Female Cops Are Newest TV Trend

[tiger_lilly]

This is kinda interesting. From tv.com:


Monday, 12-Jun-2006 11:01PM

LOS ANGELES, June 12 (UPI) -- With the season premiere of the Los Angeles crime drama "The Closer" Monday, the newest trend in TV takes center stage: female police officers.


Whether it is Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson in "The Closer" or detective Lilly Rush on "Cold Case", female cops are finding their way into prime time TV and are being well received by viewers.

The New York Post reports that "Cold Case" ranked No. 20 in TV shows last year with 14.5 million viewers, higher than male-dominated shows such as "24" and "Law & Order: SVU."

Meanwhile, "The Closer" ranked as the No. 1 drama on cable last summer, it was reported.

With such progressive and successful changes in an age-old TV serial, many true life female officers have begun to openly praise such pioneering shows.

Former New York Police Department Deputy Inspector Susan Morley pointed out how true policewomen may not look as perfect as their acting counterparts on TV, but added that such characters are bringing to light the ability of women to succeed in such a profession.

"Day in and day out, police women are going in and doing a very difficult job in a male-dominated world and have to fit in and deal with difficult cases", Morley told the Post.



Edit: forgot to post the link...here it is:
[ftp]http://www.tv.com/tracking/viewer.html?tid=93710&ref_id=16989&ref_type=101&tag=headlines;title;0[/ftp]

[CC Fan]

hmmm... that's an interesting article. Although I would point out that on shows such as Law & Order SVU and CI, one of the 2 main detectives is female, and in both cases, are often respresented as the most level headed. Especially SVU, where I believe Mariska Hargitay is the more prominent, main detective. However, there are many other shows that feature mostly men (both L&O shows) as supporting characters.

[sonny]

Great article tiger_lilly! Thanks. Always good to know Cold case is doing well. ;D ;D

[myril]

admin said:

hmmm... that's an interesting article. Although I would point out that on shows such as Law & Order SVU and CI, one of the 2 main detectives is female, and in both cases, are often respresented as the most level headed. Especially SVU, where I believe Mariska Hargitay is the more prominent, main detective. However, there are many other shows that feature mostly men (both L&O shows) as supporting characters.

Good that you point that out, CC Fan, wouldn't call SVU a male dominated show. And it's not like there hadn't been any female leads in crimes shows before, but maybe it's becoming a little more popular.

Though there is some criticism about how female cops are portraited, creating a new sort of stereotype. Here for example, mentioning Cold Case. Don't fully agree, but it's an interesting point of view.

[tiger_lilly]

myril said:

admin said:

hmmm... that's an interesting article. Although I would point out that on shows such as Law & Order SVU and CI, one of the 2 main detectives is female, and in both cases, are often respresented as the most level headed. Especially SVU, where I believe Mariska Hargitay is the more prominent, main detective. However, there are many other shows that feature mostly men (both L&O shows) as supporting characters.

Good that you point that out, CC Fan, wouldn't call SVU a male dominated show. And it's not like there hadn't been any female leads in crimes shows before, but maybe it's becoming a little more popular.

Though there is some criticism about how female cops are portraited, creating a new sort of stereotype. Here for example, mentioning Cold Case. Don't fully agree, but it's an interesting point of view.

Thanks for showing us the article myril!

I can't believe it was written by a woman. She's basically saying that women are what they wear. She must be pretty dense if she can't remember who Lilly is because of her pantsuit. And that "With the emphasis on uniformity, the pantsuit becomes attribute... " "...It robs these women of the chance to express personality, femininity, individuality." "...it is robbing the women of their sexuality."

Total bull if you ask me!

[frenchfan]

Thanks for showing us these articles myril and tiger_lilly.

scully said:

I can't believe it was written by a woman. She's basically saying that women are what they wear. She must be pretty dense if she can't remember who Lilly is because of her pantsuit. And that "With the emphasis on uniformity, the pantsuit becomes attribute... " "...It robs these women of the chance to express personality, femininity, individuality." "...it is robbing the women of their sexuality."
Total bull if you ask me!

I agree with you tiger about Andreanna Ditton. How a woman can write an article with so many connotations sexist. (even if a part of this article is interesting).

Old and recurring debate. Already in the 80s with Cagney and Lacey the debate was opened and the question also was to know how the women had to be on the TV (in their behavior and their clothing dress).

HERE and THERE

[tiger_lilly]

I agree with you tiger about Andreanna Ditton. How a woman can write an article with so many connotations sexist. (even if a part of this article is interesting).

You're right it is interesting, but it really ticked me off

Old and recurring debate. Already in the 80s with Cagney and Lacey the debate was opened and the question also was to know how the women had to be on the TV (in their behavior and their clothing dress).

HERE and THERE

Thanks for the links to those articles too! I can see why questions were raised back then, but today? Pretty amazing...

[frenchfan]

scully said:

You're right it is interesting, but it really ticked me off

Me too, me too, I am also very angry

scully said:

I can see why questions were raised back then, but today? Pretty amazing...

I widen a little the subject but it seems to me to be significant and to prolong the comments sexist of Andreanna.

In France we have it daily examples (Especially in politics).

Just two example. A woman, a wife, besides a mother, dares to aspire to the investiture of her political party with the aim of presidential elections.

The old male chauvinist reflexes make good progress and the sexist stereotypes feed the worst male reactions. She benefits from a pleasant physical appearance? " It is not a beauty contest! " Says one of her "companions", returning her quite whole in a pointless appearance. She is a housewife? : " who will keep the children? " Question the other one.


In an article we could read. " Yesterday, it was the meeting, to J-7 of the second tour of the Chilean presidential elections, between Ségolène Royal, dress white suit with beige border, and Michelle Bachelet, trousers navy blue suit on white blouse. Two women, two girls of serviceman, two political personalities who were made by the polls, two socialists. And the same objective which makes them collusive: the presidency of the Republic.
The woman is described at first with regard to her physical appearance, it is a reality.
I imagine the same article if it was about a meeting between two men : Very different doubtless.

And I could multiplied the examples.

The old stereotypes and sexist reflexes have the hard life.

[Disasterfreak]

I know, Frenchfan! It's maddening. I personally think the world would be a much better place if everyone could remember people are just PEOPLE, first and foremost, with the same rights and duties as everyone else--without immediately separating them into WOMEN, MEN, JEWS, ASIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS... geez.

[tiger_lilly]

Good examples frenchfan. It happens here in Denmark as well, one of our top politicians has been widely critizised for carrying a Gucci (or Prada...who cares : bag to work. And some have doubted that she could still be a good mom and a good politician.

disasterfreak said:

I know, Frenchfan! It's maddening. I personally think the world would be a much better place if everyone could remember people are just PEOPLE, first and foremost, with the same rights and duties as everyone else--without immediately separating them into WOMEN, MEN, JEWS, ASIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS... geez.

I agree Disasterfreak, unfortunately it is hard to change the way most people think in stereotypes.

[myril]

Yeah, this article sounds pretty dull. Scary that it's nothing really new. And something very real. Nothing only female characters on TV and actresses encounter, is it? Especially in work situation: If a woman decides to wear something practical (well, still think pants are more practical for a cop than a tight skirt) she is hidding or even surpressing her femine side. But if she shows her femine side and wears skirt, it's not practical and eventually sexily. If a woman is making career, she's mostly asked, how it works with a family. If she has no kids and makes career, she misses something, and if she gives up her career for family, she's stupid. Whatever women do, it's somewhat wrong. And if men do the same, it's mostly something different.

How many men are asked in a talk show about their family plans? And how many women?

Unfortunately Andreanna Dittion seems contradictory to herself in a way, making the pantsuits a key argument though it's mainly about uniformity of characters. clothes are just one side of it. And in this point I agree with her, new steroetypes are created. But not only women's stereotypes. Trying to ride the crest of a wave, many produce cop shows that might differ in tiny details but have similiar set-ups - no wonder you can have the impression of uniformity, takes sometimes a while to notice slight differences. The Closer is a refreshing change IMO, but have seen only a few eps so far.

Well, I sure like to see more female leads in TV shows. Women cops in reality might be different, but still it's supporting their efforts, I think, that female cops in TV are quite popular, as the article on tv.com pointed out (thanks for the find btw, tiger_lilly). But wouldn't mind if the characters would be more colourful and perhaps contradictory. Lilly Rush has some edges and flaws for example and that's good (could be perhaps even more for my taste). And I like the subtlety of gender conflict in this show, it's not a big deal but it's there, like in real life.

But it's always a problem for a tv show not to fall for fashion and so only help to create stereotypes.

[boxman]

Uhh, wouldn't pantsuits likely be required attire for women in uniform?? I hardly see any chance the Philly PD would allow their women cops, detectives, or even secretaries to wear skirts.

[tiger_lilly]

myril said:

Especially in work situation: If a woman decides to wear something practical (well, still think pants are more practical for a cop than a tight skirt) she is hidding or even surpressing her femine side. But if she shows her femine side and wears skirt, it's not practical and eventually sexily. If a woman is making career, she's mostly asked, how it works with a family. If she has no kids and makes career, she misses something, and if she gives up her career for family, she's stupid. Whatever women do, it's somewhat wrong. And if men do the same, it's mostly something different.

So true myril, sadly. But I will use it as an argument if anyone ever questions my decisions.