Summary of the representation of gender in the past!

Gunter and Elasmer et al both talk about the prevelance of women and men in significant speaking roles in tv shows. In the 1950s, 60s and 70s only 20 to 53 per cent of characters were females wich highlights the segregation in the media and how patriarchal society use to be. However, by the 1080s, much more women were in tv but the majority were still men which underlines the glass ceiling wich indicates the fact that no matter how much women achieve, they will never be equal to men even if they can see what they can achieve.

Miles found that even though in the 1970s men and womens roles were nearly the equal in comedies, the potrayal of the women were very traditionaly sexist. Nonetheless in 1987, women were found to be the most common sex in comedies however men took over dramas as the statistics show women being outnumbered two to one. Gunter emphasises that in the 1970s shows about parenthood, marriage and domesticity are more important to women more than men.

Women and mens roles in movies were very similar to the roles they had in tv shows where men make most of the descisions, this is shown in the 1950s in the 'high noon' where men were asertive, confident and dominant. Women were most likely to be shown as frightened in films and the male charachters are the ones protecting them, offering love and support.