Men and women have always been represented in different ways, especially in areas of science and technology. When women are represented in relations to science and technology, they are portrayed differently. Women are slowly gaining more ground in the fields of technology, but are still at a lower level than men, and are more often misrepresented. The media often reinforces and exacerbates stereotypes that undermine women and their abilities to do and comprehend science. Scientific technology has been one of the greatest and most impactful factors that contribute to constructing and reinforcing these gender differences and stereotypes that are embedded in our everyday life. Media plays an important role in depicting the “norm” of society, it controls or reflects the construction of science, and who does science. For the most part, media uses men as the stereotypical form of scientists. The stereotypes reinforced by the media change society’s perception of science, internalizing the views they come across with. Rising incredibly in its popularity, cosmetic surgery is one perfect example that shows the ways and power of how scientific technologies constantly impose ideologies and beliefs in gender differences and stereotypes on each of us, both individually and collectively. Plastic surgery has extended its meaning to not just reconstructive purposes, but also cosmetic purposes. Data has shown that the majority of patients that had cosmetic surgeries are women. Many who have gone through cosmetic surgeries believed that it was the best and easiest way to fit more into the gender stereotypes the society has imposed on us. The way cosmetic surgery has been operated shows the reflection of the gender stereotypes that women can have “better” and more “aesthetic” looks than before; it also reflects the gender differences by allowing people to see cosmetic surgery as “natural” for women, but not men. In addition, femininity is often associated with cosmetic surgery, which also addresses the stereotypical notion that scientists and surgeons are associated with men, and women are the users of them. Men are typically seen as the designers of technology while women are seen as the consumers or the users of technology. The fields of technology continue to see a low number of women and women also continue to be seen as less informative with the way that they are portrayed in television commercials and other facets of the media. The media portrayal of gender in science and technology reflect the views of society, which in turn reinforces stereotypes of men and women. Public understanding of science and technology come from the views represented in media, when those views misrepresent the construction of science, people start internalizing the stereotypes and attitudes they see. This can affect how they interact and interpret science, as well as influence the way they pursue certain science careers.
