Language and gender

1. Using tools of CDA, analyze and interpret the representation of a female and a male character from an American television comedy-drama and mystery series . Then, compare the two representations.

A) isn’t just the hottest property on Wisteria Lane. She’s the finest damned thing on TV. In fact our favourite Desperate Housewife is so scorching, she even smoulders when pressed up against cold hard steel. (published in a men’s magazine Arena)

B) After making gardening sexy in Desperate Housewives, the blooming gorgeous Jesse Metcalfe […]. His eyes are glittering and dark; his eyebrows have an arch so beautiful they could star in an ad. He is unstoppably handsome, and with his dark stubbled face, looks sexier than he does on screen. He’s 27, but can pass for much younger – hence the role of the teenage gardener who seduces Eva Longoria’s character, Gabrielle. (published in a women’s magazine Glamour)

2. How is the criminal portrayed in the following newspaper article? What attributes are ascribed to the criminal and what semantic role (AGENT or PATIENT) does the criminal usually fulfill?

SCHOOLS OF SHAME Why do so many female teachers target young boys for sex? Experts reveal adults’ lack of intimacy and over-sexualisation of youth could be to blame

It comes as this week a 26-year-old married, successful science teacher was arrested in Florida after she allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old student. By Vanessa Brown for news.com.au 3rd March 2018, 2:48 am EXPERTS have revealed the reasons behind why female teachers target young boys for sex - and believe it may be partly driven by loneliness, a lack of intimacy and the over-sexualisation of youth. It comes as this week a 26-year-old married, successful science teacher was arrested in Florida after she allegedly had sex with a 14-year-old student. Police say the woman, Stephanie Peterson, sent nude photos and also sold the teenage boy marijuana, and was charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of transmission of harmful materials to a minor. Last month, a former Texas high school teacher, Alexandria Vera, who was impregnated by a 13-year- old but had an abortion, got a 10 year sentence and was thrown behind bars after pleading guilty to having sex on multiple occasions with the teenager. And let’s not forget the most famous case of all — sweet faced Mary Kay Letourneau, who was embroiled in a Seattle rape scandal that shocked the world. In 1996, the then 34-year-old Seattle primary school teacher was busted having sex with her 12-year- old student, Vili Fualaau. Alexandria Vera was jailed for 10 years after having sex with a 13-year-old student The mother-of-four was sentenced to seven years behind bars following the rape, and put on the registered sex offender list for the rest of her life. But following her release, the pair continued their relationship — and to date, have been married, divorced and share two children together.