Telenovelas and gender identity: The formation of social imaginaries

Abstract

Individuals, thanks to ideological institutions like family, school, church, mass media and tv receive information regarding how a woman and man ought to be. Basic education students are exposed daily to television, it is part of the family routine, it gathers family members, accompanies the kids as they eat, play or do homework. 93% of Mexican homes have at least 1 tv (INEGI, 2012). Telenovelas, the only cultural product exported by Latinoamerica, makes Televisa exorbitant earnings, 1,396.3 millions of pesos in the second trimester of 2012 (Sigler, 2012). Even though this research is not done directly over basic education students, it is necessary for the professors to develop a wide and open mind towards the social context in which they make a part of, as well their students, with the purpose of finding common bridges to link the school and the community, as well elements to support the transformation of an unfair and unequal society. This paper intends to showcase the first findings regarding the ongoing research; inside the methodology, there are resources included which use in social research, will be surely given great attention, Facebook, as main source of ideas expressed by the actors.