The aim of the study is to examine how feminist activists in Sweden observe and talk about social problems related to feminism to resist existing power discourses. The questions examined is: What stereotypical portrayals of women were noticed by feminist activists in the podcast ‘Penntricket’?; in which manner does the feminist activists talk of these stereotypical portrayals in order to resist existing power discourses? A critical discourse analysis was carried out on six chosen parts of the podcast Penntricket where the hosts talked about stereotypical portrayals of women and how to resist existing power discourses. The results of the study demonstrates that the feminist activists observed and talked about three stereotypic portrayals of women; ‘the responsible mother’; how ‘the woman is expected to have children’ and ‘the attractive woman’. The resistance differed within the stereotypic portrayals of women. The feminist activists resistance of the stereotypic portrayal of ‘the responsible mother’ was to make the unequal parenting visible. In resisting the stereotypic portrayals of how ‘the woman is expected to have children’ the feminist activists talked about the importance of opening up for more acceptable categories for women who does not desire to have children. The feminist activists resistance of the stereotypic portrayals of ‘the attractive women’ was to make visible that mothers manners can affect their daughters and make visible what happens when women give each other compliment for their looks.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In this study, narrative analysis, informed by the perspective of standpoint feminism, is applied to movies featuring female protagonists throughout the past five decades of the “rape and revenge” genre of filmmaking to understand the extent to which probability and fidelity function in these five films to create empathy for the victims of sexual violence. Narrative criticism is used to assess motives behind stories told in media texts, while standpoint feminism illuminates epistemological implications to cultivate intersectional viewpoints. This study provides a narrative analysis through standpoint feminism of five films that each consider female portrayals of violence as a central part of its plot. Each film represents their respective time frames over the past five decades, falls under the criteria of what constitutes a “rape and revenge” film, have been viewed overall by mainstream audiences as films that are relatively well known, and portrays women as protagonists in the plot lines. Using the theoretical insights of narrative criticism, this study investigates the common themes observed in the films that fit these specific criteria to illuminate violent female portrayals in film and identify the extent to which probability and fidelity function in these five films to create empathy for the victims of sexual violence. Standpoint feminism provides the framework to reveal the broader cultural implications of violent rhetoric in gendered media portrayals of films from the past five decades featuring female protagonists.

A content analysis was conducted to analyze how media frame roller derby. The research included an analysis of newspaper articles published all around the world in 20 different nations from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2011, and different languages were considered. The research did not support previous studies concerning women athletes and the sport. Overall tone toward roller derby was mainly neutral, and the description of roller derby was not defined as sexist or using violent terms. Women journalists who wrote articles were slightly more sexist and used violent terms than men. Exploratory research showed that the previous findings did not change no matter the date of publication of the article or when roller derby was implemented in the nation. Results were not statistically significant. Also, the movie Whip It did not change people's point of view on roller derby even after the movie came out.

This content analysis examines the representations of minorities in the two most popular teen beauty magazines: Seventeen and YM. Nine issues for 2003 constituted the sample frame yielding a total of 620 advertisements containing human models. After setting up a theoretical framework of the new racism and White beauty, this study investigates the portrayals of minority models. Overall, when compared with earlier studies the number of minority models used in mainstream magazine advertising rose and the portrayals of minority models in prominent roles increased. Yet, the subtle nature of the new racism was reinforced in the following findings: Prominent models were more likely to be light skin than medium skin or dark skin; Black and Hispanic models appeared in more expensive advertisements than Asians and Whites; minority models were less likely to be seen in the workplace than whites but more likely to be portrayed in leisure places and school than whites. Chi-square analysis (p< .000) revealed a significant difference between a model's skin tone and body exposure. A textual analysis reinforced the findings of the new racism in teen magazine advertising. It also led to additional perspective on racial hierarchy, long standing stereotypes in the mass media and the White standard of beauty. Although a content analysis cannot be used to determine media effects, this study adds to the body of research on the portrayals of minorities in advertising, White beauty and the new racism. It suggests a number of further issues to examine.

Thousands of studies have investigated the gendered portrayals in various forms of media. Researchers believe that considering gendered media content is important, as gender stereotypes have been found to influence development, often with adverse outcomes. Although a vast body of research on gender stereotypes has accumulated, little effort has been made to synthesize this literature. The purpose of this paper is to collect and analyze the results of content-analytic studies of gender portrayals across several forms of media including television, television commercials, movies, video games, music videos, and various forms of print media into a comprehensive paper on gender stereotypes in the media. Results of the analyses indicated that gender stereotypes and roles are still reinforced in the media, particularly in American and Middle-Eastern media. Additionally, while gendered roles are still reinforced, there is evidence of some decrease in gender stereotyping over time. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

Thousands of studies have investigated the gendered portrayals in various forms of media. Researchers believe that considering gendered media content is important, as gender stereotypes have been found to influence development, often with adverse outcomes. Although a vast body of research on gender stereotypes has accumulated, little effort has been made to synthesize this literature. The purpose of this paper is to collect and analyze the results of content-analytic studies of gender portrayals across several forms of media including television, television commercials, movies, video games, music videos, and various forms of print media into a comprehensive paper on gender stereotypes in the media. Results of the analyses indicated that gender stereotypes and roles are still reinforced in the media, particularly in American and Middle-Eastern media. Additionally, while gendered roles are still reinforced, there is evidence of some decrease in gender stereotyping over time. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed.

<p> Hezekiah is portrayed as a pious and faithful king in three biblical accounts: 2 Kgs 18-20, Isa 36-39 and 2 Chr 29-32. The way Hezekiah is characterized, however, is quite different in each of these three biblical accounts. Utilizing narrative analysis, this dissertation concentrated specifically on the characterization of Hezekiah in the literary context of these three biblical accounts. Hezekiah's story was examined first as a discrete account applying narrative features separately and then as a story within the larger context of each book. Then, the portrayal of Hezekiah in the three biblical books was compared in conclusion. This dissertation demonstrated that these three biblical accounts relate the same reign of King Hezekiah in their unique way according to their purpose and their individual point of view. The Kings account focuses on Hezekiah's political events including his negative aspects in order to show the faithfulness of the LORD in His promise to David (2 Sam 7) through Hezekiah's faithful actions to the LORD. Hezekiah is portrayed as a round character whose characterization is developed within the story. In Isaiah, the Hezekiah story is reshaped by the narrator by omitting and inserting some parts of Hezekiah's narratives in the Kings account. Hezekiah is portrayed as a more faithful king than his father, Ahaz, in order to encourage the people who heard the visions of Isaiah, to trust in the LORD sincerely. In Chronicles, the Hezekiah narratives are related differently by expanding, abridging, and rephrasing his Vorlage. The Chronicles account depicts Hezekiah as the best king among the Davidic kings in order to indicate the beginning of the reunited kingdom. Thus, the Chronicles account fully expands Hezekiah's religious reforms and abridges his political events in order to portray him as a second David and Solomon. In the three accounts, Hezekiah is not portrayed as a perfect king, but instead as a limited human king in order to encourage the readers to see the LORD, the heavenly King.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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