How the stereotype of women and teenage girls have be altered to suit modren television shows

The stereotype of women can be either of the two things, sexualised to get the male audience or domesticated. But with modern television shows this stereotype of women has been challenged. For example in the American Television show 'Once upon a time' all the women are based on fairy-tale characters (mainly taken from Disney) but this shows changes the damsel in distress to a warrior using any weapon they have at their disposal. For snow white she is strong and is street wise, she knows exactly what will help her and how to get out of trouble, she is not one to relay on the Prince for help. The Evil Queen uses magic to strict fear in her people and later uses it to help the people she loves. Even someone like Belle uses her brain as a weapon. These women are strong and independent, a role model for the shows audience members.

Another show that challenges elements of stereotypes is the American television show 'Pretty Little Liars' The four main girls in the show are a lot like the stereotypical teenage girl but they will do anything to protect each other and the people they care about. This is proven in the latest series were Alison is being attacked by A and Emily steps in to help. They are battling a lot of this by themselves.

Another show that is a big hit in America is 'The walking Dead' for the narrative and some of the characters such as Daryl, Rick and Michonne. But in the shows there are some strong female figures that challenge the stereotypes mainly because the narrative permits them to. These woman are Lori Grimes who after giving birth tells her son to shot her so she wont become a walker, Carol who started out as a weak, abused housewife but as the narrative progresses she becomes a ruthless killing machine and doesn't shy away from killing anyone including friends and children, she even teaches the children how to kill the walkers. Carol's character has come so far that some of the audience members might even hate her because of her ruthlessness. Another point is that Carol become so difficult to control within the group that Rick had to tell her to leave in order to protect the others in the group. The last of the strong women is Michonne who started out on her own and had to learn to survive when you first meet her she has walkers on a lead and she is handy with a samurai. Michonne's first appearance is something out of a Japanese animation show.

It is clear to say that the stereotypes of girls and women have been mapped out for an audience from when we were very little. Little girls are seen as fragile and weak creatures that wear pink dresses and play with dolls. This stereotype is carried out into womanhood, women are seen as weak people who cant do normal things that men can, it is seen as men's work and women's work is cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. It is easy to fall into these stereotypes because they have been fed to us through different forms of media, children's shows to advertisement. But the shows I have picked completely adapt the stereotype to fit the narrative. You could say that they have taken the comfortable stereotype of challenge to make the narrative.

http://k1047.cbslocal.com/2014/03/12/top-10-stereotypes-about-women/



http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/sex-and-gender/gender-stereotypes

This article explains the stereotypes of women. It states the main stereotype is a domestic one who puts the welfare of others before her own.

just looking at youtube you can fine loads of videos talking and arguing about stereotypes.