This chapter looks at gender representation in Hallmark film posters from 2015 to 2023, using Erving Goffman’s framework from “Gender Advertisements” to assess variables like Ritualization of Subordination, Licensed Withdrawal, and Relative Size. The chapter examines the content of 628 posters to show how traditional gender relations exist and evolve in the context of popular media oriented mostly toward women. The analysis finds a nuanced gender symmetry in Hallmark promotional materials, with a stronger emphasis on female agency and leadership. Despite the bulk of posters depicting men as physically dominant due to their height, women are increasingly shown as having influence over social circumstances, a tendency that is especially noticeable after 2020. The trend of portraying empowered female protagonists is consistent with Hallmark’s shifting narrative focus, in which women take control over their life choices, including romantic relationships. However, this empowerment comes at the expense of the intimate and romantic images historically associated with Hallmark films, resulting in posters that can appear generic and impersonal. The chapter concludes that, while Hallmark’s promotional materials continue to reflect traditional values, they also represent a subtle but substantial shift in gender roles, contributing to broader societal discussions on gender equality in popular media.

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Hallmark’s Gender Displays Through Goffman’s Lens: 50 Years of Feminism and Representation

  • Raisa-Gabriela Zamfirescu

摘要

This chapter looks at gender representation in Hallmark film posters from 2015 to 2023, using Erving Goffman’s framework from “Gender Advertisements” to assess variables like Ritualization of Subordination, Licensed Withdrawal, and Relative Size. The chapter examines the content of 628 posters to show how traditional gender relations exist and evolve in the context of popular media oriented mostly toward women. The analysis finds a nuanced gender symmetry in Hallmark promotional materials, with a stronger emphasis on female agency and leadership. Despite the bulk of posters depicting men as physically dominant due to their height, women are increasingly shown as having influence over social circumstances, a tendency that is especially noticeable after 2020. The trend of portraying empowered female protagonists is consistent with Hallmark’s shifting narrative focus, in which women take control over their life choices, including romantic relationships. However, this empowerment comes at the expense of the intimate and romantic images historically associated with Hallmark films, resulting in posters that can appear generic and impersonal. The chapter concludes that, while Hallmark’s promotional materials continue to reflect traditional values, they also represent a subtle but substantial shift in gender roles, contributing to broader societal discussions on gender equality in popular media.