Representation of gender today (chapter 4)

Gender in contemporary TV programmes

• During the 1990's and into the new century, gender roles on television became increasingly equal and non stereotyped within some limits. Although the majority of lead characters were still male.
• A key study of portrayal of women shows during the 1990's by ELASAMER, HASEGAWA and BRIAN was not published until six years after.
• In prime TV shows that men took 61% of the total number of speaking main roles with women having the other 37%
• However the 1992-1993 study found that only 3% of women were still represented as housewives as their main occupation, this was a massive decrease since the 1970's.

Representation and gender linked to sex and the city

• The women in sex and the city are represented as week even though they have a good working position in society such as being a very good lawyer such as Ally Mcbeal. However she is represented as being quite desperate to find a husband. Ally's colleagues both have been out with men from the law firm who are typically geeky and lacking confidence showing that women now are often making fun out of the man and it is not always the women that is lacking confidence.
• Women in sex and the city are also represented as promiscuous they are portrayed as not caring how they get their sex but as long as they get pleasure from it it is seen as normal.

Representation of gender linked to Buffy

• Buffy is seen as a role model to young girls as it encourages them to use physical strength to get the things they want.
• Buffy has won 'Best television sow' in SFX magazines annual readers poll over and over again. The 1990s Superman was relaunched (Louis and Clark, a.k.a The new adventure of Superman, 1993-1999) he was sweet & insecure and always consulting his small town parents.

Gender in contemporary movies

• quote from Feminism and film " film... often and anxiously envisions women stereotypically as good mother and bad hysterical careerists. in the past and today, every Hollywood women is some eles's other.
• It is seen as impossible to provide a meaningful analysis of representations of gender on the Internet because there is no mainstream that a majority of people are looking at.
• There are many other hit films where the male action hero works along side a more or less equally powerful female action hero

Charlie's Angels (2000)

• Barrymore, Diaz and Liu represent redhead, blond and brunet respectively are all representing them selves in a negative way by using their body's for things they are looking for. However they are also seen as role models through them being represented as Strong as a man and even stronger.

Does girl power lead to girl violence

• A study shows that young women may also be known as the "laddetts" instead of the lads" due to linking the fact that when women fight, drink, swear speed are all usually associated with the man however this study by Muncer Campbell shows that it can be associated with women as well as men.

Gender in some recent films.

• Lara Croft 2002 The girl power icon dreamt up by video game boys is 100% tough, resourceful and successful.
• The Matrix (1999) Carrie Anne is a powerful women who is equal or superior to any man.