Sexual Images In The Media

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This essay shall discuss the issues surrounding sexual images and the media’s influence, whilst using the Scapegoat Theory, the User-Gratification Theory and the Hypodermic Needle Theory. This essay will show that the media have an influence when referring to sexual images and stereotypes. This essay contains examples from the media to support the arguments made. Sexual images are an everyday interaction and they affect people more than we know, women are seen every day in print and television advertisements and are often being shown as stereotypes. According to The Overseas Humanitarian Aid Agency of the ACTU (2010), the term ‘stereotype’ is defined as an idea that many people have about a group of people that may often be untrue or only partly true, such as a common belief about women in general, or sexual objects, where women are seen only for their bodies, in order to sell products or a service, this means that women are no longer viewed as equals but rather something that can be owned, Shari Graydon (Canada’s Media Action Média 2010) states that women become sexual objects when their bodies and their sexuality are linked to products that are bought and sold.(Media Awareness Network 18/10/2010) Many researchers question whether or not the deliberate sexualisation of women’s bodies in the media is beneficial, it could be seen as both a good or a bad thing, on the one hand, you have beautiful, fit and healthy women on the cover of magazines, this may inspire and push many women to become more active when it comes to exercising and eating the right food, this may be seen as the User-Gratification Theory, according to Blumler and Katz (The Uses of Mass Communication 1974) the User-Gratification Theory, is based on the idea that people use the media for different reasons, people will identify certain products with fit and healthy women and automatically assume
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