Representation of femininity in TV programs

Chelsie Hextall

NCIS: LA

• TV Program• American channel CBS• Premiered September 22

2009• 9pm - after watershed

programme • Genre – combining elements

of the military drama and police procedural genres

Text 1 – NCIS: LA• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ho

qgtKtw4&feature=BFa&list=SL&index=17 – Hettie

• Suit – shows authority and looks smart working in an office type environment.

• Hair short out off the way, nothing to bother with, unconventional of femininity

• Glasses out off date doesn't mind not into fashion, again unconventional as females are conventionally meant to look good and fashionable.

• Shorter and people look down to her and she has high angle camera angle conventionally shows, and represents that, she doesn't have much status however they have the highest respect for her and her knowledge.

NCIS: LA - Hettie• Buttons are completely buttoned up

shows that she respects her self but also with her age its conventional.

• Whilst she speaks to Callen she confronting him which means she’s obviously higher status this also with her commandments “I’ve already sent the rest of the team upstairs” representing that females have power in the office.

• For her to be working as high ranking as she is her appearance and age is very unconventional as she is represented to be quite fragile and that’s unconventional to be running a crime unit. Shows females are represented to be good at their jobs for them to keep them on that long.

The Mentalist

• TV Programme debuted on September 23, 2008,

• Aired on American channel CBS

• Shown at 10pm

Text 2 – Mentalist – Teresa Lisbon

• Mid-length hair more conventional for females

• Has natural make up on shows that she has time for her self and cares about how she looks.

• In a suit – Authority/ business – shows she's here to do a job not to just drink coffee and let the males take charge.

• How she gives out information/orders shows that she's in charge and for her to be in charge she must be respected.

• Wearing all black, connotes serious and that she should be taken seriously although she's doing a job which is conventionally for males working out on the field and being at such a high ranking rather then being in white for innocent and more girly.

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhSaNcG5ms&NR=1

The Mentalist – Teresa Lisbon

• Teresa Lisbon speaks to the suspects/people first shows that she's the one in charge and there to take control.

• Some stereotypes are shown through Lisbon she’s caring and tries not to offend people.

• She’s represented as a stereotypical female doing a unconventional job.

• Also represented that females don’t judge a book by its cover rather than males, Patrick Jane, who analyses a person and represents men as being judgmental.

Comparing the two texts

• Overall with both females being in charge this is unconventional as normally males like to be “the boss” as women are stereotypically seen as much more weaker.

• Although both females are dress sense are similar, both being in suits, their appearance is very different with height, hair, makeup.

• Similarities though are that they both wear delicate necklaces being so delicate reminds the audience that the stereotypes off being more emotional, weaker and more fragile then men still apply.