Blog Post #1

Gap and Journey

My research journey began with a broad interest in understanding how the portrayal of actors in movies and off-screen settings influences public perception of them. I was pulled into this topic by the ways media shapes our understanding of celebrities, from their on-screen roles to their real-life personalities as seen in interviews and public appearances. However, as I delved deeper into the topic, I realized it was too broad to address effectively in a single project. To create a more focused and manageable scope, I decided to narrow my topic to explore a specific aspect of celebrity portrayal: the types of questions talk show hosts ask female celebrities compared to male celebrities. This refined approach not only allowed me to concentrate on a measurable and unique dimension of media bias but also addressed an important gap in existing research by looking at potential gendered differences in media treatment of celebrities during interviews. This transition made my project more actionable and grounded while retaining its connection to my broader interest in psychology and media influence. 

Previous Research

Previous research played a pivotal role in shaping and refining my research topic. Studies examining gender stereotypes in media and the portrayal of women in entertainment displayed how prevalent biases and double standards female celebrities often face. Research on media framing and interview dynamics further illustrated how questions asked in public talk shows can subtly reinforce societal expectations and stereotypes of gender. These findings provided a foundation for my interest in understanding how media interactions shape public perceptions of celebrities. These scholarly articles on gender representation in media also inspired me to focus on a specific, measurable aspect of this issue, which is the nature of questions asked to male versus female celebrities during interviews. By building on existing research, my topic will cover the potential bias shown in talk shows towards male and female celebrities. 

Methodology

To collect data for my research, I plan to analyze a selection of recorded talk show interviews that include both male and female celebrities. I will be looking at the top three late night talks show hosts, and their top 5 male interviews as well as top 5 female interviews in order to create an unbiased selection of interviews and it ensures that I am looking at the interviews that will have the most influence on society due to them having the most views. Using a structured coding framework, I will categorize the questions asked during these interviews based on commonly asked categories such as personal life, professional accomplishments, controversial topics, etc. This coding process will allow me to quantify and compare the frequency and nature of different question types posed to male versus female celebrities. By conducting this analysis, I aim to identify patterns in how talk show hosts engage with celebrities of different genders, providing insights into the representation of gender in media interviews.

Relevance

This topic is highly relevant because it sheds light on the subtle yet persistent gender biases present in media, which play a significant role in shaping societal expectations of gender. Talk shows are a widely consumed form of entertainment, and the way hosts frame their questions can reinforce stereotypes or challenge them. By understanding the differences in how male and female celebrities are treated in these talk shows, it can give insight into broader cultural norms and gender inequalities that influence how different individuals are perceived in society. This research not only highlights the biases within media but also looks at how people engage with celebrity culture. Addressing these issues is an important step for creating a more equal and respectful media portrayal.