Gender stereotypes: girls and women in media

1.- That women are supposed to clean, cook and serve or attend the rest (usually men). Women is also  portrayed as good, submissive and weak (Cinderella). But there is a second stereotype: the one of the step-mother. She portrays a different image of women, as she is evil and manipulator. Both, Cinderella and her step-sisters (who are just like her mother), always need to be pretty and well dressed in order to gain men's attention.

2.-  Only one. If you (as a girl or women) fall in love and get married, all your problems will disappear and you will be happy for ever.

3.- Negative

4.- No, because all Disney princess movies are the same. They all portray women in an innocent and submissive way.

5.- Yes. They are generally portrayed the same way as Cinderella in the movie.

6.- Girls (specially the youngest ones) accept this type of image, and start copying what they see in media. Society, on the other hand, keeps thinking of women and girls as media shows them. So in the end is a vicious circle that might never end. 

7.- Yes, they have a responsibility. They are the ones that control media, so they have the power to change this, and help women stop thinking of them as something that is not always true or accurate. However, even if they try it will be very difficult to accomplish, because changing what a person thinks is not easy.

8.- No, but it ads other stereotypes. It mainly portrays the one that shows women cleaning, cooking and serving the rest, besides the one that shows them weak and submissive.

9.- I have learned that stereotypes are present everywhere, even in kid movies.

10.- People can avoid being manipulated by media in different ways. First, you need to be concious about the fact that media do this type of things (use stereotypes). By doing this you will question everything you see, and as a consequence, you will stop believing in everything media shows you. And in second place, you should go and meet people (in this case girls and women) to see if stereotypes are correct or not. Do a little research.

Song lyrics and stereotypes

Cater 2 you

Destiny's Child

Baby I see you working hard
I want to let you know I'm proud
Let you know that I admire what you do
The more if I need to reassure you, my life would
Be purposeless without you (yeah)
If I want it (got it)
When I ask you (you provide it)
You inspire me to be better
You challenge me for the better
Sit back and let me pour out my love letter

Let me help you
Take off your shoes
Untie your shoestrings
Take off your cufflinks (yeah)
What you want to eat boo (yeah)
Let me feed you
Let me run your bathwater
Whatever your desire, I'll supply ya
Sing you a song
Turn my game on
I'll brush your hair
Help you put your do rag on
Want a foot rub (yeah)
You want a manicure
Baby I'm yours I want to cater to you boy

[Chorus]
Let me cater to you
Cause baby this is your day
Do anything for my man
Baby you blow me away
I got your slippers, your dinner, your dessert and so much more
Anything you want just let me cater to you
Inspire me from the heart
Can't nothing tear us apart
You're all I want in a man;
I put my life in your hands
I got your slippers, your dinner
Your dessert and so much more
Anything you want, I want to cater to you

Baby I'm happy you're home
Let me hold you in my arms
I just want to take the stress away from you
Making sure that I'm doing my part (oh)
Boy is there something you need me to do (oh)
If you want it (I got it)
Say the word I (I will try it)
I know whatever I'm not fulfilling (oh)
No other woman is willing (oh)
I'm going to fulfill you mind, body and spirit

I promise you (promise you)
I'll keep myself up (oh)
Remain the same chick, you fell in love with(yeah)
I'll keep it tight, I'll keep my figure right
I'll keep my hair fixed, keep rocking the hottest outfits
When you come home late tap me on my shoulder
I'll roll over
Baby I heard you, I'm here to serve you
(I'm lovin' it, I'm lovin' it)
If it's love you need, to give it is my joy
All I want to do is cater to you boy

[Chorus]

I want to give you my life, my strength
My will to be here
That's the least I can do
Let me cater to you
Through the good (good)
The bad (through the bad)
The ups and downs (ups and downs)
I'll still be here for you
Let me cater to you
Cause you're beautiful(you're beautiful)
I love the way you are (you are)
Fulfill your every desire (desire)
Your wish is my command (command)
I want to cater to my man
Your heart (your heart)
So pure your love shines through (shines through)
The darkness we'll get through (so much)
So much of me is you (is you)
I want to cater to my man

[Chorus]

The song portrays the stereotype that women are supposed to cater men in every possible aspect and trough the good and the bad. This can be seen in the following verses: 

"Let me cater to you

Through the good (good)

The bad (through the bad)"

In the song, women also feel that is their duty to do this:

"Making sure that I'm doing my part (oh)"

They also need to stay fit to make his man happy, representing another stereotype. This is present in the following verses of the song: 

"Remain the same chick, you fell in love with(yeah)

I'll keep it tight, I'll keep my figure right

I'll keep my hair fixed, keep rocking the hottest outfits"

For men to take into account women, they always have to be well dressed and good looking. And in order that their relationship lasts, she has to stay as pretty as when they first met.

The song also talks about women's life revolving around men, and that without them, their life would be meaningless.

"I want to give you my life, my strength

My will to be here

(...)

So much of me is you (is you)"

Going to a deeper analysis the song, by assuring that women do everything that men needs, they are indirectly saying that men are useless and that they need a woman besides them to survive.