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The Female Gender in Television

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 3 months ago

Television as a Representative Look at the Gender Issue in America

Gender in Television in the U.S.: 1950's to Present Day

 

 

 

 In his book "The Gendered Society" Michael S. Kimmel takes a look at the inconsistencies between the genders in America in the work force and in life. He looks at the question that has plagued many of why there are different expectations and standards for men and women. He looks at male dominance, the fact that men are so often in the higher position in society and are thus represented this way. In the introduction to his book, he states "why is it that virtually every known society is also based on male dominance? Why does virtually every society divide social, political and economic resources un equally between the genders? And why is it that men always get more? Why is a gendered division of labor also an unequal division of labor? Why are women's tasks and men's tasks valued differently?"(Kimmel, 2). A problem that once seemed impossible to defeat, television has seemed to help through its entertainingly persuassive tactics of addressing the gender issues that plague(d) America. 

 

 When surveying the subject of gender in America and how it has changed over the years, one can look for a fairly accurate representation through television. Television has been an arena for different thoughts and ideas to be expressed and has given Americans the ability to relay the messages they have found important to society. Whether that be through sitcoms (thought of as comedies) or through traditional or progressive dramas, television has created ideas about gender, some seen as helpful and some harmful. In many ways television has changed the American culture by providing an entertaining view of gender issues that many people may not be privy to if they were not shown through their favorite characters or in their show's changing storylines.

 

The different types of television shows have captured different elements of the gender movement through women characters in varying situations. Progressive dramas "often present workplace environments where women work alongside men--or in leadership positions over men--and fight to be treated as equals. More important, many of the story lines deal with some of the most common issues associated with women achieving equal status in society (i.e. divorce, spousal abuse, child care, abortion, pay equality)"(Holbert et. al., 47). This article relayed the importance of television in clarifying many social issues. It also talked about the role that situation comedies (which is what The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Murphy Brown and such are) played in the gender issue. "Many situation comedies present strong-minded female characters who openly discuss sexuality and contraception. In addition, many of the women in these shows are trying to balance career and family"(Holbert et. al.,49). Whether it be through dramatic encounters or humorous accounts, television uses its characters and storylines to streamline the message that gender shouldn't hold anyone back, and that women have the right to have a career as the focus of their life, that they have the right to marriage or singleness, and that like the opening song of The Mary Tyler Moore Show states, they "just might make it after all" on their own.

 

Female characters in television have evolved drastically in the last 50 years, from the housewives like Donna Reed and June Cleaver that flanked the black and white television sets in the late 50's to the early 60's to today's powerful women we see represented by the single and career-successful women of Sex and the City or through a spoof of the housewife, Desperate Houswives. Television has certainly changed over the years, in no way more than with gender roles. Pioneer shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Murphy Brown, and Ellen have made for a great historical account of just how the small screen is a fairly accurate representation of the women's movement.

 

Women have been portrayed in many different ways on television since the 1950s. Over the years, these are just some of the other shows that have had an impact of the feminist movement and gender issues in America: That Girl, Maude, and Gilmore Girls.

 

 

In the Beginning: The 50's and 60's

 

The Emergence of a New Woman

 

Facing the Issues

 

Today's TV Woman

 

 

Works Cited

 

Holbert, R. Lance, Dhavan V. Shah, and Nojin Kwak. "Political Implications of Prime-Time Drama and Sitcom Use: Genres of Representation and Opinions Concerning Women's Rights". Journal of Communication. March 2003.

 

Kimmel, Michael S. The Gendered Society. New York: Oxford University Press. 2000.

 

 

Further Reading

 

If you'd like to look at another side of gender, look at the concept of masculinity in relation to the American Cowboy.

 

Or for some more reading on television, look at information on film and television of The American West.

 

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