Sex and Gender Analysis of A Knight’s Tale

Here's the paper I wrote for the midterm. I recall in an email that you sent me that I could post the rest of it as a journal entry, so here it is. Everything in italics is what you've already read, I just included it in case you wanted to read it again.

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Sex and Gender Analysis of A Knight’s Tale

The movie that I chose to analyze was A Knight’s Tale, directed by Brian Helgeland. The movie, made in 2001, was about a young peasant squire named William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) who joins a jousting tournament after the knight that he serves is killed. He travels and competes under the pseudonym of Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, since competing in the joust is forbidden to those not of noble birth. With his friends Wat, Roland, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Kate (Alan Tudyk, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Laura Fraser), he climbs his way to the top, winning tournament after tournament. Along the way, he meets and falls in love with a noble young lady by the name of Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). Another knight in the tournaments, Count Adhemar of Anjou (Rufus Sewell), wishes to win Jocelyn’s heart and the tournaments as well, causing a rivalry between himself and William. William eventually wins the girl and the tournament, and beats Count Adhemar. This film relates to the five major mythological themes of gender-related stereotypes. The mythological themes of gender-related stereotypes are as follows: male as powerful, male as normative, female as evil, female as giver of life, and female as sexual being.

The theme of male as powerful is shown in myths such as those about the Greek gods. Zeus is depicted as the most powerful god of the Greeks. Also, in some instances, men begin their lives as powerful. This is shown in the story reported by Erdoes and Ortiz entitled “The Powerful Boy.” The story tells of a boy who destroys everything he hits. He eventually cuts off the head of the chief, and then is chosen himself as the chief. Another story also illustrates the theme of male as powerful. “A story told by the Blood-Piegan, ‘How Men and Women Got Together,’ begins with a simple line that illustrates best the theme of male as powerful: ‘Old Man had made the world and everything in it’ (Erdoes & Ortiz, 1984, p. 41)” (“The Psychology of Sex and Gender,” 2007, p. 80). In the movie, the theme of male as powerful is portrayed by having only males compete in the joust. There are also men shown in positions of power such as Princes, Kings, and Counts. Throughout the movie, there were no females competing, nor were there any females in a position of power. Nobility, yes, but not power.
“If males are the more powerful individuals, they are more likely to define reality from their perspective—thus, the theme of male as normative” (“The Psychology of Sex and Gender,” 2007, p. 82). The film illustrates this idea by showing that it was the norm for only males to participate in the various sports held at the tournaments, whether it be jousting, sword fighting, etc. Again, no women are seen involved in these competitions; they are usually in the stands watching.
The theme of female as evil can be shown in myths such as Pandora’s box, where the first woman is given a box containing all the world’s evils. She is told by her husband not to open it, but she grew curious of the box and its contents, and opened it, releasing pestilence, deceit, and despair. The story of Adam and Eve from the Bible also illustrates this theme. Eve was the first to disobey the orders of God by picking the fruit from the forbidden tree. She then lured Adam to the tree, giving him a piece of the fruit, and thus causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. At one particular part in A Knight’s Tale, William Thatcher is doing very well in his jousting tournament. In between matches, he is visited by the noble woman Jocelyn, who tells him that if he truly loves her, he would lose the tournament. He battles his chance at victory with his love for Jocelyn, and eventually, love triumphs. He starts to lose his next few matches, putting him far behind. Jocelyn then tells him to win the rest of his matches if he truly loves her. He doesn’t question her. After winning the rest of his matches, he wins the tournament and the heart of Jocelyn. However, he almost lost a very important tournament by being manipulated by the love of his life.
“The image of the female as giver of life or fertility goddess in most myths has a certain ambivalent edge. The goddess is worshipped for her powers to give life, but she is also feared for her ability to destroy life” (“The Psychology of Sex and Gender,” 2007, p. 85). The last theme, female as sexual being, involves the female having the ability to seduce the male. In the film, both of these themes are portrayed in the same scene. After William Thatcher proclaims his love for Jocelyn by losing, then winning, the tournament, she visits him late at night in his tent. She then proceeds to help him take care of his wounds sustained during one of his matches, and then sleeps with him. Just as Jocelyn is about to enter William’s tent, William’s friend Geoff is shown saying, “Guinevere comes to Lancelot. Bed him well, my lady. Bed him well.” This quote says to me that Geoff wants Jocelyn to use her powers of seduction to sleep with William, which in turn would put him in high spirits for the following day’s tournament.
Throughout the movie, only men are seen in powerful positions. The fact that only men are able to hold the title of knight also shows that it was the norm for them to be the only ones competing in the sport of jousting. The leading lady of the film manipulates the hero, causing him to nearly lose a tournament, all to prove his love for her. She then rewards him by sleeping with him. A Knight’s Tale is a fine example of the five major mythological themes of gender-related stereotypes, male as powerful, male a normative, female as evil, female as giver of life, and female as sexual being.

SIP

Remember when I mentioned my Senior Independent Project? Well, here it is.

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THE NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN HIP-HOP/RAP VIDEOS
How are the viewers affected?
Introduction
Picture this scenario: A four-year-old girl asks “You wanna see my booty dance?” and proceeds to put stickers in her naval as she giggles, “I have a belly-button ring like Britney Spears.” And when asked where she learned that, her reply is, “I saw it on my [twelve-year old] sister’s TV” (“Music Videos: Negative Impact…”). Children and teenagers, on average, watch a half hour to two hours of music videos each day (“Impact of Music Lyrics and Music Videos on Children and Youth (RE9648)”). These music videos, specifically hip-hop/rap videos, tend to warp the images of women, portraying them in a negative way. This negative portrayal can affect both the male and female viewers, no matter their ages. Children and teenagers see the portrayal of women in these videos, and their minds could become molded into thinking that is how a woman should act or be treated.
Gender stereotyping is frequently seen in hip-hop/rap videos on television. Gender stereotyping can be described as displaying simple roles or characteristics to one or both genders. There is much concern that the negative portrayal of women in hip-hop/rap videos can affect both the male and female viewer in terms of self-esteem issues, sexual roles, and success in life.
Definitions and Limitations
Gender stereotyping is “one type of subjective perception [mental views] of what a male or female should be or how one should act” (Chng). Much of the time, women are portrayed as sex objects; seen as objects to satisfy the desires of the male artists and viewers. Females are often portrayed as “naïve, virginal, submissive creatures” in need of male protection, adoration, and direction (Chng). This project is concerned with the effects of the portrayal of women in these videos on the female and male viewer in terms of self-esteem issues, sexual roles, and success in life.
Self-Esteem Issues
Music artists define beauty as what is presented through outward appearance and outward behavior, rather than internal qualities (“Music Videos: Negative Impact…”). This perception can lead the female viewer to feel a need to change herself to be more like the women presented in the videos. Womens’ and girls’ perceptions of how their bodies should look can be altered by the exposure to repeated images of skinny, large breasted, and tan women (“Using Sex to Sell Products Hurts Perceptions of Women”). Figure A shows what 50 Cent considers to be an ideal video girl.
On November 22, 1997, the Kids Speak panel was held, consisting of a focus group of twelve teenagers from different backgrounds, who watch hip-hop/rap music videos ("Women's Portrayal in Vids Debated at Billboard Confab"). Some of the teenagers in this focus group complained that women in music videos look like supermodels, but the men aren’t held to the same standards ("Women's Portrayal in Vids Debated at Billboard Confab"). Repeatedly seeing these images of ‘ideal’ women plastered on the screen could cause low self-esteem, or eating disorders in women (Greer). Erin Senack, who teaches a class on Women in the Media at UMBC, says “Women are looking at themselves and going ‘Well, wait a minute…I don’t look like that, so that must mean that guys don’t think I’m hot’” (Senack).
“The media, and especially these videos, are telling women and girls that they’re not good enough as they are” (Senack). These images will “also be harmful to young (insecure) adolescent girls who [are] being socialized into society and trying to develop a sense of self” (“Using Sex to Sell Products…”). Some adolescent girls think that if they act like the women in the videos, they will feel better about themselves, and so will others. When young girls constantly watch music videos (one to three hours pending) they try to dance and behave the same way by mimicking the moves with social groups/or at social gatherings, or they begin to feel overwhelmingly self-conscious about themselves (Music Videos: Negative Impact…”).
Studies have concluded that these videos could greatly impact the behavior of adolescents in regards to sexual issues (Razetto). This portrayal of women as easy, loose, and sexual promoters/advertisers, leads adolescent girls to believe that it is okay to go have sex, without being aware of the serious risks and consequences (“Music Videos: Negative Impact…”).
Sexual Role Issues
According to a 1994 Harvard University study, black men in hip-hop/rap videos are often portrayed as aggressors, while white women are portrayed as their victims (“Stereotypes Enforced in Music Videos, Study Shows”). The women portrayed this way are often hanging on the male artists and attending to their needs. Women in these music videos are portrayed as sex objects providing pleasure for their men (“Women’s Portrayal as Sex Objects: BET Degrades Women”). Figure B shows a member of the group Outkast,
a popular rap/hip-op duo, seen with two video girls by his side, ready to whatever he tells them. Some may consider the portrayal of women as sex objects in hip-hop/rap videos to be a form of sexual abuse (Women’s Portrayal as Sex Objects…”). Women are usually seen as weak and seeking the protection of men. Music videos have been criticized for depicting women as the weaker sex, in need of protection and in submission to male authority (“Women in MTV”). It is another theory that women are put in these music videos to be seen as a challenge for the men; a sexual goal to be conquered (“Males who have a Negative Effect on the Perception of the Female Gender”).
This negative portrayal of women could distort mens’ perceptions of women, and make them think that it is okay to treat women as they are treated in the videos and on the television. The media often focuses on the legs, breasts, and mouth of women. Women are looked at in pieces. If men view this continuously, it legitimizes violent actions against women (Bryant, “Forum Calls for More Positive Portrayal of Women in Media”). Some men expect women to act in a certain way because of what is shown in these videos. They may think that all women should behave in this manner that they see on their televisions, and at the same time, the women feel pressured by these men to be sexually aggressive and assertive (“Female Artists Who Display Controversial Images of the Female Gender”).
Success in Life Issues
Statistics show that 41% of those who watch most rap music videos also developed a sexually transmitted disease [STD], compared to 33% who didn’t watch as many videos” (Davey D). These two percentages are contrasted in Figure C. Viewers of these videos were also 2.5 times more likely to be arrested (17.3 percent versus 19.3 percent), and nearly two times more likely to have sex with multiple partners (19.3 percent versus 11 percent) (Davey D). African American female adolescents are not exposed to many positive role models in the media; and the negative portrayal of African American females in rap videos could be a danger to them (Davey D). Black teenage girls who view a large amount of rap videos are more likely to have legal issues with the law, take drugs, and become infected with STDs (“Do Rap Videos Cause Black Girls…”).
On the other side if the spectrum, the artists making these videos are quite successful. “Whether the male artists use women or women use themselves for this purpose, the outcome is the same; artists, directors and producers know that the more sexual significance is portrayed in the video the more attention the artists will get from the viewers, which will result in higher record sales” (“Controversial Music Videos: Why Women?”). It can be said that the artists are using their bodies, and not their music, to sell their records. The artists do not have confidence in their music, which has them resort to stripping in their videos (“Sex Sells: Music Videos in the 21st Century”).
Conclusion
There is much concern that the negative portrayal of women in hip-hop/rap videos can affect both the male and female viewer in terms of self-esteem issues, sexual role, and success in life. Statistics help to prove that this portrayal can negatively affect men and women viewers of all ages. Young children could aspire to grow up and be like those they see in the videos. Teenagers and adults who view these videos often feel self-conscious about themselves, and try to change to be more like those accepted in the videos.
Some women feel degraded when they see other females in these videos portraying the “weaker sex,” and some men who watch these videos expect things from women after seeing the women in the videos acting the way that they do. Statistics show that children and teenagers who view these videos are more likely to get in trouble with the law, have sex with multiple partners and use drugs. “Overall, music videos, especially in hip-hop, have a negative ‘rap,’ pun intended, of using women as objects” (Senack). On the other hand, those artists who are making these videos and shedding their clothes benefit with their record sale and the attention that they get from the media.
Though the negative portrayal of women in hip-hop/rap videos does not directly affect my life, this project is for those who it does affect. All artists should realize that they can get plenty of attention from the media and their audiences, and sell just as many records by making music that people like, and not by stripping down to their underwear, or degrading members of the opposite sex in any way.

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Also, here is the link to the website I created - http://www.geocities.com/karensip

The Negative Portrayal of Women in Hip-Hop/Rap Videos, and How the Viewer is Affected

Way back in my senior year of high school, we had a senior project to complete, called the Senior Independent Project (SIP). We had to pick a topic related to our career major (mine was graphic design and video) and write a five to ten page paper about it. My topic was The Negative Portrayal of Women in Hip-Hop/Rap Videos, and How the Viewer is Affected. I tried my best to put that damn paper out of my mind, but alas, I was reminded of it when I re-read my previous journal entry on Maureen Dowd’s article.

My paper basically included studies about how both men and women are affected by these negative portrayals. Below is an excerpt from my paper on gender stereotyping and how it relates to my topic:


Gender stereotyping is “one type of subjective perception [mental views] of what a male or female should be or how one should act” (Chng). Much of the time, women are portrayed as sex objects; seen as objects to satisfy the desires of the male artists and viewers. Females are often portrayed as “naïve, virginal, submissive creatures” in need of male protection, adoration, and direction (Chng). This project is concerned with the effects of the portrayal of women in these videos on the female and male viewer in terms of self-esteem issues, sexual roles, and success in life.


This relates to the Psychology of Sex and Gender because it has to do with gender stereotyping. The stereotype that women are sex objects, and in need of male protection, etc., are extremely abundant in these music videos.

What's a Modern Girl to Do?

I stumbled upon an article by Maureen Dowd entitled “What’s a Modern Girl to Do?” She basically talks about women moving from fighting objectification to seeking and praising it. "A lot of women now want to be Maxim babes as much as men want Maxim babes…'I have been surprised,' Maxim's editor, Ed Needham, confessed to me, 'to find that a lot of women would want to be somehow validated as a Maxim girl type, that they'd like to be thought of as hot and would like their boyfriends to take pictures of them or make comments about them that mirror the Maxim representation of a woman, the Pamela Anderson sort of brand. That, to me, is kind of extraordinary.' The luscious babes on the cover of Maxim were supposed to be men's fantasy guilty pleasures, after all, not their real life-affirming girlfriends" (Maureen Dowd, 2005).

I can relate this to the Psychology of Sex and Gender because it relates to the archetype of female as sexual being. This article also can lead to the creation of a new archetype: female as the ‘sex kitten.’

What Maketh a Man?

As I was wandering around online, I came across a review for a book entitled “Men: Evolutionary and Life History.” The review contained all kinds of tidbits from the book about men, such as:

- although testosterone strengthens male reproductive effort, it also fosters the growth of prostate cancer

- because of men's rather fleeting role in the reproduction of the human species, they are not biologically required to invest energy in their offspring

- men, who make up roughly half of the worldwide population, account for 85 percent of the violent crime in the United States and other countries

- men are more likely than women to engage in risky or life-threatening behavior

This relates to the Psychology of Sex and Gender because in class, we made a lengthy list of descriptors for males and females. The last two bullet points above relate to some of the descriptors that we listed. The fact about men accounting for 85 percent of the violent crime in the U.S. would correspond with fearless, aggressive, and territorial. The fact about men being more likely to engage in risky or life-threatening behavior corresponds with athletic, fearless, strong, and stubborn.

A Question of Gender

I found an article online that tells the story of a baby who was born intersexual. It was adopted by Vicki and Charles McDonald, and had a phallus that was larger than a clitoris that was lacking any structure similar to a penis, and was bound down by foreskin, one testicle, no vaginal opening, and an enlarged urethral hole where the vagina should have been. In its abdomen are a basic uterus, one fallopian horn, and an undeveloped gonad. Its chromosomes are a “mosaic” pattern called XY/XO. The baby went into surgery, and came out a baby girl named Emma.

This article relates to the Psychology of Sex and Gender because in class, we learned about other genetic diseases. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (which was also mentioned in the article, where other genetic diseases were discussed) is a genetically based endocrine disorder where females are exposed to elevated androgen levels during the germinal ridge differentiation, and results in masculinized genetalia, an enlarged clitoris, and labial fusion.

Acute Sleep Deprivation Leads to Change in Nighttime Urine Production for Men and Women

I recently read an article entitled “Acute Sleep Deprivation Leads to Changes in Nighttime Urine Production for Men and Women.” It was basically about a study showing that men who don’t get much sleep produce more urine than women who don’t get much sleep.

The team conducting this study Birgitte Mahler, Kostantinos Kamperis, Soeren Hagstroem, Eva Radvanska, Soren Rittig, and J.C. Djurhuus, all of the Aarhus University Hospital in Brendstrupgaardsvej, Aarhus, Denmark. They chose 20 volunteers, 10 males and 10 females, from age 19 years old to 35 years old. Each volunteer underwent two 24-hour circadian in-patient studies under standardized conditions for diet and fluid intake. They were also sleep deprived randomly during one of those two studies. The team recorded their blood pressure and heart rate every hour, using a non-evasive blood pressure monitor.

Though there were no significant differences in the daytime urine, after the sleep deprivation, both men and women were observed to have larger amounts of urine, the men more so than the women.

The results concluded that sleep deprivation leads to:
- an increase in the amount of urine, more so in males
- reduced fall in blood pressure
- lower levels of sodium regulating hormones
- excessive excretion of osmoles (sodium and potassium)

This relates to the Psychology of Sex and Gender because it was done using the experimental approach. The team tested their hypothesis about sleep deprivation leading to changes in nighttime urine production for men and women in a controlled situation, and they created an artificial environment in which to conduct their study.