A Systematic Gender Perspective on Entertainment Theory

Abstract

Abstract The chapter provides a systematic overview of the role gender plays in entertainment research. Starting with a theoretical primer on the gender concept, the chapter continues by summarizing empirical findings on gender differences in the selection of, exposure to, and responses to entertainment, using the examples of violent, dramatic, and sexually explicit entertainment media. In the second part, the chapter systematically reviews theoretical arguments that have been made to explain these gender differences. The media user’s personality, gender identity, gender-role expectation, and social identity are discussed as individual level factors. The representation of gender in entertainment media is introduced as a second potential source for gender differences. Starting with the numeric underrepresentation of women, the chapter goes on to review misrepresentations of gender and gender roles as cause for gender differences. A critical reflection of the theoretical and methodological integration of the gender concept in entertainment theory closes the chapter.