Television: Woman's Image

The Third Wave of Feminism

The month of March is the time to celebrate and appreciate the mothers, sisters, and daughters of America. Back in the old days in traditional America, women used to stay home to cook, clean, and take care of the kids; men where the bread winners. As time moved forward women continued their journey up through the social chain. The 1960's marked the beginning of a movement of women's rights and feminism. From that point on women have become more powerful and influential in society. Women have become more than housekeepers and maids, today women have integrated their way into and beyond all professions across the nation.

The link below provides a date by date timeline of women's rights movement in the United States:
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline2.html






As far as television and movies, women have become very important and successful throughout the industry. Some have changed the direction of television, others have also had a temendous influence on women's success throughout the media world. A prime example of this is represented by the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy marked the third wave of feminism in women's history.






The link below provides an article on the three waves of femanism:
http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/6236_Chapter_1_Krolokke_2nd_Rev_Final_Pdf.pdf

In the Journal of Popular Culture Francis H Early said, "... Buffy as an open-image hero and Buffy (the program) as unfolding dramatic narrative, expose stereotypes and coded symbols that shore up a rigid war-influenced gender system in an attempt to chart new meanings for womanliness and manliness." Meaning that Buffy's strong female character changed the world of women's roles in media, and greatly influenced societies views of women.

See for yourself...


http://daringivens.home.mindspring.com/btps.html

The First Buffy movie premiered in 1992 and the show launched in the fall of 1997. Since Buffy the Vampire Slayer the view of women's role in society, as well as the stereotypical images of women are forever changed.