2. The pre-feminist era.
• ‘Mad Men’.
• Watch this clip and think about women’s role in
society.
• Note down 3 responses you have to the clip.
3. Gender and the effects of
post- feminism.
Aims
To discuss the significance of feminism and
post-feminism in the media and to apply post-
feminist thought to TV drama.
4. Feminism – a reminder
• The feminist movement of the late 1960’s
liberated many women away from being
housewives and mothers.
• Women began to gain places at university and
therefore aspire to once male dominated
professions.
5. Is HERMIONE a post-feminist icon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWGYKrh2YEo&safe=active
6. Post Feminism – what is it?
• Read the sheet on post-feminism with the person next
you and we’ll feedback
• Watch this video: What makes it post-feminist?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ&ob=av2e
7. Post-feminism in Television
• Into the 90s shows like ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Sex in
the City’ represented women as being responsible for their own destiny
and being able to do many of the traditional things that men did.
• However these women are a ‘construct’. What does that mean?
8. Applying the theory to TV Drama
• Task: In your groups think of a female
TV character that you think has all the
attributes of a post-feminism.
• Now find a clip of her on Youtube that
illustrates these post-feminist attributes
and how they are constructed by the
makers of the show.
• Make notes on the sheet to prepare for a presentation.
11. Starter: The consequences for Men?
• In pairs discuss.
• What have been the consequences for men as
result of post feminism? How have men had to
change?
• Men taking greater care in their appearance.
• More domesticated.
• Sharing of power.
• No longer gender based jobs.
• Men can express their feelings openly.
12. Modern Post Feminist Woman-
recap
• Task: in pairs discuss and define what you think are the
attributes of modern post feminist woman. Make notes on
the sheet.
• Some points:
• Be feminine and attractive to the opposite sex.
• Do anything a man can.
• Be educated.
• Go to uni and have a career.
• Have a family (but on her terms when she is ready!)
13. Analysis of Women in TV Drama
• Main task:
• Watch the scene from ‘Mistresses’ and analyse the gender
representation of the men and women.
• Consider the following:
• What behaviour / representations could be said to be stereotypical ?
• What representations fit in with a post feminist viewpoint?
• Answer the following question from your notes:
• To what extent do the characters in the scene subvert or
conform to post-feminist representations of men and
women?
14. Post-feminist icons
Who do you consider as contemporary
post-feminist icons and why?
Madonna- Wife, mother, singer,
actress, writer and self made
business woman.
Madonna has always done it on
her own terms and without the
support of a man!
Task: on the sheet list any other media
personalities you feel are post -feminist
15. Post-feminism in Music
• In music, Madonna, The Spice Girls, Destiny’s
Child and Missy Elliot became popular, preaching
ideas of ‘girl power’.
16. Post Feminism –a
conclusion
• Post-Feminism has had a huge impact on gender
politics in the last 30 years.
• Men, in turn have had to change as women’s role
in society has changed (the new man). The
Patriarchal system has broken down.
• The media has constantly reflected the changing
place of women in society.
• Remember the ‘fluidity of representation’.
17. The changing face of man
• Are men still the same as the traditional
stereotypes?
• Men’s place in society and their roles
changed following post feminism.
18. Analysis of Men in TV Drama
• Main task: Watch the clip from Hollyoaks
and analyse the gender representation of
the men. What behaviour could be said to
represent a traditional stereotypical role?
What behaviour / which men could be said
to be new man or metrosexual
representations?
