Workshop Nov. 19 to discuss media influence

Last spring’s “In the Looking Glass” workshop invited conversation on how media influences societal expectations of women and men. “The Flip Side” — to be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in the Common Room — will take a deeper look at how the media has stereotyped men and women and the resulting paradox of men and women’s roles in American society.

The evening begins with a medley of film showing how the media portrays men and women. Dinner and a small group discussion follows. Then choose one breakout session and conclude the evening in the closing session with conversation with the presenters’ panel.
 
Breakout sessions include:

If all I knew was what I read in the papers ... — Dr. Steven Schild. Using high-profile periodical articles and other media texts from the recent past, this presentation provides commentary on the way various topics or attributes are framed in terms of gender. The “pictures in our heads” that result from such portrayals, the presenter believes, cause confusion, consternation and, sometimes, challenges to common sense (whatever that is).

Popular Media Conceptualizations of Male Identity and Success — Dr. Tricia Klosky and Matthew Klosky. The focus of the session is on how popular concepts of success and the American dream influence perceptions of attainment and masculinity among men and women, with particular focus on popular movies that portray success in terms of stereotypical terms.

Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorders: Believe It or Not, Men are Not the Same as Women — Dr. Trisha Karr. Do men and women have similar body values, self-evaluations and behaviors? A focus of the conversation will involve consideration  of the differences between men and women in regard to body experience.

As dinner is included, registration must be made by Nov. 15 to Peg Winters at pwinters@smumn.edu. The event is sponsored by the Saint Teresa Institute.