Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze whether television viewing habits themselves contribute to defining the gender significance in a sample of 577 adolescents (270 boys and 307 girls) from the Basque Autonomous Region. Using responses to the CTV (Television Habits Questionnaire), the authors found several groups of people according to various indicators. Results indicate that television reproduces social gender stereotypes and may contribute to their perpetuation. Furthermore, the group most exposed to contents is the adolescent girls, in which an explicit lack of distinction between private and public life, and between more conventional and personal values can be found.

Abstract

Our general aim is to analyze whether television viewing habits contribute to defining the meaning of gender in a sample of 577 teenagers (270 boys and 307 girls) from the Basque Autonomous Region. With the aim of establishing the participants’ television viewing habits, the answers to the CTV (Television Habits Questionnaire) were grouped according to various indicators. The results show that television reproduces social gender stereotypes and may contribute to their perpetuation. Furthermore, the female teenagers are the most exposed group to contents with an explicit lack of distinction between private and public life, and between the most conventional values and the personal ones.