Identity Theft

We have talked endlessly about the impact media has on the way we view the world. Michael Foucault calls our "ways of talking about things", discourses. Playing off Focault, David Gauntlett says that "the ability to influence a certain discourse is a form of power that can be exercised (although power is not a property held by a particular group, but is something that flows through social processes and interactions)"(133). The discourses that have the most impact are sexuality and identity. Media is a huge influence when it comes to shaping one's views about sexuality in general, and other people's sexuality. In just the past decade, homosexuality has become more talked about and has almost become less of a thing to be judged for and one to be more accepted. In terms of identity, images of body, sexuality, style, personality, etc. are thrown at us each day in the media from all angles. The power the media has is strong. What we see in the media translates into what we believe about ourselves, about others and about our world.

We are all human. We are male or female. Biologically, that is evident. But what about those mannerisms and specific qualities that each gender is suposed to (or not suposed to) posess? Who tells us how to behave depending on our gender? The media (once again) plays a HUGE role in reinforcing this. How we act as individuals largely depends on how we have been taught to act. In chapter 7 of his book, David Gauntlett talks about queer theory, which he says is " a radical remix of social construction theory and a call to action. Since identities are not fixed-neither to the body nor to self- we can perform gender any way we like" (Gauntlett). Queer theory basically says that your identity is a combination of social and cultural traits, that gender is a performance, that people can change, that masculinity and femininity is a social construction, and that we should challenge these traditional views of the genders.

How others see us, our culture and what we learn from the media are huge detemining factors in our identity. When I was younger, my mom dressed me in pretty dresses, put bows in my hair and gave me dolls to play with. That is a traditional view of femininity. Girls are suposed to be dainty, pleasant, have tea parties and play with dolls. Boys are suposed to love sports, get messy, play with trucks and baseballs and burp all day long. What happens when those roles get crossed? What about the girl who loves sports and hates pink? Or the boy who plays with Barbies, does not like to be messy and grows up to be a hair dresser? How does that translate into our culture? Considering this, I feel as though its more accepted if a girl defies "girly-ness". She is labeled a tom-boy but its not exactly frowned upon. If a boy defies his "manliness", he is labeled gay. What is the difference? Am I right, are girls allowed to get away with more than guys are? Although, on the same note, if the concept of a tom boy was so accepted in today's society, why are girls not allowed to be on men's teams? Why do there have to be separate teams for girls and guys, when it comes to sports?

For my case in point, I will use one of my own irritating assumptions. I have thought that Ryan Seacrest was less than manly since American Idol started. He is a small man, a metrosexual, and does not seem like the type to kick back with the boys with a tackle game of football. Simon even makes fun of him for it on the show. Does this mean he is gay? I know I have questioned it quite a few times. But why? Is it because Ryan does not fit the image of man that the media has shaped for me? I don't see anything wrong with a guy that likes to look nice, but if he is obsessive, then something is wrong. It bothers me that I think this way, but I feel like its something that has been so drilled into my head. I'm not the only one who thinks this way. He has been questioned on this numerous times. I googled this and got 626 thousand hits. What is it about him? He's had girlfriends and even then the rumors are flying. Is Ryan Seacrest gay? I'm going to try to stop making my own assumptions and just wait and see.