The document discusses three articles about representations of gender and sexuality in media. The first article argues that while women have more sexual freedom, men are still portrayed as having entitlement over women in commercial sex. The second discusses recurring themes of innocence for females and traditional masculinity for males in teen dramas. The third examines Chaz Bono's transition and how he was represented differently on Dancing with the Stars versus his own documentaries. The discussion questions ask why women are still misrepresented in media and if this stereotyping helps teen dramas, and what factors kept Bono at the media center while on Dancing with the Stars.

1. Joe Crain
Discussion Questions
1. Karen Boyle in “Buying and selling sex” discusses the various differences between selling
“sex” to women and men and how women still face inequalities despite the fact that
women are now being made to feel empowered by their sexual consumption practices.
Boyle argues that “comparing the interlinked phenomena of commercial sex and the
commercialization of sex across texts targeting male and female consumers is revealing
of continuing inequalities that can’t be understood independently of a broader analysis
of gender, sex and power.” While women may have more freedom sexually, there is still
this persistent selling point to men that they have a sexual entitlement over women as
this is a marker of masculinity. In “Glances, dances, romances”, Susan Berridge talks
about various teen drama series and how images of sexuality are vital to their storylines
and progression. Some of the recurring themes include innocence and conformity for
females and traditional masculinity and immaturity for males. Berridge quotes Michelle
Byers who says that “the binary positioning of feminine and masculine sexualities is one
wherein the feminine is ever the less powerful, the less sexual, the less free to choose,
the one with the most to lose.” I agree with Boyle and Berridge and I think that there
continues to be male dominance in the categories of selling sexual objects to women
and men and on teen drama shows. Producers of both tend to want to exploit an
alleged female weakness and continue to allow males to hold a position of power. Why
do you think that women are continuing to be misrepresented and categorized in the

2. media? Do you think that this stereotyping of women helps the progression and
longevity of these teen drama shows?
2. In “Transgender, transmedia, transnationality”, Katherine Sender talks about Chaz
Bono’s transition to and repositioning as a man and how he was represented in various
media forms. Dancing With The Stars is at the media center and as a result, tends to be
more on the conservative side and the biological family is consistently reaffirmed
throughout his tenure on the show. Bono went through various levels of engineering his
own brand across the media landscape. The two documentaries, Becoming Chaz and
Being Chaz were intimate and confessional and despite the differences with a show like
Dancing With The Stars, Bono exploited transmedia to circulate his transgender
narrative. What factors do you think played a role in keeping Bono in the media center
while on Dancing With The Stars despite his ability to reach and impact a large
audience?