Browsing by Author "Berihun, Ashenafi"

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    Gender Role Portrayal in Etv Children’s Drama
    (Addis Ababa University, 2008-11) Berihun, Ashenafi; Sparks, Glenn (PhD)
    Television teaches children gender-specific behaviors, attitudes, and characteristics. By observing male and female characters on television, children may learn to label certain characteristics and behaviors as masculine or feminine behaviors and assign traditional gender-role stereotypes to careers. This study examines the portrayals of gender role in ETV children’s drama and what messages these portrayals might bring for the children watching. A total of 60 primary and secondary figures in 20 sampled dramas have been analyzed, in terms of the proportion of male and female characters representation; the settings in which they were portrayed in , and in the kinds of roles male and female characters were given to play. This study also analyzes the gender traits that were associated with women and men. The analysis of the data revealed that gender role portrayals in ETV children’s dramas were found to be in many ways stereotyped. Male characters were likely to be portrayed in diverse professional roles, positions and settings. In contrary, women were predominantly seen in domestic roles and environments. Men were also more likely to be shown with the traditional masculine attributes or traits while female characters were more likely to be shown with the traditional feminine attributes. The results of this study are discussed with implications for children’s perceptions of gender roles, and in cultivating their future behaviors, attitudes and careers.