IV ISA Forum of Sociology (February 23-28, 2021)

JS-84

The Use of Language in Media, Disruptions in Hegemonic Meanings, and the Resistance to Gender Violence

Abstract Submissions Closed

RC25 Language and Society (host committee)
RC32 Women, Gender and Society

Language: English

Session Type: Oral

Gender violence is one of the most urgent and persistent problems in societies all around the world and a priority for international institutions such as the United Nations that tackles the problem in several of the Sustainable Development Goals, among them Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender and the behavior related to gender is socially constructed, thus, something that we learn and do. One of the main agents of socialization nowadays is media in all its forms—films, television, music, books, advertising, YouTube videos, etc. Research has already outlined the role of media in shaping peoples’ understanding of gender. Furthermore, the devastating impact that media can have on promoting violence against women and girls has been highlighted. However, media can also serve as a tool for the prevention of gender violence. In this Joint Session between RC25 Language and Society and RC32 Women, Gender and Society, we encourage authors to present their work on the use of language and other forms of text in media related to gender violence. While research on the negative effects of media is more numerous, we would especially encourage authors to focus on those results or experiences that help us understand how media-based language/text can help to resist gender violence. For instance, research that includes social contexts either within or outside of formal institutions that make more legible verbal and nonverbal language that represents changes in the forms of resistance to gender violence.