17th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
"Drowning Ophelia": Ridding Media of Gender Stereotyping
Samantha N. Boudria
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Drawing on Susan Bordo's "Hunger as Ideology," this paper will examine the stereotypes of women presented by the mainstream media and the effects of these negative portrayals on both genders. Further, I will explore the complex relationship between the media's power to turn our collective psyche into something physically destructive to womens' health while still maintaining social acceptability. The true quandary, this paper will argue, lies in the fact that otherwise intelligent, rational women allow themselves to believe the media's claims of what is desirable simply because it is presented in the sleek format of a movie or a magazine. How can we learn to avoid buying in to the seductions proffered by the advertising industry?
Keywords: women, food, self-image, gender issues, media influences, Bordo
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 19-1
Location: VH 1320
Time: 10:00