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.
|
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 |
·
Aggarwal VB & Gupta VS, (2012) Handbook of Journalism and Mass
Communication Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi.
·
Kumar
K. J. (2020) Mass Communication in India, Jaico Books, Mumbai.
·
Narula
U. (2008) Mass Communication Theory and Practice, Harchand Publication, New
Delhi.
·
Datta,
K.B. (2005) Mass Communication, Theory and Practice (ed.), Akansha Publishing
House, New Delhi.
·
McQuail, Denis. (2005). McQuail's Mass Communication Theory, Sage
Publications.
·
Kausal,
R. (2000), Women and Human Rights in India, Kaveri Books
·
Ray,
R. (2000). Fields of protest: Women’s movements in India, Zubaan
·
Tong,
R. (2009), Feminist thought- A more comprehensive introduction. Colorado:
Westview Press
Dr. Trisha Dowerah Baruah, Course Coordinator
Dr. Trisha Dowerah Baruah has been working as an
Assistant professor in the Bhupen Hazarika School of Mass Communication under
Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) for the past 10 years.
She completed her Masters in Mass Communication from Gauhati University in 2008
and her PhD in 2013 from K.K. Handiqui State Open University. Awarded the
National Journalism Student Award of Excellence in 2008 , her research
interests lie in the field of Public Relations, Human Resource Management,
Information and Communication Technology and Distance Education. She has
published a number of research papers and articles in reputed national and
international journals. Besides, she had also received AAOU-COL fellowship to
participate at the Asian Association of Open Universities Annual Conference
held at Japan, Colombo and Turkey for the year 2012, 2021 and 2023
respectively.
Dr. Juri Hazarika, Course Coordinator
Dr. Juri Hazarika is an educator and a researcher
in the field of media studies and distance education. She received her Doctor
of Philosophy on ‘New Media Technologies and Distance Education’ from KKHSOU in
2017 and completed her Masters in Mass Communication from Gauhati University in
2008. Dr. Hazarika has an experience of over 10 years in research and teaching
in both face-to-face and distance mode. She has also worked as Media Analyst at
Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi and at Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) as
State Media Expert. Her research focuses on latest trends in distance
education, gender and media studies.
DOWNLOAD APP
FOLLOW US