Gender affects politics and media coverage in several ways. Women candidates tend to receive more coverage focused on their novelty as the first woman in their role, as well as more coverage of their personal traits and political issues. In contrast, men are rarely referred to by their gender alone because they are the norm. Some critics argue that the media treats men and women politicians equally, but comparisons of coverage show Obama portrayed positively as a superhero while Clinton is negatively depicted as an ugly bride, emphasizing differences in coverage by gender.

2. By: Kelly Gramlich

3. How gender, especially being a woman, effects
politics, elections and media coverage
Basically, how gender effects political communication

4. Used by
Anybody who votes
Hillary Clinton
Sarah Palin
Barack Obama
All politicians
Political Media

5. No matter if you like politics or not, they effect our country and effect
who ends up running our country
It is important to know how gender effects the media coverage of the
people we are voting for and if this political communication is changing
or effecting our views and votes

7. People argue that gender does
not play a role in politics at all
Critics say the media treats men
and women politicians equally

8. Compare how the media portrays Obama to how it portrays Clinton:
Obama’s cartoon is negative but still portrays him as a superhero.
Clinton’s cartoon is negative but portrays her as a shotgun carrying, extremely
hideous bride and Obama as innocent.

9. “”Overall news coverage emphasized
women’s novelty more
so than men’s, and regardless of
perceived gender congruence, women
received
more political issue and character
trait coverage than men,” (Meeks
187).

10. U.S. Media portrays politicians in 3
main ways:
Novelty Labels Political Issues Character Traits
Women candidates being
Women are perceived Good politicians are considered to
Described through labels
As not being able to Have “masculine traits” such as:
Such as: “female”, “woman”,
Handle masculine Strength, assertiveness, independence,
“first female”, “lone
Issues such as: military, Aggressiveness and confidence.
Woman.” Men are rarely
Crime, economy, and
Referred to by their gender
Foreign policy.
Labels because they are the
Norm.
(According to: “Is She Man Enough?” by L. Meeks)

12. GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
IMAGES
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/jvumn/2344967308/
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=hillary+clinton+change&m=text
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=politics&ct=6&mt=photos&adv=1
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=usg&q=hillary+clinton&m=text
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/edenweaver/742777657/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahpalinbiggestfan1/5890416444/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/enjoybeing/112077435/
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=women+equality&ct=6&mt=photos&adv=1
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=criticism&f=hp
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/55790637@N06/5396760843/
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/donar/2525891765/
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=political+cartoons+obama&m=text
• http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=baby&m=text