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

McKelvey2

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!

McKelvey3

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

McKelvey4

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

McKelvey5

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

McKelvey6

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.

McKelvey7

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,

McKelvey8

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.