Sex and Gender
Introduction
Television plays a fundamental role in the contemporary society. Through television, Americans are able to get sufficient information about the happenings within the country’s borders and territories. Americans have also managed to get information about the activities in faraway places courtesy of the numerous Television programs that focus on local and international news. Geographical distance is no longer an impediment to interactions between Americans and the rest of the world in the wake of globalization and the emergence of social networking sites (Renzetti & Curran 153). Most television programs are interesting and informative. The soap operas and light dramas may also impart knowledge on viewers and at times illustrate particular technique of doing things or showing great places some viewers would be interested in visiting. Majority of Americans spend approximately 33 percent of their leisure time watching television. The duration of watching television is arguably the longest relative to other leisure activities in which Americans participate. Incidentally, they spend more time watching television compared to socialization time with friends, relatives, workmates, and group members (Renzetti & Curran 153).
Socialization with other people only constitutes 7 percent, reading (6 percent) and engagement in outdoor activities comprising about 2 percent of total life spent. This is enough proof regarding the worth Americans attach to watching television thus making it the main source of modern communication in most of societies in the United States. I would be looking at the gender stereotypes about women, men, and society as highlighted in Renzetti and Curran’s text and draw a comparison with the television show The Good Wife. The primary aim of such a assessment is to evaluate the strength of the gender stereotypes and analyzing the effects they have on viewers (Renzetti & Curran 153).
Methods
The television show of choice is The Good Wife, which airs on CBS every Sunday at 9 p.m. I have barely watched four episodes but the entire season 1 seemed exciting. Although the show The Good Wife is currently in its fourth season, my observations derive its basis on the first four episodes of season 1. The legal drama premiered on CBS on September 22, 2009. The Good Wife is a female-driven drama about spouse of a politician in pursuit of her own career as a defense attorney (Renzetti & Curran 153). She took up her duties in the wake of her husband’s arrest and confinement behind bars due to allegations of political corruption. Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) has to deal with her demanding career and at the same time providing for her two children. She finds the task of balancing between her career and family responsibility quite challenging. Apart from Juliana Margulies (Alicia Florick), other prominent members of the cast include Matt Czuchry (Cary Agos), Archie Panjabi (Kalimda Sharma), Makenzie Vega (Grace Florrick), Josh Charles (Will Gardner), and Christine Baranski (Diane Lockhart).
Season I episode 1(Pilot) unfolds with the reality of Florrick having to return to work following incarceration and corruption swindle involving her husband. The episode also features a woman accused of murdering her former spouse. Episode 2 (Stripped) present another challenge to Alicia together with Will as the duo is expected to represent a stripper raped by the groom at a bachelor party. In episode 3 (Home), Alicia represents her former friend’s son who reportedly committed a murder crime (Renzetti & Curran 153). Episode 4 (Fixed) begins on a different twist as Alicia has to establish if the jury has interfered in a suit against a drug firm. In the same episode, the jury asks Alicia to testify on behalf of her husband as he prepares for his appeal hearing. Through hard work and determination, Alicia barely succeeds in perfecting her roles as a family woman doubling as father and mother to her two children in the absence of her husband who I set to serve a jail term on allegations of political corruption and a very public sex (Renzetti & Curran 153).
At some point, she had to relinquish her job as a litigator to look after her children. She reportedly stayed away from her career for over 12 years during which she was simply a stay-at-home mother. The political sex scandals involving prominent Americans dominated the drama. John Edward and Bill Clinton’s sex scandals partly inspired the play, which extended to 23 episodes during the first season. Alicia had to take up the responsibility of providing the basic needs to her two children. She singly fed, clothed and provided her children with opportunity to get good education. Robert King and Michelle King created The Good Wife Show. They also served as executive producers and show runners (Renzetti & Curran 153). Angela Amato joined the crew as consulting producer. As a writer, she brought legal experience from her career as police officer and legal aid attorney.
I will examine four findings all of which are related to ethnicity, operational, sanity and race.
1). According to the text, ethnicity features prominently with the minority ethnic groups only getting scanty roles in the show. Other ethnic groups are negatively stereotyped and rendered invisible. The text asserts that only 1.5 percent of people with disabilities feature on prime time television. Regarding appearance of characters based on gender, I intend to count characters that belong to minority ethnic groups along with those hailing from major ethnic groups and appear on season 1 episode 1, 2, 3, and 4. I will only count the characters (males and females) once (Renzetti & Curran 153).
2) The text further reveals that operational elements involves set of validation test conducted on a show to determine the extent to which modern society can associate with such production (Renzetti & Curran 153). Apparently, the text acknowledges the significant role that various shows play in transforming society by highlighting ills of people independent of color, ethnicity, gender or career (RC 152). I will sample female and male main characters in the first three episodes and analyze roles and evaluate the validity of such roles. The ages of these characters will also be a subject of concern in the analysis.
3) The text recognizes change in the soundness, rationality and healthiness of the human mind summarized as sanity. Portrayal of certain characters as sound, rational, and healthy in their minds would be fundamental in the analysis of major and minor characters since inception of prime television shows. Similarly, empowerment of female characters in prime time shows has led to emergence of a new class of female TV personalities who are well endowed physically and are also supernaturally enhanced (Renzetti & Curran 153). I will count the leading characters irrespective of gender and analyze their roles to verify the authenticity of the four episodes.
4) According to the text, less than 1 percent of stories aired on the three major networks were in Hispanics or Hispanic-related topics. In essence, channels such as ABC, CBS, and NBC appearing on prime time television advocates less about Hispanics or Hispanic related races. The text highlights the significant role prime time movies have played in addressing topics about selected few races while overlooking at Hispanics (Renzetti & Curran 153). I will count instances in the first three episodes where the show The Good Wife gives very little or no attention to Hispanics or Hispanic related groups. The duty would be to count the number of Hispanics who featured in the first three episodes of season 1. The text reveals how only 8 percent of Hispanic American, 1 percent Asian American, and 1 percent Native American feature among the list of prime television news directors. The rest are either white or affiliated to the race.
Data Presentation
The test reveals that women constitute 39 percent of all major characters on prime time television (RC 152).
According to my observations, ethnicity features prominently in the season 1 of the show. Since The Good Wife is a legal drama, the legal institutions and law enforcement agencies are biased towards ensuring justice is done to particular ethnic groups. The minority groups hardly get access to justice as they are underrepresented and discriminated by authorities as well as the majority groups. Apparently, there is a slight difference between the ratio of males and female characters in the drama depending on their ethnic orientation. In general, out of the 23 main and recurring characters, eleven are females while the rest are males. The role of the men in the drama The Good Wife is 52.2% while that of the women is 4.8%. However, majority of these male and female characters belong to major ethnicities (Renzetti and Curran 153).
According to the text, women have fewer roles on television. In addition, the characters that women play on Prime-time television are younger and less mature
My observation contradicts the argument of the text as far as role of women on television is concerned. Juliana Margulies (female) takes a lead role in the movie. She is a professional with vast knowledge on legal matters. She has represented a number of her clients in lawsuits and in several occasions won. Thus, the show denigrates such claims as highlighted in the text by Renzetti and Curran.
The text attests to change in portrayal of women in the history of Prime time television shows. Women no longer confine themselves to homes but also participate in activities outside the home. Apparently, roles of women have changed over the years with many women taking active roles in politics, career development, economic activities, and social welfare of the family and people living in the neighborhoods. Alicia Florick took an active role in legal matters as a litigator upon completing her law studies. Contrary to traditional woman who was just a housewife, modern women like men are engaged in various activities aimed at earning a living and leading an independent lifestyle. Even after the arrest and imprisonment of the husband, Alicia could still manage to nurture her two children.
According to the text, prime time shows advocate for women rights and gender equality in the society
Different societies have embraced the need to promote equality of gender without any form of discrimination towards a particular sex. For the longest time in history, rights of women faced gross violation and abuse at family level, at institutional level, and by those in position of leadership at the state level. Stereotypes held against women by societies have become extinct as more women take up active roles in politics, social and economic affairs of the country. Diane Lockhart, Alicia Florick, Kalinda Sharma, and Grace Florrick are main characters in the legal drama who have taken the contemporary society by a storm following their active participation in diverse fields, which were previously a preserve for me. Alicia manages to nurture her two kids in the absence of the husband who is serving a jail term due to political corruption.
Conclusion
A review of my data from The Good Wife shows that three out of the four book findings helt true for the show while one (2nd finding) did not. Up to date, more males appear in prime time television shows compared to females. Women have taken active roles as providers for their families. Today, women do jobs that were initially a preserve for men. Television must play a part in facilitating gender equality among societies. Gender stereotypes are an impediment to development and social integration (Renzetti & Curran 153).
Television plays a leading role in teaching cultures of different ethnic groups, states and the country in general. With the culture at the centre of focus, television has the capacity to teach Americans the acceptable and unacceptable gender roles. Upon watching television, most people quickly learn how each gender should act alongside the nature of their lifestyle. Although most of the gender socialization found on television is negative, some of the messages television sends to viewers are simply amazing and heartening (Renzetti & Curran 153).
Work Cited
Renzetti Claire & Curran Daniel. Women, Men and Society. Pg. 151-154