Overview
Media Analysis Project
Purpose
This project asks you to analyze how women are represented in a media source and connect those portrayals to at least two psychological theories related to the course. You will evaluate the psychological impact of these portrayals and suggest ways they could be reimagined to empower women.
You may complete this project as either a written paper or a creative alternative (such as a video essay, podcast, infographic, or digital presentation).
Note: the current point total for this assignment incorporates the missed annotated assignment [due to my illness] and the change of the peer review from required to optional [in response to student feedback]
Detailed Requirements
Your analysis should include the following five components. Each section should be detailed, specific, and thoughtful—not just a list or overview. You will be editing and building on the work you have previously submitted.
- Media Source
Describe your chosen media in depth.
- Identify the media source (film, TV show, music video, book, advertisement, social media account, etc.).
- Provide background: What is it about? When was it created or released? Who produced it, and what was the socio-cultural context at that time regarding women and gender?
- Briefly discuss how women were generally portrayed in media during that period to situate your example within broader cultural patterns or expectations. This context helps explain why certain portrayals may have resonated with audiences or reflected the norms of the time.
- Offer a general overview of how women and gender are portrayed in your chosen media. Are women empowered, stereotyped, silenced, or objectified? How do these portrayals reflect or challenge the prevailing gender attitudes of the cultural moment?
Example: The series Mad Men (2007–2015) depicts advertising executives in the 1960s. Produced in the early 2000s, it reflects contemporary conversations about workplace sexism by highlighting historical gender inequalities. During the 2000s, media was increasingly revisiting women’s roles in past decades, exploring the tension between nostalgia and critique. In Mad Men, women are often shown as secretaries or homemakers, reflecting both 1960s norms and modern critiques of those norms.
Optional: You may begin your paper with a brief (1+ paragraph) overview of how women have been portrayed in media more broadly to set the stage for your analysis. However, most students will address this overview naturally within the “Media Source” section.
- Examples from the Media
Identify and analyze at least three specific examples that illustrate gender portrayals.
- Describe each example clearly: What happens? What is shown, said, or implied?
- Discuss what each example communicates about women, femininity, or gender roles.
- Consider how these portrayals might affect women or viewers more broadly—how might they influence self-image, behavior, expectations, or social attitudes?
Example: In The Little Mermaid (1989), Ariel gives up her voice to win the prince’s love. This reinforces the stereotype that women’s value lies in appearance and romantic success rather than self-expression. Such portrayals may influence young viewers’ beliefs about the importance of pleasing others over asserting themselves.
- Application of Psychological Theories
Use at least two psychological theories related to the course to deepen your analysis.
- Briefly explain each theory in your own words.
- Apply each theory to your examples to show why these portrayals might affect women in specific ways or why media creators chose to depict women this way.
- Use the theories to interpret the impact or intention behind the media representation.
Example: Social Comparison Theory helps explain how female viewers may evaluate themselves against idealized media images, leading to lower self-esteem. Objectification Theory helps clarify why the camera’s focus on women’s bodies contributes to internalized objectification and appearance anxiety.
- Scholarly and Reliable Sources
Support your analysis with at least five peer-reviewed scholarly sources and any additional reliable non-scholarly sources (such as reputable news outlets, documentaries, or organizational reports).
- Scholarly sources should come from peer-reviewed journals or academic books.
- Reliable non-scholarly sources can include credible journalism, film analyses, or industry commentary.
- Use sources to connect your examples to broader research on media, gender, and psychology.
- All citations and references must follow APA 7th edition. Include in-text citations and a reference list.
Example: Use a peer-reviewed article on body image and social media, a report from the American Psychological Association on gender stereotyping, and a documentary interview with a female director discussing representation in film.
- Reimagined Portrayals
Think creatively and critically about how the media could be reimagined to empower women. Go beyond surface-level suggestions—focus on how and why your proposed changes would send more positive messages.
- Describe specific ways your example could be reframed, rewritten, or restructured.
- Explain how these changes would promote agency, inclusion, and empowerment.
- Don’t just say “add more female characters”—explain what kind, what roles, what storylines, and what impact this would have on audiences.
Example: In The Little Mermaid, Ariel could keep her voice and use it to negotiate for equality, showing that communication and confidence are sources of strength. The story could emphasize mutual understanding rather than silent sacrifice, reframing female empowerment as self-expression and collaboration.
Format Options
Option 1: Written Paper
- Length: 5–6 pages (APA 7th edition, double-spaced, 12-point font)
- Include: Title page and reference page (not counted toward page limit)
- Submit your work as a word or pdf document | Avoid Google Docs and DO NOT submit your work in PAGES
- Your paper should include all five components of the project in an organized, cohesive format. You do not need to label each section unless it helps your clarity or flow.
A strong paper typically includes:
- Introduction and Media Description – Identify and describe your media source, including context and general portrayal of women and gender.
- Analysis of Key Examples – Discuss three detailed examples that illustrate gender portrayals and their implications.
- Application of Psychological Theories – Integrate at least two psychological theories to deepen your analysis.
- Integration of Research – Support your analysis with at least five scholarly and reliable sources, woven throughout.
- Reimagined Portrayal and Conclusion – Suggest specific, empowering reimaginings and summarize the psychological significance of your findings.