Representation of Gender in the Past

• According to Gunter (19995) and Elasmer (1999), the wmoen and mens speaking roles in television are a major difference. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s only 20 to 35% of charcters were women.

• Miles (1970s) discovered that there was an equal portion of wmoen and men in comedies, but the gender roles were still to be sexist. In action films only 15% were leading women roles.

• Gunter found that in the 1970s, shows that marriage, parenthood and domesticity were shown to be more important to women than men on television.

• A study by Mc Neil concluded that the womens movement had been largely ignored by television, with married housewifes as the main female role. Also he had found that men were to be found to be dominant charcters and decision makers on TV in the 1970s.

• Men were more likely to be more adventurous, active and victorious, whereas women were more frequently seen as weak, ineffectual, victimised, supportive laughable or 'merely token females (Gunter, 1995)

• Tuchman - Women are 'Symbolically Annihliated', women don't matter much. Also were to be seen as working were portrayed as 'incompetents and Inferiors'.

• Dyer (1980s) In drama the numebr of women in central roles in police or crime series had increased.