Filipino comics, the portrayal of gender differences, inequalities and stereotypes in popular media

• Main Authors: Grape, Mildred, Hsu, Wendy Colyn
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1996
• Subjects: Comic books, strips, etc. > Themes, motives; Sex differences (Psychology); Stereotype (Psychology); Equality; Mass media
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/16273
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study seeks to understand how writers and illustrators influence the creation of gender differences and inequalities in selected Filipino comics which eventually affect society's gender stereotypes. The first objective of this study is to determine the factors that influence the writers and illustrators characterization and portrayals of men and women in Filipino comics. This was accomplished by interviewing six Filipino comics writers and six Filipino comics illustrators. The interviewees were chosen using a non-probability, convenience sampling method. The second objective is to determine gender differences, inequalities and stereotypes portrayed in selected Filipino comics. The researchers content analyzed the three selected Filipino comics (Beloved, Love Affair and Love Notes) identifying the roles, physical attributes, emotions and character traits, dialogues and storyline or theme associated with men and women in the selected comics. The selected comics were chosen using a non-probability, purposive sampling method.Based on the findings, a new framework was developed showing the factors that influence the writers and illustrators which lead to their portrayal of gender differences and inequalities in selected Filipino comics eventually leading to gender stereotyping in the society. The two factors influencing the writers creation of theme are societal observations and social issues while the two factors influencing the portrayal of men and women's emotional and/or character traits and dialogues are gender identification and gender stereotypes. With regards to the illustrators, on the other hand, the two factors affecting their depiction of men and women's physical characteristics are the writers' stories and gender stereotypes. The researchers findings show that even though the writers and illustrators interviewed were not the one who wrote and/or illustrated the comics analyzed, they were able to find out that the factors affecting the writers and illustrators are reinforced in the selected Filipino comics which are also reflected in the gender stereotypes in the society.