WELCOME TO UNIT 8 SEMINAR!SS360: American Women

American Women

American Women What was the relationship between

television and consumerism in the 1950s and 60s? TV was a real “novelty” until after WWII –

how did this change and shape society? What do you suppose drove such

conspicuous consumption in the 1950s – and into the 1960s?

American Women How accurate are

television portrayals of women in the 1940s-1960s? Think: Lucy Ball,

Elizabeth Taylor, etc.

Rise of “Daytime TV”

American Women

~ Did TV bring families together?

~ What kinds of families were portrayed?

How accurate are television portrayals of women that you can think of from the past or today?

Are women of different races and classes represented?

How are they portrayed?

American Women Do you think television is still an

important reflection of societal ideas about gender roles? Consider this:

In 1964 the author of the Feminine Mystique wrote a 2 part article in TV Guide critiquing the portrayal of women on TV as “stupid, unattractive, insecure little household drudge who spends her martyred, mindless, boring days dreaming of love--and plotting nasty revenge against her husband.” (Alley & Brown, 2001.)

American Women Why? – are women really portrayed that

differently? (Think : about Betty Friedman’s quote. Does this characterize many women characters on TV today?)

American Women Google “Women

in TV” – see what images you get. 90% of them look like these women here. While 90% of society does NOT look like this.

American WomenReferences:Alley, R., & Brown, I.(2001). Women Television

Producers: transformation of the male medium. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.