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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

TV shows/films where gender stereotypes are being positively challenged...?

88 replies

InmaculadaConcepcion · 11/03/2012 13:55

DH and I have become rather fond of the TV show Bones loosely based on Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books. It's fairly standard escapist, crime investigation fare in many respects, but it occurred to me that the show's characters do challenge a number of gender stereotypes in a positive way.

Dr Brennan, the main character is a science genius (forensic anthropologist) with a strong penchant for using logic and evidence in her investigations and personal life

Booth, her male FBI sidekick is a macho man in many respects, but this is often challenged. He's the main character who deals with parenting issues and is much more lead by his emotions than Brennan.

The lab boss (in the most recent seasons) is a brilliant female pathologist.
The lab computer/technology expert is also female. She has an enthusiastic and varied sex life, but no apologies are made for this.
The no-nonsense judge is also female.
The "emotions specialist" is a young man in his twenties.

The victims tend to be evenly split between men and women, horrific sex crimes against women are seldom featured.
Brennan rescues Booth from as many dangerous situations as he does her.

And possibly most importantly, the story lines often include the airing of interesting gender-based dilemmas and conflicts. And they don't necessarily resolve in a stereotypical way, either.

I'm not claiming the show is perfect, but it does a lot better than many others of its genre do.

Any other shows or films that have struck you as including an encouraging amount of positive gender characterisations?

OP posts:
Beachcomber · 11/03/2012 22:53

MASH was ace.

Juliet Bravo and Cagney and Lacey were shows I remember really loving as a child - when I was young I thought it was because the police thing appealed to me. Of course now I know it was getting to see women Do Stuff that was the appeal. Loved Roseanne too.

sozzledchops · 11/03/2012 23:26

Remington Steele. - she's the brains and Brosnan is juste pretty face fronting the business.

Chocobo · 12/03/2012 08:39

Me and DH love Fringe - Olivia (and Fauxlivia) is a great character. Strong, intelligent and feisty and it is Peter who seems to be more in touch with his emotions. Olivia is the one who is scared of commitment in their relationship. Astrid and Nina are also great strong female characters.

Also love A Game of Thrones - Arya and Dany are fantastic characters both going from strength to strength (in the books at least but the first series stuck quite religiously to the books so am hopeful the following series will too). Brienne is also a good character - physically as strong and capable as the men.

Archemedes · 12/03/2012 09:31

As wierd as it sounds Anchorman , realised Christina Applegate is the only smart Character in there.

ButterPecanMuffin · 12/03/2012 17:34

I think Body of Proof is a good one, another crime procedural one.

The leader character is Dr Megan Hunt, who is a medical examiner in Philadelphia. Before that, she was the world's most renowned neurosurgeon, but a car accident left her unable to continue with that. The character is really strong, she doesn't take any nonsense from anyone, particularly men who dare to 'speak down' to her because she's a woman. Don't get me wrong, there are flaws in the back story, mainly that when she was a neurosurgeon her "husband and child took a backseat" to her career. As a result, when they divorced, her husband was awarded custody of her their daughter. However, that was all in the past, you don't see any of that, it's just mentioned here and there (because woven in with the crime, is Dr Hunt rebuilding her relationship with her daughter, and it's really well done).

The positive thing from the whole 'mother putting career before family' thing, is the show writers made the point of highlighting the fact, that a father who puts his career before his family is doing what he needs to for his family, a mother who seemingly does so is vilified. There is an episode in the first season where Dr Hunt does say something like, "If I had been a man, working all those hours for my family, I'd be admired. As I was a woman, I was declared an unfit mother by the judge." It was good to see that the writers included that, rather than just letting it pass.

Also, Dr Hunt's boss is Dr Kate Murphy, the Chief Medical Examiner. In the show she's the first CME in Philadelphia's history. I like the way she's characterized in the show, because sometimes female bosses on TV (and in movies), are shown as being 'ball-breakers' (I hate that term, but it's the best I could think of). However, Dr Murphy is a firm but fair boss, and will always have her team's back. Her and Dr Hunt have disagreements, but underneath all that, there is clear respect for each other. In one of the episodes, it is revealed that Dr Murphy was seduced by her former professor, who has a penchant for 'cute blondes'. He is a suspect in one of the cases, where the victim is a 'cute blonde', and Dr Murphy confronts him about his past.

Another strong female character is Dr Hunt's mom, Joan Hunt, who is one of the area's highest ranking elected judges.

When I was back home in the States last year, I read a magazine interview with Chris Murphey, the show's creator. He said he was inspired to create a show with strong female characters, who had made an impact in field's that traditionally have been male, because his aunt had done just that when she reached a very high rank in the FBI. I've tried to find if the interview was online, but it isn't, which is a shame.

SardineQueen · 12/03/2012 18:06

I like body of proof

The lead woman is incredibly slender though, I mean really terribly terribly tiny.

And I find the whole thing about her marriage breaking up because she was a career person a bit annoying

But I do like it
And it has seven of 9 in it which is a bonus Grin

Incidentally, should I be worried that I am very familiar with almost all of the programs mentioned on here Blush

ButterPecanMuffin · 12/03/2012 18:30

SQ - I watch most of them too, especially the crime procedural dramas. I blame my family for that. My dad is a Senior FBI Agent, two of my cousins (both females) are in the FBI, one of my older brothers is a detective, my uncle is a County Sheriff, my grandfathers, my other older brother and my cousin (female) are lawyers, three other cousins (two male, one female) are police officers and my aunt is a former lawyer, now judge.

A career in crime/law wasn't for me (I followed my mom's route, by going into languages) but I'm enthralled by watching it on TV!

SardineQueen · 12/03/2012 18:50

Oh My God it's the FEDS

How exciting!!!!!!!

R2PeePoo · 12/03/2012 22:01

Law and Order SVU- Det. Olivia Benson is a single woman, confident, poised and not young and skinny. She works (at least in the earlier series) with a married man with four and then five children who is dedicated to them.

All three district attorneys in the series are female and the male characters are sympathetic and motivated to catch the rapists/molesters etc that feature. Its also realistic, not all criminals/rapists are caught/prosecuted but the overall sense is sympathy for the victims. A major story arc is the sexual assault of Det. Benson and how she deals with the resulting PTSD.

slowestwildebeast · 12/03/2012 22:02

was Xena Warrior Princess encouraging?
I quite liked Maid Marion and her merry men (the TV programme) :)

GothAnneGeddes · 13/03/2012 23:38

Cannot believe no one's mentioned Prisoner Cell Block H!

Virtually all female cast, a variety of ages and appearances, female authority figures. It had butch women in it too (for want of a better word) who are almost absent from TV... I could go on.

I'm gutted they don't show it anymore at night Smile

sozzledchops · 14/03/2012 01:00

Brings back many memories of me and my mum (she loved cell block H) watching it in hysterics!

What about Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman - a pioneer in a mans profession in a man's world? Shame she had to be so pretty with perfect make-up and flowing Loreal locks.

Spagbolagain · 14/03/2012 09:26

What about that sitcom The Upper Hand .
Joe McGann was the housekeeper for the professional woman and also he was a widower and so brought up his daughter.

I don't know if it really counts as it was the entire premise of the show as opposed to natural and incidental. So the role reversal was the whole point.

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