Caucasian have more power within Canada

compared to those who are of colour.

Heterosexism: According to Chesir-Teran (2003) heterosexism is defined as privileges to those

who are heterosexual relative to those who are homosexual, or any other sexual orientation based

on the assumptions that heterosexual power and privilege are the ideal. In conclusion, in Canada

those who identify as heterosexual have more power than those who identify as any other sexual

orientation such as homosexual, pansexual, asexual and more.

Ableism: According to Kattari (2015) ableism is described as the act of prejudice, discrimination

and exclusion against people who have disabilities and the devaluing against those who have

disabilities. The article also mentions able-bodied privilege, which is held by those without

disabilities (Kattari, 2015). Therefor, those who are able-bodied have more power within

Canada then people who live with a disability.

Sizism: As stated by the National Conference for Community and Justice (2016), sizism is the

prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s size and those who are thin
2
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

and fit have more power then those who are considered over weight. Accordingly, in Canada

people who are thin and fit have more power then those who are overweight.

Sexism: According to Radke, Hornsey and Barlow (2016) sexism is defined as the superiority of

one sex compared to another, usually men over women, and includes prejudice, discrimination

and stereotyping against that sex. Consequently, in the Canadian society men have more power

then women.

Magazine Report

The magazines that were chosen to use for this assignment were both Cosmopolitan from

March 2010 and September 2011. The ten advertisements that were used for the assignment are

attached.

Reports of how many individuals are:

White = 14

Of color = 1

Heterosexual = 15

Bisexual = 0

Homosexual = 0

Able bodied = 15

Disabled = 0
3
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Thin for women/ muscular for men = 15

Overweight = 0

Male = 5

Female = 10

Transgendered = 0

Intersexed = 0

Based on the findings in the magazines, the message that the media is trying to portray in

terms of sexually attractiveness for females is thin, Caucasian, heterosexual, and able-bodied.

This is demonstrated by the literature review because the majority of the women within the ten

magazine clips were within these categories; in fact only one woman was not Caucasian. Stated

by Furat and Sonmez (2013) women’s magazines present the “ideal” woman as thin.

Furthermore, it explains that women in magazines are portrayed as generally thin and tall with

“perfect” body features and beautiful cosmetics (Furat & Sonmez, 2013). It is also stated that

women in magazines are of the same gender identity and have similar social roles, especially

heterosexual relationships (Furat& Sonmez, 2013). Moreover, the findings within the magazine

report show that the media is showing sexually attractiveness for males as fit, Caucasian,

heterosexual and able-bodied. This is demonstrated by the literature review because the all of the

men within the ten magazine clips were within these categories, not one of the men in the

magazine were shown as overweight, intersexed, transgendered, disabled, homosexual, bisexual

4
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

or of colour. Kling, Rodgers, and Frisén (2016) stated that the male’s ideal body that is

demonstrated in media is lean and muscular. Wood (2019) adds that males are usually portrayed

as aggressive, dominant, serious, confident, powerful, tough, muscular and above all in no way

feminine. It is also mentioned that men are very rarely shown in magazines caring for others or

doing “house work” which gives viewers the negative stereotype that men are uncaring and

uninvolved within family or home life (Wood, 2019).

These findings also show that they have an impact on children and youth because it gives

them the thought and belief that they should look like the models in the magazines. Eldhuis,

Konijn, and Seidell (2012) stated that research demonstrates exposure to thin-ideal media models

increase body dissatisfaction, self- evaluation, and efforts to look like models within the media

by going to great lengths such as unhealthy eating or even cosmetic surgery. They also mention

that repeated exposure to these beauty ideals could create a misrepresentation of reality of what a

person “should” look like and therefor causes body comparison for youth (Eldhuis, Konijn, &

Seidell., 2012). The American Academy of Pediartics (2006) also states that advertising often

demonstrates models as almost “anorectic” which may contribute to the distorted self body

image and abnormal eating behaviours for youth. Moreover, sex is used within advertisements

like magazines for example (such as the ones attached). As stated by The American Academy of

Pediatrics (2006) youth’s exposure to the sexual advertisements within the media may affect the

earlier onset of sexual intercourse and/or other sexual activities.

5
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Intervention

One intervention strategy that a Child and Youth Care Practitioner could use to address

the affect that media has on youth could be to watch the video (that is linked below) that features

three women who state that they have low self confidence about their appearance and body

image in which media played a large role in. The videos show the three women have their hair

and make up professionally done and are photographed, the images are then photo shopped. The

three women react to the photos saying that this is what they always wished that they looked like

but now that they have seen it, it does not look like them and that the do not like the changes

made. Then I would have a discussion, asking the following questions:

1. Do you compare yourself to models?

2. If you could change something about your appearance, what would it be?

3. Name some things that make you unique.

4. What do you love about your appearance?

Following these questions, I would have the clients draw a silhouette of their head onto black

construction paper. After cutting the silhouette out the students would then either draw or cut out

from magazines positive words or sayings that describe them. Also, if this is done within a

group, the other clients can contribute to each other’s silhouettes. (Please refer to the picture for

an example).

6
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

The video, discussion questions, and activity will all get the clients thinking about media and

models, and how they compare themselves to them. By the end of the activity, the clients should

feel more confident in themselves and have a boost in self-esteem coming from not only

themselves but from peers. It is important for youth to have good self-esteem because positive

self-image enables a person to feel valued, accepted, confident, proud, and to feel prepared for

everyday challenges (Lyess., 2016). Lyness (2016) also mentions that when a child has healthy

self-esteem they will have positive feelings such as self-acceptance and self-confidence which

will help youth try new challenges, cope with mistakes, and try things again in all areas from

school to friendships. Therefor, this activity is intended to give the clients a greater sense of self-

esteem through their own self-reflection and from within the group positive feedback.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlpIkH3b5I

7
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

References

American Academy of Paediatrics . (2006, December). Children, Adolescents, and Advertising .

Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/6/2563

Chesir-Teran, D. (2003). Conceptualizing and Assessing Heterosexism in High Schools:

Setting-Level Approach. American Journal Of Community Psychology, 31(3/4), 267.

Eldhuis, J., Konijn, E. A., & Seidell, J. C. (2012). Weight Information Labels on Media Models

Reduce Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescent Girls. Journal Of Adolescent Health, 50(6),

600-606. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.10.249

Furat, M., & Sonmez, Ö. A. (2013). Women’s Magazines, Gender Ideology and Female Identity.

Gümüshane University Electronic Journal Of The Institute Of Social Science /

Gümüshane Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Elektronik Dergisi, 4(8), 156-173.

Heard-Garris, N., Cale, M., Camaj, L., Hamati, M., & Dominguez, T. (2017). Transmitting

Trauma: A systematic review of vicarious racism and child health. Social Science &

Medicine, doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.04.018

Kattari, S. (2015). Examining Ableism in Higher Education through Social Dominance Theory

and Social Learning Theory. Innovative Higher Education, 40(5), 375-386.

doi:10.1007/s10755-015-9320-0

8
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

Kling, J., Rodgers, R. F., & Frisén, A. (2016). Young men's endorsement and pursuit of

appearance ideals: The prospective role of appearance investment. Body Image, 1610-16.

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2015.10.001

Lyness, D. (Ed.). (2016, September). Developing Your Child's Self-Esteem. Retrieved February

12, 2018, from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/self-esteem.html

Network, J. (n.d.). NCCJ Sizism . Retrieved January 0, 2016, from https://nccj.org/

Radke, H. M., Hornsey, M. J., & Barlow, F. K. (2016). Barriers to women engaging in collective

action to overcome sexism. American Psychologist, 71(9), 863-874.

doi:10.1037/a0040345

Wood, J. T. (2019). Gendered lives: communication, gender, and culture. Boston, MA: Cengage.

9
Running Head: Analysis of Sexuality in the Media

10