Representation of Women Today

-In the past 10-15 years things have changed. Men and women are seen working side by side, as equals, in the hospitals, school, and police stations of television-land.

-Advertisers have not realized that audiences will only laugh at images of the pretty housewife, and reacted by showing women how to be sexy at work instead.

-Gay characters have slowly started to be prominent on TV and movies.
Gender In contemporary TV programmes

-During the 1990’s and the new century, gender roles on TV became equal and non-stereotyped.

-Key study – 1992-1993 Elasmar, Hasegawa and Brain, was not published until six years in
1999.

-1992-1993 and 1995-1996 - Prime time TV shows men took 61% woman had the other 39%

-Overall the 1992-1993 study found that “the women on prime time TV in early 1990’s was young, single, independent, and free from family and work place pressures”

-Producers seemed to give up on feeling that they might need to challenge gender representations. Example: the internationally popular sit-com Friends (1994)
3 men – fit easily within conventional models of masculinity but are sensitive and gentleness.
3 women – feminine and intelligent and non-housewifely.

-This model is different from other shows from the 1990’s – ER. Dawson’s Creek, Frasier, the West Wing and dramas and reality TV shows.

-Ally McBeal – show sides with the women and often shows them making fun of the men – characteristic.

-Sex and the City – male sexual performances are subject to laughter and scathing review.

-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) –made a impact on teen TV, she was heroic and powerful.

-Superman was re launched – The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) he was sweet and insecure and always consulting his small town parents about emotional turmoil.

- But Buffy the Vampire is more confident and assertive

-NYPD blue (1993) – produced a study of modern masculinity over the years.
Their colleague Greg Medavoy has been presented as a “joke” character

-Queer as Folk – offered visions of masculinity, which made a break with TV traditions.

-Many conventions of masculinity and femininity remain, albeit often in a revised from which takes account of egalitarianism and concern about stereotypes.

-It also remains that men continue to dominate in certain areas. E.g. in the UK the BBC’s coverage of 2001 general election was led from the studio by authoritative, middle ages white men (Dimbleby, Paxman, Snow) who handled the serious politics and statistics whilst the one main female reporter (Fiona Bruces) had the job of talking to “ordinary people”
Gender in Contemporary Movie

Gender in Contemporary Movies

Case Study 1: Charlie's Angels (2000)

Case Study 2: What Women Want (2000)