representation of females on television
DESCRIPTION
A critical analysis of how women are portrayed on television today.TRANSCRIPT
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McKelvey1
PhebeMcKelvey
VM20002
ProfessorFry
15November2013
RepresentationofFemalesonTelevision
Ichosethreecomediesandonedramatorepresenthowfemalesandfemininityarebeing
representedonTV.IwillbeexaminingthecharacterofMindyintheMindyProject,MacKenzie
McHaleinTheNewsroom,LeslieKnopeinParksandRecreation,andClaireDunphyinModern
Family.Iwillbeprovidingathickdescriptionoftherolesallfourcharactershighlightingoneepisode
andwilldescribetheirstrengthsandweaknesses,theirmotivationsandbehaviors,theirhopesandtheir
potentials,thenatureoftheirrelationships,andtheirfears.Iwillthenanalyzetheircommon
characteristicsanddrawconclusionsonhowfemalesandfemininityisportrayedontelevision.
ThefirstTVshowIwillanalyzeisTheMindyProjectS2:EP8,You'vegotSext.Mindyhas
acrushonCliff,thelawyer.Inthisepisode,Mindylosesherpurseandsinceshehasnokeysormoney,
sheneedstostaywithherdoctorpartnerandfriend,Danny.Meanwhile,thenewdoctorandhisnurse
friendMorganfindMindyspurseandphoneandbegintosexthercrushCliffinanefforttohelpget
themtogether.TheyinviteClifftoapartyatMindyswhichbackfireswhenCliffendsuphookingup
withhervapidneighbor,Heather.MindyhasaeyeopeningnightwithDanny.Thetwodiscoverthat
theyrespect,andhavemoreincommonwitheachotherthantheyknew..
ThecharacterofMindyhasmanyobviousstrengthsincludingherintelligence,wit,tenacity,
character,pride,loyalty,confidence,andabilitytolaughatherself.SheisanaccomplishedOBGYN
andsheisapartnerinhermedicaloffice.Mindyisselfabsorbedandthisweaknessaffectsherfailing
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personallifewhichconsumesherbehavior.Hermotivationrevolvesaroundfindingamantofulfillher
hopesanddreamsofmarriageandmotherhood.Mindyisasingleprofessional,butsheistotally
obsessedwithfindingtheperfectman.Herbiggestfearisbeingalone.TheironyisthatMindyisso
crazylookingthatshedoesn'tseemtoseetheperfectguyrightunderhernose.Theviewerisawarethat
Dannyisagreatpotentialboyfriend,butMindy'sobsessive,lovestarvedbehaviordoesnotallowherto
maketheconnection.MindyisagoodloyalfriendtoDannyandherfriends,butshegetsweirdaround
potentialboyfriends/husbands.SheiscompletelyhonestwithDannyandyettriestohideher
imperfectionsfromhercrushCliff.
Theopeninglinesoftheepisodeareveryrevealing.Mindyiswearingscrubsandglassesand
coworkerfriendMorgansays,AsafriendIhavetotellyou,youlookterribleIwouldneverhavesex
withyoulookinglikethis.Mindyreplies,Ineedyoutostopusingyourabilitytohavesexwithmeasa
barometerforhowIshoulddress.Ihavebeenworkingnonstop.Idon'thavetimetolookmynormal
glamorousself.TowhichMorganreplies,Beingbusyisnotanexcuse.feminismnowadaysisabout
remindingworkingwomentheyhavetolookhottoo.Mindy,Morganandgetontheelevatorwith
CliffanddateJanathegorgeousassmodelJanaisportrayedasadumbbeautyaswelearnshewas
runneruptoMissUniverse.Morganremembersherinterviewresponsesandconcursthathisfavorite
hobbyisalsoactivities.Mindysaysshecantcompetewiththesecondhottestpersonintheuniverse.
I'mnoteventhesecondhottestpersononthefloor,especiallysinceDougbecameDesiree.Mindyacts
awkwardintheelevatorwithhercrush,sheramblesonaboutperformingacsectionandtestingherself
forallergies.Morganpunishesherlikeachildbyleavingherintheelevatoruntilyouthinkabouthow
youactedMindyisscaredofherbiggestfear.Ihavetobealonewithmythoughts?Mindybegins
itchingandsays,ohgod!
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MindyandDannygettoknoweachotherastheywalkandtalkonthewaytohisapartment.
Mindylamentsthathermotherwasmarriedandhadchildrenbythetimeshewasherage.Shesadly
statesthatifshehadaboyfriendorhusband,hewouldhavepickedherup,andshewouldn'tbeinthis
situation.Shecomplainsthatsheisnevergoingtofindanyone.Dannytriestocomfortherbyarguing
thatIndiaisweird,itsallmessedupthere.Mindyisproudofhercultureanddefendshiscommentby
stating,thatsveryoffensive!
MindyconfessestoDannythatshehasacrushonsomeoneintheofficewhoisoutofher
league,hewouldneverbeinterestedinme.Dannyselfishlythinkshercrushisonhim,andgetsweird
abouthavingherstayathisapartment.Athisapartment,DannyisconfrontedbyhisneighborAmy,who
hehasbeenavoiding.DannytellsMindythatAmyisacrazyhookupmistake.Mindytheloyalgood
friend,protectsDannybytellingAmythatsheandDannyareinlove,pregnantandengaged.
DannymakesMindysleeponthecouchandfreaksoutwhenshepopsintohisbedroomand
seesthatheiswatchingAnimalPlanet..Mindysays,theanimalchannelmakesmehappyIdontlivein
thoseplaces.Dannyagrees,anotherthingtheyhaveincommon.MindyfiguresoutthatDannyisnota
coolplayerwhocanhookupwithanyone.Dannyadmitsthattherelationshipwithhisneighborwas
morethanahookupanditwentontoolongbecausehedidntwanttobealone.Mindylearnsthat
DannygaveAmyakeyandhemadeherpancakesaftersex.MindyunderstandsthatDannyisnot
comfortablewithcasualsexbecauseshetoohasbeentoldbyatleast10guysthatyoudontmake
pancakesforhookups.DannytellsMindythathercrush,theguysheworkswith,isnotoutofher
league.DannyisshockedandalittlesadtolearnhercrushisCliff,nothim.Mindyfindsherpurseat
theofficethenextday.SheretrievesavoicemailmessagefromHeatherthankingherforthepartyand
tellinghershehookedupwithCliff.MindythenseesallthesextstoCliff.Shockedandconfused,the
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creditsroll.
ThenextfemaleroleisMackenzieMcHale,(Mac)whoappearsinthedramaTheNewsroom.
InepisodeS2:09ElectionNight,part2,theSeasonTwoFinale.WillandCharlieawaitadecisionon
thenewsroomsfateasthe2012electionwindsdown.Macisanexceptionallystrongfemalecharacter
althoughshelookslikeatimidmouse.Shehasreachedthepinnacleofherprofessionastheinnovative
executiveproducerofACNNews.ButMac'scareeriscurrentlyinjeopardyoverabadnewsstorythat
wasfabricatedbyatrustedcorrespondentfromtheDCoffice.Macfeelsresponsibleforlettingthe
bogus"Genoa"storyair,butallseniorstaffmembersaretakingtheblameequallyandarethreateningto
resignifMac,Will(Headanchor)orCharlie(Director)arefired.Therecent"Genoa"storyscandalhas
broughtuncertaintyandinsecuritytotheotherwiseprofessionalandconfidentMacandthenewsroom
staff.ItisPresidentialelectionnight,andMachasajobtodo.Macshowshertenacityandskillsasa
producerbystayingfocusedonthejobathand.Itisobvioustotheaudiencethatsheisunderstress,
shehasn'tsleptandherhairandclothesareamess.Maclookscrazy,butshedoesnotcrack.Trueto
hercharacter,sheisclearthinkingasshemakesseriousintelligentdecisionsaboutprioritizingnews
reports.ShedecidestogowithacandidatecharacterstorythatcouldmakeadifferenceintheWest
Coastvote,ratherthanrunapreemptivescoopaboutGeneralPetraeusthatcouldmendherreputation,
gettingthestoryout2daysbeforeothernewsoutlets.Sheisloyalandcaresdeeplyaboutherstaff.She
hasofferedtoresignandtakethefullblamefortheGenoastoryasshehopestolettheothersmaintain
theirreputationasjournalists.Duringastaffmeeting,theexecutivestaffmembersshowtheirrespect
andloyaltybymakingitclearthattheywillresignifWill,Charlie,orMacareletgo.
Macsgreateststrengthisherintelligenceandprofessionalism,butherbiggestweaknessisher
heart.ShestillpinesforWillwhomshewasalmostengagedtobeforeheendedtheirrelationship.She
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feelsguiltythatshehurthimbysleepingwithherexboyfriendwhenshewasfirstdatingWill.Shewants
tomakethingsrightwithWillandwantshimtounderstandhowsorrysheisforhurtinghim.Workis
Mac'slifeanditkillshertobeinthesituationwhereshefeelsshehasdisappointedthenetworkand
Will.Sheisaproudwomanwhoknowsshemaynotbeabletomakethingsrightwiththenewsroom,
butsheisdeterminedtosettletheissueshehaswithWill.
Willtakesbreakonairtogetsecondanchorsubordinateusedtohischair.Mackenzie
followshimtothemakeuproomtogetherfeelingsoffherchest.Forthefirsttime,Macseesher
horriblelookingappearanceandshetriestofixherhairtonoavail.MacapologizestoWillandsaysshe
issorryshethoughthewasvainfornotfiringherbecauseitwouldmakehimlookbad.Shealso
apologizestoWillforsleepingwithherex.Shesays,Iwashunguponhimbecauseherejectedme.
Thatsnormal.IlikedthathehatedIwasdatingyou...andthenIfellinlovewithyouandIneversaw
himagain.Willtellsherthattheengagementringheboughtherwasjustapracticaljokeandthathe
returnedtheringthesamedayheboughtit.Macgetsmadattellshim
shemighthithimand,Idontwantyoutohaveabloodylipwhenwecomebackfromcommercial.
Shetellshimshenevermeanttohurthimintentionally.Willfinallyhearsherandsincerelysays,Im
sorry.
MacgetsinacatfightwiththebitchyDCnewsanchorJane,whocallsheroutasbeing
responsibleforthebadGenoastory.Macstandsstandsherground,defendsherteamandputsJanein
herplace.Sheisbackedupbythenewsroomincludingherboss,CharliewhotellsJanetotakeMacs
directionontheelectioncoverage.Attheconclusionoftheelectioncoverage,WilllooksforMac.He
realizesthattheybotharetoblamefortheirbrokenrelationshipandherealizeshedoesntwanttolive
withouther.Hegetsheraloneandgiveshertheringheneverreturned,andaskshertomarryhim.Mac
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replies,whatinthefuckishappeningrightnow?Macconsiderstheproposalandsays,yes...they
kissandshesays,ittookyoulongenough.Theexecutivedecisionismadenottofireorletanyone
resign.Willintroduceshisfuturewife,thenewsroomcheersandchampagneflows.
ClaireDunphyisanotherstrong,complicatedmodernwomanintelevisiontoday.IntheModern
FamilyepisodethatairedonOctober2,2013,Philistargetingnewlydivorcedfemaleclientsforhis
realestatebusiness.HisbuttonedupwifeClaireisskepticalofhisbusinessplan.Claireisonceagaincorrect,asshewatcheshimstruggletojugglehisclients.Clairehasbegunanewjobworkingforher
fatherandsimplyneedsPhiltodo3simplethingsaroundthe
house.Hecantrememberallthreethings,soClairesendshimavoicemailmessagewhiletheyareboth
inthekitchen.Philfoolishlypicksupthephoneassheisleavinghimthevoicemessage.Clairehasto
endurePhil'simaturityagainashegiggleswhenshesaysshehastocloseoutthemonthlyforher
fathersbusiness.
PhilishavingtroublejugglingthedivorceesjustasClairewarnedhim.Heisfailingatkeeping
thewomenasecretfromoneanother,whiletryingtomakeeachladyfeelspecial.WhenPhilisinthe
grocerystoreshopping,Clairenoticeshimandisthrilledtoseethatheisfinallydoingtheshoppingshe
askedhimtodo.Hersmilefadeswhensherealizesthatheisatthemarketshoppingwithoneofhis
divorceesandherfamily.AnotheroneofPhil'sclientsseesPhilatthemarketaswell.Thejigisup,as
theladiesrealizehehasbeenplayingthefield,andtheyarenotPhilsonlysuperstar.Clairestepsin
tosavePhil.ShetellstheladieswhatagreatRealtorPhilis,pretendingthatsheisaformerclient.She
tellstheladiesaboutherawfulherexhusband,lamentingthatherex,nevertookmyadviceorsaidhewassorry.Attheendoftheshow,PhilandClairesitontheircouchandPhiltellsClairethatshewas
right.Clairesmiles.
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ThecharacterofLeslieKnopeinParksandRecreationisanothergreatfemalerole.Intheepisode,
ThePawneeEagletonTipOffonthatairedonOctober3,2013,Lesliesdreamscometruewhen
shediscoversthatPawneesrivaltownisfacingacripplingfinancialcrisis.InspiredbyPawneesHigh
Schoolboysbasketballteam,Leslietakesthehighgroundandchoosestohelpthesnootytownof
Eagletonwhenshedecidestotakeonsomeoftheirdebtandincorporatetheneighboringtownthat
succeededfromPawnee.
Leslieisfacingarecallelectionandsheisdowninthepolls.Sheseesanopportunitytobuild
hernumbersbycriticizingPawneesarchrivalsinEagletonabouttheirdebtandtheiroutrageous
overspending.LeslieisjealousofherEagletonianrival,citycouncilwomanIngriddeForest,shewon
MissIndianalastyear,whenshewasinoffice,andpregnant.Leslieunderstandsthatbyhighlightingher
goodfiscalresponsibilities,contrastedbyIngridsextremespendinginEagletonwill,handmethe
recallelection.IsavepawneefrombankruptcyandnowIgettoremindpeopleofthatfactwhilewe
watchourworstenemycollapseintobankruptcyAfterwatchingthePawneebasketballteamloseto
Eagleton,LeslieseesPawneeplayersrisetohelpaninjuredEagletonplayerwhenhefalls.Leslies
characterevolvesatthismomentaschoosesnottotakeadvantageofEagletonsdebtsituationandto
goforthejugular.Lesliescharacterisdefinedwhenshedecidesnottoletherpettyjealousygetinthe
wayofdoingtherightthingforherneighboringcommunity.ItisnotapopulardecisiontobringEagleton
intothePawneefold,butLeslieiscourageousandforwardthinking,sacrificingherownpoliticalagenda
tohelpthecommongood.
Conventionalstereotypesdontapplytothewomenseeninthesetelevisionseriesandepisodes
highlighted.Eachisanuniquefemalecharacter.Mindyisasingledoctorwholivesalone,butwantsto
bemarried.Sheisformingstrongfriendshipsandisearningtherespectofmales.Sheisaconfident,
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loyalfriend,whowillstandupforherself,ifchallenged.Macisasingleexecutivewhoismarriedtoher
jobandthinkslovehaseludedher.Sheissteadfastinhervaluesandstrivestoalwaysmakegood
decisionsandtotreatotherswithrespect.Sheisarespectedexecutiveproducerwhoisfairand
impartial.Claireisahappilymarriedwomanwiththreechildren.Shevaluesherroleasamotherand
homemaker,butdoesnotletherroleaswifeandmotherdefineher.Sheisclearlythemoreintelligent
partnerinthemarriageandsheisenjoyinghernewjobandrespectfromherfamily.Leslieisnewly
married,butsheisalsomarriedtothetownparksofPawnee.Sheisanerd,butsheisalsoatrusted
friendandchampiontothepeopleofPawnee.Shestandsbyherconvictionsandbreaksthestereotype
ofalazygovernmentalemployeeasshealwaysgoesaboveandbeyondthecallofduty.
Allfourwomenaresimilarintheirconfidenceandhighselfesteem.Theycareabouttheir
appearance,buttheyarenotafraidtobenatural,ormessyastheydonotdefinethemselvesbytheir
beauty.Theyarealsosimilarintheirconvictionsaboutdoingrightbytheirfriends,familyand
community.Theyarenotsubservienttomenathomeorwork.Workisimportanttoallthesewomen
andtheyalltaketheirintelligenceandtheircontributionintheirworkplaceseriously.Eachwomanis
strongwilledwhenitcomestotheircorebeliefs.Theydonotbackdownwhenpushedorbelittled.
Thesearecomplicated,interestingwomenwhoholdtheirowninapatriarchalsociety.Thispositive
portrayaloffemalesinthetelevisionshowsIhighlightedbodeswellfortherepresentationofTVwomen
inthefuture.Althoughweneedtoseemorefemalecharactersontelevision,Mindy,Mac,Claireand
Leslieareapositivesteptowardsshatteringtraditionalfemalestereotypes.