Prime-Time TV Sweeps: As Demeaning Images of Women Rise, So Do Ratings

[Hissyspit]

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/51314

Prime-Time TV Sweeps: As Demeaning Images of Women Rise, So Do Ratings

By Sandra Kobrin, Women's eNews. Posted May 2, 2007.

As TV networks head into their big sweeps and hotly compete for ratings and advertisers, Sandra Kobrin gapes at the demeaning and downright scary portrayal of women in our most powerful communication medium.

Last week began sweeps month, when networks put on their season finales, bring in special guests and do everything they can do to get more viewers and higher ratings so they can charge more to advertisers.

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But what's worse than the quantity is the quality of women on TV.

Bimbo, Bitch or Ball Buster

For a long time TV has cast women in one of three basic roles: bimbo, bitch or ball buster.

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Just look at NBC's newest hit, "Deal or No Deal," which will air its 100th show during sweeps. There are 25 women on the show, but they're more like wallpaper. They stand posed in the background waiting submissively for host Howie Mandel to point at them so they can open a case, smile or frown. They are identically dressed in short tight cocktail dresses. They march down the steps in unison, stand identically and smile the same plastic smile. Silent. While their names and ethnicities vary, they are undistinguishable in their commodity-like appeal.

But what really scares me is the way women are portrayed in reality TV: in the big-budget and intensely popular shows such as "Trading Spouses," "The Bachelor," "America's Next Top Model" and "Pussycat Dolls: The Search for the Next Doll."

We have hit a new low, with what Jennifer Pozner, director of Women in Media and News, describes as "the cultural arm of the backlash against women." Of course reality TV doesn't actually have much to do with reality. Writers and producers typically have a "show arc" already written and wait for a "moment" to film what they already expect or want to happen.

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[Sherman A1]

1. As a Dad of a smart and talented adult daughter

the Uncle of two absolutely "Perfect" teenage Nieces, this really does bother me. I know Sex sells and there is the off button (which I use frequently), but there is no real need for somethings to be the way they are.

Just my 2 cents.


:toast:

[bemildred]

2. It is part and parcel of the general stupidity of TV "entertainment".

I agree with what is said here, but it is not true that if you merely removed the T&A and demeaning portrayal of women from the media, the result would not still be crap.

[juno jones]

3. They may be up in ratings

But on the whole, I suspect TV viewership has declined.

[DavidDvorkin]

4. The horribly demeaning portrayals of men in commercials anger me a lot more

Those are there all season, not just during sweeps. They are ubiquitous and socially dangerous.