Current Portrayals of Women on Television
In a society where television is dominated by reality TV series, feminist representations are becoming few and far between. Currently, new representations of feminist characters on television seem to be a thing of the past. From the 70’s through to the early 2000’s, women were more likely to be portrayed as strong and independent. With shows like Maude, Married with Children, Murphey Brown, The Simpsons, Law and Order: SVU, and Sex and the City dominating prime time television; our culture was flooded with positive representations of women. Each of those shows had at least one character that could be regarded as feminist. However, now it could be interpreted that representing strong opinions about women’s rights has been put on the back burner.
There are current television shows out there that have strong and independent women. On the other hand, feminism isn’t just about being strong and independent or having the appearance of it. For instance, Greys Anatomy has several strong female leads. They are all equally accomplished and fought their way to get into their medical program. What prevents them from being characterized as feminists however, is how some of them allow the men on the show to lord over them. The show started out with a majority of male attendings and one female; the male attendings quickly paired up with the lead female interns and over the episodes/seasons became romantically involved. Before they knew it, they went from interns to “prostitutes”; trading surgery preference and increased medical knowledge for sex. Thus, it is hard to believe that their original autonomy disappeared at the sight of a handsome face.
Check out the banter between two of the interns mentioned above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYIla0x6LOU&feature=BF&list=PL74770B79B711ECD3&index=15
Or take a look at the intern-attending relationship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-mt26FiOU&feature=BF&list=PL74770B79B711ECD3&index=50
The article Television’s new feminism, outlines several issues with the portrayal of women on prime time television. It focuses mostly on Law and Order: SVU’s depiction of today’s feminist woman i.e. Lead character Olivia Benson. Overall, the article states that SVU does depict feminist perspectives on the causes of rape; however, they couple that with supposed female traits which demean the women they are empowering on the show. For example, Olivia Benson is unmarried, lives alone and work oriented; whereas her male counterpart contrasts these characteristics by being the opposite of her. In the past such roles would have had the male detective as single and living alone while the female would have the family. In my opinion, such uncommon representations of females in the workplace serve to further feminist ideals. However, the article takes issue with how some of the episodes condemn aspects of feminine behaviour like empathy and intuition. When Olivia is overly empathetic it is regarded as a weakness but excused because it is identified as a feminine trait. Regardless of what the article states, Law and Order: SVU is a feminist show through and through. Olivia Benson is a character that can carry her own story, she’s three dimensional, and represents an idea; so what if the show has a few kinks. Shows like Law and Order are what feminism is now.
There are current television shows out there that have strong and independent women. On the other hand, feminism isn’t just about being strong and independent or having the appearance of it. For instance, Greys Anatomy has several strong female leads. They are all equally accomplished and fought their way to get into their medical program. What prevents them from being characterized as feminists however, is how some of them allow the men on the show to lord over them. The show started out with a majority of male attendings and one female; the male attendings quickly paired up with the lead female interns and over the episodes/seasons became romantically involved. Before they knew it, they went from interns to “prostitutes”; trading surgery preference and increased medical knowledge for sex. Thus, it is hard to believe that their original autonomy disappeared at the sight of a handsome face.
Check out the banter between two of the interns mentioned above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYIla0x6LOU&feature=BF&list=PL74770B79B711ECD3&index=15
Or take a look at the intern-attending relationship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-mt26FiOU&feature=BF&list=PL74770B79B711ECD3&index=50
The article Television’s new feminism, outlines several issues with the portrayal of women on prime time television. It focuses mostly on Law and Order: SVU’s depiction of today’s feminist woman i.e. Lead character Olivia Benson. Overall, the article states that SVU does depict feminist perspectives on the causes of rape; however, they couple that with supposed female traits which demean the women they are empowering on the show. For example, Olivia Benson is unmarried, lives alone and work oriented; whereas her male counterpart contrasts these characteristics by being the opposite of her. In the past such roles would have had the male detective as single and living alone while the female would have the family. In my opinion, such uncommon representations of females in the workplace serve to further feminist ideals. However, the article takes issue with how some of the episodes condemn aspects of feminine behaviour like empathy and intuition. When Olivia is overly empathetic it is regarded as a weakness but excused because it is identified as a feminine trait. Regardless of what the article states, Law and Order: SVU is a feminist show through and through. Olivia Benson is a character that can carry her own story, she’s three dimensional, and represents an idea; so what if the show has a few kinks. Shows like Law and Order are what feminism is now.
That being said, the current representations on television are the outcome of feminist movements overtime. Television characters don’t need to throw feminism in your face. As a result, we are now able to see primetime shows where the majority of doctors are female, a precincts lead detective is female, and the district attorney is a women. These professions were once regarded as a man’s profession. In the past women on television were stay–at-home moms, teachers, and nurses etc. Now, we are beginning to see more female characters integrated into different roles. This is more present in dramas than comedies, but overtime we will see equal depictions of men and women. Thus, the representation of feminist characters might not be bold and in your face, but they are present. Probably more present than they were before. Female characters no longer need to shout the words chauvinistic pig like Jessica Spano in Saved by the bell, in order to demonstrate they are feminists. Nor do they need to wear a shirt saying FANG (Feminists Against Neanderthal Guys) like Marcy D’arcy in Married with children. Feminism is widely represented to different degrees that we as a society now understand that women are equal to men.
Below is Scrubs’ tribute to strong women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V03UiLg9Az0
- Peta Francis
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