There are several shows that I think have strong, "feminist" characters like "The Closer" and "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit." However, this report from Lynn Ziegler suggests that there are still a lot of problems with TV representations of women. Which TV shows do you think portray women positively? Which shows do you think are problematic? Do certain representations of women in TV bother you? If so, which ones? There is a new show called "Lipstick Jungle" that is a sort of follow up to "Sex and the City." Have you seen the show? The female characters are obviously strong women, but do you think there are any problems with these characters?
6 comments:
I agree with Lynn Ziegler, on the shows that portray women in a positive light. Although within these shows, the women are few and often rare. Most soap operas, like "General Hospital", and "All my children" usually do not show women in a positive light. On these shows women are shown to be conniving, and promiscuous. Another show that portrays women badly is "Two and a Half Men". On this show the young boy is taught that women are simply objects of mens affections. The women that appear on the show are generally used for sex, or to clean the house. Although I have only seen previews for the new show, "Lipstick Jungle", it seems to me that even though these women are powerful within the working world, they are still not completed without a man. They are smart and beautiful in different ways but in order for them to have the confidence they need and want, they make themselves into a stereotypical woman to make themselves appealing to men.
When reading Lynn Ziegler's article I felt like she didn't understand the purpose of Television. The main reason the majority of the population within the United States watch T.V. is for entertainment. Stating valid facts like "Whatever environment we're in on TV, it's nothing near the 50 percent we are in the world" makes no relevance to what should be aired on TV. This may suggest the fact that there are more female viewed than male viewers but some women still enjoy seeing males on TV. All I'm suggesting is that if the show gets great ratings regardless on what sex is displayed, it's doing its job. Everything operates like a business in this capitalist society. Its all about making money and why fix what’s not broken? Another issue she discussed was how women are pictured in Animation. She's correct that it offers a "Big Challenge". Yet, lets not forget men are usually drawn hugely out of proportion also in these shows. There bodies are nearly impossible to achieve in real life. But this relates back to the main reason for television. ENTERTAINMENT! Enough said, if people find it appealing, has high ratings and it's generating revenue it’s going to keep playing
I won't try to be radical here but wheh i read the article by Lynn Ziegler I kinda felt to be like a devil's advocate. First think first I am not that much good TV watcher, and secondly even though when i watch few TV shows like "Lipstick Jungle", "Greys Anatomy", I would say that the TV is trying trying to inform people how women are been treated in CURRENT SOCIETY. Showing women in demeaning and dehumanizing concepts in the TV does not necessarily means that they have been used as an object. What I feel is that these TV shows are trying to educate the people that women have been always treated like these so stop it.
The issues that Lynn Ziegler presented in her article were really interesting to me. I also agree that the shows that she mentioned did present women in a positive light, "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" etc.
Some representations of women in TV do bother me a lot. As Ziegler mentioned, the way that animation is shown, the impossible body and such, really bothers me. Mostly because a lot of men and some women believe that is what's beautiful and everything outside of those lines are not. Also, one reality TV show that drives me crazy is Tila Tequila... It's semi similar to the bachelor but this girl is bisexual and is picking between girls and guys. How she portrays herself and acts really is disturbing and in my opinion, really degrading to a lot of girls i know.
I have never seen "Lipstick Jungle" other then the youtube clip provided but the only problem i can see about these women are some of the comments they make about women in the workforce. Other then that, I enjoy the fact that shows are starting to portray women as strong.
I believe that there are many shows that are positive towards women, even in the smallest way. In sitcoms, it is always a mom dad and family. The mother always knows whats up in the house and it almost makes men look dumb. You could say this is positive or negative, but when it comes down to it, the women really do know more because they spend more of their time there. In saved by the bell- one of the characters is a feminist but she is showed incredibly steriotypical. She is always calling the males in her school "pigs" for every little thing they do. I am a big fan of sex and the city, and Miranda, a lawyer, once had to end a relationship because she was more sucessful than him...not because she wanted to, but he could not be with someone more sucsessful. It was strange. I feel like in the real world it truly would not matter. I have never seen lipstick jungle, but I am sure it portrays them all the same.
I think its cool to show women who are in positions of power, but when are we going to past the whole, everyone women wants to fall in love? I mean not everyone in the world is looking to get married and have kids...its not just men. I think its crazy to try an portray these women as living normal lives becasue they dont. You cant be the head of a corporation and take care of your kids...in the real world, men and women who do that have nannies who take care of their kids. The good thing is that it can teach young girls that is is possible to be beautiful, be successful and still have time to fall in love if thats what they really want. The show is problematic yet it does have some good points.
Post a Comment