By: Carolyn Johnston

WHAT SUPERHEROES CAN TEACH US

Thesis:“This essay considers how the

descriptor ‘walk of shame’ functions to discipline female sexual practice by reinforcing gender stereotypes and punishing women who transgress socially constructed norms that these uses prescribe.”

WALK OF SHAME

Shame is a female characteristicSexual Double Standard “Women have been socialized into a

shared understanding of what constitutes proper feminine sexuality and thus recognizing the walk of shame as evidence of transgressing these norms of being a “bad girl.” (Lunceford, 2008, p.323)

“Gender right” (Lunceford, 2008, p.324)

Gender roles are learned at a young age and reinforced by popular television shows to create a society in which women are expected to behave in a manner similar to the stereotype seen on television.

THESIS OF PRESENTATION

“Gender roles are social constructions that contain self-concepts and psychological traits, as well as family, occupational and political roles, assigned dichotomously to members of each sex.”

GENDER ROLES

“Women are seen as passive, nurturant, and dependent, and men are seen as aggressive, competitive, and independent” (Holz-Ivory, Gibson & Ivory, 2009, p.172).

“Maleness signals authority, stuatus, competence social power and influence and femaleness signals lack of authority, low status, incompetence, and little power and influence.” (Holz-Ivory, Gibson & Ivory, 2009, p. 173).

MALE/ FEMALE ROLES

But Where Do These Stereotypes Come From?

Favorite Superheroes? Characteristics? What was found in cartoons Still true today? Why is this a problem?

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS

Male

Female

CHARACTERISTICS

Overcoming stereotypes?

FEMALE SUPERHERO

Image found on www.imdb.com

Claire’s inability to protect herselfHost of male saviors Only male characters can fly Problems with female characters (powers) “Women are taught to fear violence and to

understand themselves as victims in need of protection in ways men are not. To be a woman is to be constantly encouraged to understand one’s physical self as endangered” (Stabile, 2009, p.89).

“SAVE THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD”

Education and attitude shifts

Eliminate double standards

Evaluation of sexual norms

HOW TO STOP GENDER STEREOTYPES

1.) Why do you think that gender stereotypes continue to be used in media even though there has been a number of advancements in gender equality?

2.) The quote at the end of the Lunceford article by Wendell Johnson is as follows, “When wisdom comes, as very occasionally it does, it reveals itself in the wry smile with which we admit that the tracks we follow are the tracks that we ourselves have made.” What do you think this quote illustrates in regards to gender stereotypes?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS