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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Sexism ruining tv shows

39 replies

LegoLego23 · 19/08/2015 22:00

It's LegoComplex here, account's playing up!

Just wanted to vent! so angry, me and my dp watch supernatural just as a series to binge watch together. The last one we watched was so much bs i ended up walking out and missing the end.

The one thing that ruins that show for me, especially in particular episodes, is that a person's life is valued based on:

1 - their gender
2 - their looks

men's lives are worth nothing, similar to women who aren't young and attractive. So fustrating when this shite is aired, i just can't turn off to it!

Any other programmes to avoid or ones to recommend on this front?

OP posts:
Original poster
LegoLego23 · 19/08/2015 22:02

oh and also if they're single. This episode was a woman, attractive AND single, so it didn't matter she'd killed 4 innocent people, they had to spend forever trying to work out how to save her because they couldn't possibly kill a fuckable female, and then a drawn out emotional affair over killing her, when Dean never cares about killing anyone, even woman if they're not gagging for it!

OP posts:
TheMaddestHatter · 19/08/2015 22:09

www.buzzfeed.com/alannabennett/supernatural-fridging-confronted#.dr7pPqW6eb

Misogyny was questioned during this year's comic con panel for supernatural. A lot of the cast feel the same way! Especially Mischa Collins who plays Castiel. Apparently he has often tweeted about the sexist writing.

AmeliaNeedsHelp · 20/08/2015 10:39

I used to like supernatural too. Having only recently converted to feminism I find it somewhat irritating trying to watch my old (previously much loved) programmes. I think there are some less-sexist-than-average programmes around though.

My current favourite is Dark Matter. It's sci fi, three of the seven main characters are women, the ship's captain is a woman (and she's awesome), gender stereotypes seem largely ignored, and their sex isn't an important factor in the storylines (so far).

shovetheholly · 20/08/2015 12:31

Sometimes you even get those shows that are supposed to have a strong female lead but are actually quite patronising about how she's portrayed. I just finished season 2 of Homeland and I would definitely put that in this category. It seems like a bunch of stereotypical cliches about an emotional, unstable woman (versus male ambition/male rationality) in need of a hell of a lot of male protection (the entire Saul character). I did not find it liberating!! Also, some of the writing was unbelievably bad.

But then there are very few shows where I do. Buffy would be one (though I have problems with it on race). Top of the Lake might be another. The Killing. Struggling to think of more... if anyone has recommendations, please do let me know as I do not think I can face Homeland season 3.

Disregarder · 20/08/2015 12:34

Don't like it, don't watch it. Stop being a prude. Simples.

MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours · 20/08/2015 12:40

I agree with you OP.

I am always shocked as well at the amount if violence to women, often portrayed as the woman being a strong fighter, but in reality yet another opportunity to show women getting beaten up.

Disregarder · 20/08/2015 12:47

Stop playing the victim, lots of shows show just as much men getting beaten up as women, it's usually a required part of the plot. You're looking for a hidden meaning where there is none. The radical feminism movement is not so important that every movie maker is out to offend them.

tippytap · 20/08/2015 13:34

Ffs, Disregarder. Piss off, why don't you?

YY to Dark Matter. Love that show.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 13:40

Meh. I love Supernatural.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 13:46

One more thing, if you're referring to the episode I think you are, the reason they didn't want to kill the female character wasn't because she was fuckable, but because she was an innocent person who'd never actually hurt anyone. If you want to be really geeky, it also showed how the characters have evolved from their early days of shoot first and worry about the ethics later.

As I said, I love Supernatural.

shovetheholly · 20/08/2015 14:36

"You're looking for a hidden meaning where there is none."
"You're reading too much in"

Two of the great lines always used by people who don't know how to 'read' film and aren't very good at criticism.

bettyberry · 20/08/2015 14:55

I love supernatural. Though the characters have evolved massively and there are far fewer (compared to season 1) overtly sexist things, it still has them.

I'm a big fan. Huge. The only way to change sexist writing it open the doors for more great female/trans writers.

It's not the shows themselves but the industry as a whole.

Buffy is fabulous, I rewatched the whole lot again recently. A show that can make period pain useful ;) Firefly is cracking too but alas, 1 season only and no female lead but interesting female characters.

You could try Lost girl being another female fronted show. Although the lead is a succubus and it uses the female feeding of men with sex thing and she's got a damaged past too. Why do all female leads have a damaged past? You know, raped, abused etc.

The killing is great. The bridge also has a strong female character but paired with a male.

Borgen has a strong female lead too.

It really is hard to pick out the good from the bad.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 15:12

I'm not disputing that it does have some issues, but it is symptomatic of the entertainment industry as a whole, and it's by no means the worst offender.

I didn't enjoy Buffy at all. I don't think I was the right demographic for it though.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 15:15

In fact, thinking about it Buffy is not unique in that. Generally, when a series is driven by well rounded female characters they also seem to be aimed at the teen/twentsomething age groups. Apart from the Good Wife, I can't think of many that are aimed at older audiences.

MySordidCakeSecret · 20/08/2015 15:48

*Lego here again, sorted account but had to change nn

we're only on season 2, so just at the beginning really.. this girl was a werewolf so didn't mean to kill people but still i think the message was clear Sad glad to hear it improves a bit as it goes on

MySordidCakeSecret · 20/08/2015 15:49

ooh yes i've heard very good thingd about the bridge and the killing.

bettyberry · 20/08/2015 15:56

It does improve. I think, too, that it reflects the ages of the characters on the show. i won't go into any spoilers at all but you will see them change as characters.

The begining was very sexist. No excuse but is 10 years old! Things have changed a bit. I'm waiting on series 10.

BuffytheReasonableFeminist · 20/08/2015 15:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 16:01

It does improve! You have to remember it's a very long story arc. The original idea was for a story to be told over five series, but it grew and became ten. I won't mention spoilers either, and I can see why you reacted the way you did - I wasn't keen at first - but it does develop and the characters aren't static, they do evolve as the story progresses.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 20/08/2015 16:06

I haven't watched Homeland, it's on my 'to watch' list.

Very different I would think, but I did enjoy Parks and Rec, and the ongoing storyline of the friendship between Lesley and Anne. You don't often see female friendships portrayed like that.

AmeliaNeedsHelp · 20/08/2015 18:19

I loved buffy. I was a teenager when it started tho, so it was good to gave a female lead character the same age who pretty much kicked ass.

I also like Madam Secretary. It shows a woman as the main character and a woman as her chief of staff. Her husband is in a supporting role, taking up much of the household stuff that she doesn't have time to.

Borgen was good for a while, but one storyline really irritated me (I won't say which in case anyone hasn't seen it). The Killing was excellent, as was The Returned.

Unfortunately, I love crime dramas and they are often about men killing women. But then again, that represents overall crime statistics so perhaps it's not unrealistic.

FloraFox · 20/08/2015 18:47

Sadly, on the whole TV shows are much better than films. I know that's not saying much as the vast majority of films don't pass the Dick Flick / Bechdel Test.

I think British tv shows are better than US ones, on the whole.

SansaryaAgain · 20/08/2015 22:58

shovetheholly, you're not missing much by skipping season 3 of Homeland. I haven't seen season 4 but apparently that was better. The Carrie character was so ridiculous though. She made such bad decisions (even when on her meds) that I'm not sure how she got a reputation as such a brilliant agent.

bettyberry · 20/08/2015 23:00

Films are terrible esp when it comes to age of male to female co stars. there have been some great female lead films but mostly the still run the typical stereotypes.

Horror movies there's always a woman who gets naked/ boobs/ lots of flesh on show and is brutally murdered. Thrillers the woman is always damaged in some way and seeking revenge.

Cop shows/films the woman is either a 'ballbreaker' it needs her hand holding

In all films the biggest threat to a woman is rape. They go to the most terrifying prospect. I'd like a film where I'm not confronted with rape as a plot tool.

The whole 'torture porn' (think saw, hostel etc for anyone who doesn't know) thing too. Ugh

Anyway I'm rambling and not making much of a point ! Blush

YonicScrewdriver · 21/08/2015 07:46

Buffy got better as the characters aged too, except season 7

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