Mean Girls Gender

Although this paper uses a mainstream movie, at all times you should use scholarly writing and language throughout the paper.

In the documentary “killing us softly 4”, Jean Kilbourne discusses the toxic environment that leads to the dehumanizing of females. She goes into intense details on how females have been misrepresented in advertisements over the years. She explains that in advertisements, females have been subjected to inhumane ways such as being a product of sexually expressive methods. Even though in recent years men have been subjected to the same media exploit as women, Jean Kilbourne expresses that it is not as half as bad as what women have been going through, and it is now worse than ever. Jean Kilbourne also expresses how Photoshop is the newest tool in promoting women. Using Photoshop as an advertisement tool allow authors to make women look unrealistically slim.

Q.1. What do you think is the main messages this movie is trying to deliver?

• Describe the film in general terms. What subjects does it cover? Describe the plot and setting. What issues does it raise? What do you see as the main purpose of the film?

8) What is the tone or feeling of the film and what is its impact?

7. How did this film change any misconceptions or stereotypes you had about the subject matter? If so, what were they?

4. What was the point of the movie? (ex: a political statement, a moral idea, reflections on society)

Mean Girls is a comedy, yet accurate portrayal of the body image issues that high school girls face today. This movie is more than just high school clique and popularity; it is critical representation of the boundaries women in our society are not allowed to cross. Societal monstrous expectation of female bodies has led to a problematic matter of self-acceptance. Berreby extends this view in his essay “Rituals and Traditions: It Takes a Tribe” where he mentions the idea of “us” vs. “them” in which he states that society has created the idea that if one does not act in a certain way, they are automatically considered “them”. Furthermore, it is essential to acknowledge that stereotypes found in movies like Mean Girls, although a classic Hollywood movie, provokes a critical view of women and contributes to perpetuate traditional gender stereotypes as it reflects dominant social values.

1. What are the main themes, politically and socially, that are portrayed in the film?

     This film presents an individual that chooses not to conform to modern society, and the consequences of that choice. The main character

in the way women are portrayed in modern culture and society. The documentary forces us to

Collins, R. L. (2011). Content Analysis of Gender Roles in Media: Where Are We Now and Where Should We Go? Sex Roles, 64(3-4), 290-298.

1. What is the true subject or the theme of the film, and What kind of statement, if any, does the film make about the subject? Which elements and which themes contributed most to addressing the theme of the film?

The roles of males and females in society have significantly changed, as opposed to the predominant roles in our history. In the modern culture of today, women have begun to break out of the mold that which society has placed her in. This much can’t be said when it comes to modern gender representation in mass media advertising. It can be safe to state that woman are seen as sexual, fragile, exotic—whereas men are portrayed as tough, in control, and aggressive. This trend can be one seen as an inhibitor to the advancement of our culture, because especially for women, it is hard to pull away from the stereotypes that are continuously represented. As examples of the given trend, the following

First I will present a basic breakdown of the movie including: who the characters are, their roles, and plot summary. Next, I will present the arguments in regards to the theories of Utilitarianism and virtue theory, and how the film and characters conveyed them. From here I will show the breakdown of the meta-ethical aspects of the film in regards to human nature and how evil attempts to triumph over good. I will conclude by summarizing how these characters had complete disregard for ethics and their own morals.