How Is Gender Represented In The Media

Explore how gender is represented in an episode of Scott & Bailey (season 1, episode 3)
To explore the representation of gender in the media, I began by investigating how women are and were represented by the media. I found that representation of women has changed over time, with the roles and representation of female characters becoming more prominent and important, which reflects the changing role of women in society. In the past, women were severely underrepresented in media compared to men, and when shown tended to conform to the stereotypes of being weak, dependent on men, naturally maternal and unintelligent. In today’s media, women are still underrepresented but less so than in the past, and often defy the stereotypes that were key in
This is shown in some programmes of the crime drama genre that I watched as part of my research. In episode 1, season 1 of The Killing, Sarah Linden is a main character who is in a position of authority. She doesn’t conform to the stereotype of an emotional female by being composed and observant, as well as independent which defies the ‘weak and dependent’ stereotype. She is shown to have a difficult relationship with her son, which opposes the ‘naturally maternal’ stereotype of women.
Alice Morgan in crime drama Luther defies stereotype by being a female villain character. Women are not usually presented as the villain due to the stereotypes of being emotional, dependent and unintelligent, which are undesirable characteristics of a villain character. However, Alice Morgan is shown to be detached and cold and has features typical of a male psychopath villain, which contrasts the emotional stereotype. She is shown to be very intelligent with a ‘PhD in astrophysics at 18’ which doesn’t conform to the stereotype of unintelligence. She also works alone, which goes against the dependence