Angela McRobbie is a British cultural theorist who researches how gender roles are represented in media like magazines. She argues that media portrays men as masculine, aggressive and powerful, and women as weak, subservient to men and in traditional roles. While some media shows women in more powerful sexual roles, McRobbie acknowledges this is controversial as other feminists argue it is demeaning. Overall, her theory is that media influences and "socializes" people into stereotypical gender roles through these portrayals.

1. ANGELA MCROBBIE THEORY
Manoraj Sivantharajah

2. ANGELA MCROBBIE
• Angela was born in 1951 in the UK
• She is a British cultural Theorist
• She did her post graduate degree at
the University of Birmingham
• She then went onto teach in
London then to teach at
Loughborough University
• She is now currently is a Professor
of Communication at
Goldsmiths, University of London.
• Her media theory is well known
one.

3. THE THEORY
Angela McRobbie did most of her research into the magazine industry and
the contents of magazines. She mainly looks at the way in which gender roles
are represented within different within media. So what does the media say that
males and females do. She ultimately feels that the media by doing this
influences us as humans into what we should and should not do. So they
“socialize” us into our gender roles. This suggests that humans behave like
they do because of what the media tells them to how to behave and what to
do with their lives.

4. HOW MEN ARE PORTRAYED IN
THE MEDIA
She believes that in most media texts;
men are portrayed by the following:
• Masculine
• Aggressive
• Powerful
• Etc..
So basically saying media portray them
in an extreme stereotypical manner:

5. HOW WOMEN ARE PORTRAYED
IN THE MEDIA
She believes that in most media texts;
women are portrayed by the following:
• Weak
• Subservient to men
• Traditional roles (mother, nurse)
• Etc…
So basically saying media portray them
in an extreme stereotypical manner:

6. CONTROVERSY
McRobbie however does accept that
within some media text, women are
shown in more powerful sexual roles
and she suggests this could be a good
thing. This is where controversy
aroused as other feminists argue as they
believe that that the suggestion is
demeaning to women. However Angela
McRobbie believes that some
representations empower women as
sexually powerful.

7. MY VIEWS
In my opinion, I fully agree with Angela McRobbie as most media texts do
have stereotypical representation of gender roles. I believe that this is a good
thing as by trying to change this view will cause more unrest. As society over
the years has come to terms with the stereotypical gender roles produced by
various media texts and the change I believe will just be too much hassle and it
will cause unrest within in society. However taking into account cultural
variations I think McRobbie’s idea of powerful women gender representation
will help woman state their power in those societies where men totally over
power women.