Post 4- Mass Media

1. What are your thoughts on the media and its ability to influence people? Do you think it has a strong or weak influence on the way people behave socially? Explain.

2. What different types of mass media do you encounter in a week? In detail, describe three forms of media that you use most frequently (provide links if they are online). Explain what the medium is and what type of information you usually seek and why.

3. Try to characterize yourself as a media user. Are you dependent on or independent of the media? Do you feel mass media is important? Why or why not?

Responses are to be 300-400 words and are due by 3pm, Friday, 3/7.

Social Construction Theory

 I have thought hard about the social construction theory and have come to believe it.  I believe the theory is that all of our actions are based off of others ideas and views. For example many people buy the Dr. Dre headphones which are very expensive just because of the name. People feel that if you wear or buy what the pro athletes or stars buy you will be looked at in a better way. 

The female social construction from the nineteen fifty’s to now have changed greatly. In the fifteenth century what was considered beautiful is completely different from today. Everyone believed that the bigger you were the better you looked. Mainly because you looked like you were wealthy and well fed. Today beautiful to many is the complete opposite. People believe that the thinner you are the more beautiful. Women in fifteenth century were treated very different from how they are treated now. Many would say they were discriminated against and I believe this to be true.

Although women’s social construction has changed I also believe men’s social construction has too. I believe most women want the big tall athletic and handsome guy. This has changed because in the nineteen fifties there were many arranged marriages. You basically married a guy because he was liked by your family.

In the article men are portrayed as superior to women. I do not think that over the years men have lost their masculinity. I believe that women have more rights now. This may make it look like men have lost their masculinity, but in actuality women have just became equal to men and can do many of the same things as them. I believe my reaction to this article can be explained in one word surprised. I could not believe how miss treated women were and I thought that women did not have any rights. 

~ Matt Mills 

My Thoughts on the Gender Construction Theory

I believe that this theory has a bit of truth behind it.  for instance if a child is raised in a very strict, or religious household they are more likely to raise their kids in the same manor.  There are also societal views on what may be considered beautiful.  In a country like America we are used to seeing slim size two as the key in what makes someone appealing.  However in some African countries women cut their bottom lips and have them fitted with clay disks because the men might find that to be ideal in a wife.  If a thought is found to have any importance within a culture then it becomes habit and belief within a group of people to be carried on as a part of their daily lives.

The social construction of women in the 1950's America is definitely different from how it is today.  Back in the day a woman was expected to stay at home and be the dutiful, quiet mouse she was supposed to be.  Most men thought that there was something demur about this type of woman.   Nowadays a woman can go out of the house and get a career without the husband saying otherwise.  In today's world a modern female has a voice that didn't exist in the fifties.

Back then a man was considered the "head of the house," or the master of his domain, with his significant other  being the ever willing servant.  Whatever he would say goes.  It's almost like he is a second parent to his wife.  In today's world some men choose to stay at home instead of the wife to tend to the house and children, which is a huge and very definable difference.  

I think "The Good Housewife" article is a load of bull.  Women are portrayed as the weak minded sex that have to answer to the man and bend to his will.  If I was born in the 1950's I sure as H&*( would not be answering to a meat headed man.  I'm happy that we are given a little more leeway and freedom to live our own lives. :)    

Social Construction Theory

  Social Construction Theory is the idea that anything and everything we do is based off of others views or ideas. The idea of reality is also under this theory. We only truly know what reality is by want we can confirm with others.  If enough people can verify something that we have experienced then it will be taken as reality. If we can not confirm that others have experienced the same as us we can me labeled as heretics or lunatics. This is my idea of the Social Construction Theory.
 An example of how this can affect everyday life is how the role of women has changed in the past sixty years. In the 1950's the role of women was to be stay at home moms and that they would clean the house, cook dinner, and show excitement to her husband upon his arrival. These women would have to drop everything to make sure everything is up to standards for her husband.
  Of course this has changed within the sixty or so years that have past. Women are now much more equal to men, although they are not to complete equality yet. Women are now their own people and not forced to abide by the older social ideas. They can now do what they want and they don't have to make sure everything is perfect for their significant other. Some men stay home to raise children or clean now.
  The social construction for women these days is that they are they own people, equal to any other person. Of course there are still things that can be solved on the same topic but they are now much better. Some social ideas are that women are smarter then men or that they are some worth preserving more than hiding.
  The social construction for men has also changed. The appeal of a man to a women has changed very much. In order to be considered "attractive" to most women, a man must be in top physical shape, talented, athletic, or smart.  Men In the fifties were under much less pressure and were required much less, in my opinion. I believe it is becoming tougher and tougher to keep up with social ideas.
  My opinion on the article is that it is severely sexist and according to todays standards it can be considered discrimination.  

Body Language

       I have learned many things from the video that we have watched in class. I realized I now watch people walk in public or that I am very conscience about the way I act or walk. I have learned how to tell a liar or to tell that people are not confident in themselves when speaking. A lot of these things I saw everyday but never noticed it.
   I learned that the way someone can walk can show their power or what they think of themselves.  Normally people in politics or in the people's eye will walk with a determined look or that they will focus on the people more. Another thing I learned is that famous people will try to look like they know people viz Hilary Clinton with her speeches. She would point to people on the crowd that she wouldn't even know. I've also learned from the police officers on the video of the tell tales of someone having a weapon for example the blousing of the shirt or the twitching of the thumb.
   Small signs like these fascinated and how people will not actually know what they are doing but its a biological or physiological sign of your emotion or actions. Having a police officer as a father I have seen some of these signs but even my father I've seen these signs in him. I can now spot a police officer or soldier in a crowd just by the way they walk. The video was very educational and I enjoyed the facts very much and now put them to use in any sort of communication.

Subliminal Love Interest

One thing I found very interesting about the way people express their thoughts through body language was the way people who are attracted to each other interact non-verbally. The way a man may try to show dominance or masculinity or how a woman might show interest or lack there of by simple gestures.

What is also interesting is how similar gestures can mean something completely different. For example, when someone speaks to me about something I am not interested in, I have trouble making eye contact. A person who fancies another may do the same out of the fear that making eye contact will divulge their true feelings or make them vulnerable.

While at the semi-formal Sweetheart dance this past Saturday evening, I became aware of these subtle signals in a young couple whose relationship was obvious in its early stages and just beginning to flourish. It was absolutely adorable, but also intriguing. This young man stood slightly to the side of her, rather than face to face. He did so that as he stood next to her, she could notice him standing at full attention, hand on his hips with his chest slightly puffed up, asserting his dominance. She, not making eye contact, twisted and rotated on the spot she was standing, while twirling her fingers through her hair. Also, when she would speak to him, he would bend down and turn his ear towards her mouth. He most likely did this to not hear her better, but to show that again he was the assertive, masculine one. In the middle of her anecdote, he would then rock back, throw his head back laughing, and thrust his hips out. She would look up at him and giggle as well.

All of these subliminal messages took place over such a small period of time, but portrayed a huge amount of information that was more important than what they were actually discussing.

Post 3- Gender Construction

For this week's post, consider Social Construction Theory and respond to the Housekeeping Monthly article, 'The Good Housewife' by answering the following questions:

1.) What are your thoughts on Social Construction Theory? Put the theory in your own words and use examples.

2.) What was the social construction of the female gender in the 1950s? What is the social construction of the female gender in the 2010s? Is there a difference between how women were viewed then as opposed to now? In other words, how has the female social construction changed in the 58 years since the article was written?

3.) How are men portrayed in the article? Have social constructions of masculinity changed in the past 58 years?

4.) And finally, what is your reaction to the article?

Write 300-400 words. Your responses are due by 3 p.m. Friday, 2/28.