Feminism on Television

During the semester we’ve talked about feminism and its presence in movies. I think feminism is fascinating to explore especially in terms of the feminist movement of the 1970s and 1980s. We talked about feminism largely in terms of film, but I would like to take a deeper in-depth look at feminist themes found in television. I will be using themes of feminism found in “America on Film” as a framework for my discussion, and illustrate how the themes aren’t limited to film, but can also be applied to television.

Many shows in the 1970s were to a large degree classified by theme. I feel that the largest start of women’s television was with Maude, starring one of my favorite actresses, Bea Arthur. According to imdb.com, Maude debuted in September of 1972, and was a spin off of “All in the Family”. The show revolves around Maude Findlay and her outspokenness. She is always at odds with her husband, Walter who is politically conservative.

The show even starts with a showcase of great women and their impact on the world. Here is the opening theme:

This ideal is hyperbolized by "Family Guy" as they take the theme song and extend it to include other famous women.

I find this to be somewhat of a masculinist rebuttal to Maude, and the show's popularity. More than the in the opening theme of the show, the actual content and some of the episodes were highly controversial and arguably very pro-feminist.

A key episode in the show was where Maude is considering getting an abortion.
Through this little clip we can see strong feminist values. In statements like "we are free" we can see ideals presented. The episode also speaks to women’s liberation, and some of the issues feminists were facing. Maude was supportive of abortion, but it’s different because she wasn’t pregnant at the time.

We can also see some of the advent of the sensitive man when we examine the following clip. The sensitive man is in touch with his feelings (Benshoff & Griffin, 2009). Walter has just lost his wife, and is highly emotional. Often times according to Benshoff & Griffin (2009) this emotional man is highlighted or explored by the “demonizing the new woman” (p. 283). In this clip we can see a demonization of Maude, and Vivian by their lack of respect for the dead, and accomplishing their end goal regardless of morals.


Feminist themes continued when Maude gets promoted. She becomes the manager of the office, and we can see feminist issues present here. The episode speaks to women’s pay, and how much more women make than men. Maude expressed anxiety over being “Just a woman in a man’s world”. Clearly, this illustrates the divide of womeon in the home, and women in the working world. Also, Arthur doesn’t understand why Maude is so nervous about the job because she has a husband. This statement reiterates the white patriarchal ideology that feminists were worried about.


Lastly, while I was watching these clips, and brushing up on my Maude, I found it interesting that these actors have worked so much together in the past, and in similar feminist veins.


Bea Arthur, Rue McLanahan, and Betty White were all feminist pioneers in one way or another. They have all worked together on sitcoms. Most famously in “The Golden Girls” but also in “Maude” and “Mama’s Family”. These shows and the fantastic ladies made great strides in the feminist movement.


All of these shows present feminist values in a way to make them somewhat more digestible for general audiences. I’d like to examine a few clips from “The Golden Girls” in closing.


Clearly from this clip we can see several stories of femininity being told. First, we can see the theme of women helping each other and causing each other to aspire to new levels though the story that Dorothy tells about her teacher helping her, and inspiring her to become a teacher.


We also can see the prevalence of women in the workforce, and the breaking of the glass ceiling by Blanche perusing her degree for a promotion at work.


Lastly, we can see the issue of sexual harassment as something that women are still fighting. In the end of the episode Blanche focuses her energies and gets an A on her exam. Clearly, the theme that women will prevail is prevalent. It also speaks to the fact that the woman who got cosmetic surgery ultimately gets promoted over Blanche. The statement Blanche makes about looks fading, but she will always have her education reinforces positive feminist values sought by young women in the 1980s.