Unit 3 examines how communication researchers investigate the underlying messages of TV programs and what some of the gender-related messages found on reality TV are.

Select 1 reality TV show that you regularly watch. Using concepts from your intellipath lessons (Reality TV Messages and Messages about Gender), respond to the following:

• Describe what the program is about and the category of reality TV it falls under.
• Analyze whether male and female cast members are presented similarly or differently.
• Summarize what you see as the overarching message about being a man or woman in contemporary society in the show that you selected.

If you do not watch a reality TV show regularly, then answer the prompt above with reference to a fictional drama or comedy show.

In reading your classmates' posts, you might notice the following:

• Despite the different shows, there are similar messages about being male and female. You could comment on the pervasiveness of those messages in contemporary society.
• There is not a single message about being male or female across reality TV programming. You could discuss the multiplicity of messages about gender that can be found in reality TV.