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PSI CHI: The International Honor Society in Psychology

The International Honor Society in Psychology

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Portrayal of Gender Roles in Music Television

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by Kevin F. McNeill and Luis A. Vega* - California State University, Bakersfield

Categories: Gender | Social


Students (N = 429; women = 273, men = 156) enrolled at a junior college and state university in central California were assigned to 1 of 4 conditions (visual only, audiovisual, audiovisual with discussion, and a no-videos-shown condition) and asked to view three videos commonly seen on Music Television (MTV). At the conclusion of each video, participants filled out a questionnaire designed to elicit their perception(s) of particular gender role behaviors, such as sexism, objectification, etc. Factor analysis revealed the presence of three factors: Male Power, Female Power, and Overt Sexuality. Further analysis showed that factor scores were not significantly different by condition. Although the format of MTV is attune to society’s concerns, it still presents gender role stereotypes that are traditional and subtle.

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