Journal of Asian Pedagogies and Teacher Formation

Students' conceptions of gender roles are influenced by cultural indoctrination and media exposure. Family and community circumstances shape basic concepts of masculinity and femininity, while media representations—especially exaggerated depictions in films, comics, and digital platforms—can reinforce or intensify these standards. This study investigated the impact of media characters, particularly superheroes and princesses, on the conceptions of gender roles among young boys at an all-boys Catholic institution. A descriptive-qualitative research methodology was utilized. Data were gathered using questionnaires, focus group talks, and structured media prompts utilizing video snippets. These strategies elicited students' views, connections, and assessments of male and female portrayals in popular media. Research revealed that students primarily connected superheroes with power, courage, and leadership, whereas princesses were frequently associated with beauty, compassion, and magical qualities. These results indicated that students’ perspectives demonstrated a synthesis of cultural background and media influence, hence reinforcing traditional gender standards. The research emphasized the influence of media on the formation of gender attitudes in young learners. The results indicated the necessity for organized media literacy education to foster more critical and equitable perceptions of gender roles. A values-oriented media literacy module based on Salesian ideas was presented as contextualized instructional support.