So, upon reflection, I felt I had let certain women in the industry down by focusing on sexism in just one genre of TV. So the premise for this article was born.
Now, one difficult thing I had to do when writing this article is almost forget how much progress has been made, to remember what still needs to change. Sarah Lancashire in ‘Happy Valley’, Brenda Blethyn in ‘Vera’, Suranne Jones in ‘Doctor Foster’ and ‘Gentleman Jack’, Jenna Coleman in ‘The Jetty’ and Jodie Comer in ‘Killing Eve’ are all examples of leading ladies quite rightly stealing the show.
One difficult thing I had to do when writing this article is almost forget how much progress has been made.
However, as I have already said it has not always been this simple and continues to not be this simple for many women in the industry today. With many leading roles for ladies still being driven by violence and centred around one thing- sex. Oh and of course men.
At some universities students studying feminist theories are asked to find a TV Drama Scene, which involves three women talking for fifteen minutes, where there is no mention of a man, a man involved or a man who enters the scene in any form. Now for research purposes I did try this and I have to tell you it is not easy to do.
Not shocking though when we consider the fact that a recent survey found that five sexist incidents per hour are broadcast during prime-time telly hours, with most of it directed at women. Again although depressing in today’s apparent progressive, post Me-Too climate, not exactly surprising.
A recent survey found that five sexist incidents per hour are broadcast during prime-time telly hours, with most of it directed at women.
A Channel 4 study also found that Women are less likely to appear on TV with them being outnumbered by two-to-one. Thus, meaning that the roles they get should be more dimensional, more dense and complex. However, many of the roles for women are still beauty and sex-centric, even when billed as ‘female-lead shows’.
Take Anna Friel in Marcella and Michelle Keegan in Harlan Coben’s ‘Fool Me Once’. These are both women who in their respective roles are still driven by sex, presented slightly one-dimensional and the stories that they are central to, take place because of men. For instance, Maya in ‘Fool Me Once’, who’s favourite line was ‘I’m grieving’ (still remember that a year on), had a little substance to her apart from the fact her husband had been murdered- do women have no purpose in drama if not for a man and his mistakes?
This article is not about overt sexism, it is about the subtle sexism that is ingrained in the TV drama world. This type of sexism is a product of the mentality that women are merely necessary pawns to drive an androcentric TV narrative. A flashback to the times where women were just supporting cast members, ‘padder outers’ if you like- times that we have not quite managed to escape from just yet.
This type of sexism is a product of the mentality that women are merely necessary pawns to drive an androcentric TV narrative.
Older women are particularly affected, with them being shoe-horned into the domestic abyss with them never coming close to escaping the clutches of a laundrette, a two-timing husband or one-dimensional dialogue. The directors and producers are of course to blame for this, with them perhaps at times not knowing what to do with female characters or the older woman.
However, there are exceptions, as I have already mentioned Sarah Lancashire in ‘Happy Valley’ and Brenda Blethyn in ‘Vera’ are perfect examples of older women being written by older women and taking centre stage. Also, soap opera’s, no matter the slandering they often receive, are one of the only platforms where women of all ages are given gritty, detailed storylines to indulge themselves in for our viewing pleasure.
Take the recent ‘The Six’ storyline in ‘EastEnders’, six women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds given a central storyline, pivotal to the show over the past almost two years. However, surprise, surprise it still took a man to save the day and all centred around, yep you guessed it again men.
So, when closing this article, I would like to reflect on the purpose of this article and its intention. It is not to forget and undo all the progress that has been made in recent years but instead to remind us that it is not just the comedy world where women are subjected to sexism and used as the punchline, it’s across all TV in both the serious and the sitcom world.
