The theoretical framework that my research encompasses is the understanding of gender theory. Gender theory is the study of what is considered masculine and/or feminine in a given society due to cultural values, media, history, and what society deems ‘normal’. In American culture gender stereotypes are rooted in very strict gender expectations and behavioral norms. These expectations have been perpetuated through the United States’ patriarchal history and are further reinforced through the characterization and portrayal of men and women in media. According to gender stereotypes, “males are high in ‘masculine’ traits such as independence, dominance, aggressiveness, and dominance, and females are high in ‘feminine’ traits such as gentleness, sensitivity to the feelings of others and tactfulness,” (Powell 2011: 39). Another sociological theory that supplements the theoretical framework of my research is Judith Butler’s theory on performativity.
Judith Butler is a philosopher and gender theorist who introduced the idea of performativity in her 1988 essay, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution. In this essay, Butler argues that gender is constructed by political, historical, and societal ideas.
“Because there is neither an ‘essence’ that gender expresses or externalizes nor an objective ideal to which gender aspires; because gender is not a fact the various acts of gender creates the idea of gender and without those acts there would be no gender at all. Gender is thus a construction that regularly conceals its genesis,”
Judith Butler 1988:522
Gender reality is performed therefore it is only revealed when it is shown. Performative is different according to Butler than saying gender is performed. Gender is performative means that that it has side effects and translates into society. This can be applied to my research because we can see gender performativity and its effects on society that influence the representation of female characters in the Disney Channel television shows. Through the conceptualization of gender theory and Butler’s theory of performativity, it remains evident that although a lot of research has already been conducted on the characterization of females in media in relation to gender stereotypes, there is still more to be examined.
Continue to Literature Review
