Blog # 19

Media has a huge influence on the way people view the world. For example, our preconceptions of prisons are mostly based off of movies as well as our stereotypes for correctional officers. As mentioned in other posts, inmates are generally seen as violent and monster like. While correctional officers are generally stereotyped as being mean, masculine, and having the ability to match violence with violence to maintain order. In more recent decades, it has become more common for women to play roles in films that grant them power and allow them to express violence. However, prior to recent decade’s women were always portrayed as good housewives with typical ladylike roles. As Geena Davis explained, when the movie she started in, Thelma and Louis, there was a big controversy because they did not fit the typical women characters.

In the video with Geena Davis, she explains how there are gendered differences in media. She explains how in media the roles of women are based off of males. For example, she uses the example of Winnie the Poo and how out of all the characters there is only one female character. Kanga is the female character who does not even count as a complete character because her whole existence in the series revolves around her son Roo. This type of gendering as children becomes relevant in the positions with co-workers. For example, when children view these types of shows, they subconsciously develop a notion that women are less than men because they are portrayed as such in these shows which causes an imbalance that will affect them into adulthood. This is definitely relevant in the study by Britton. She explains how in the study, all of the top paying positions were all males with the exception of one. This type of media influence also makes us believe that women are incapable of handling violent situations because women are taught to not use violence. Also, the study with Britton explains male views of female co-workers. Many males fear for their female co-workers because they can be more vulnerable in violent situations and there is more of a threat for women when it comes to sexual harassment within the prison walls.