Television series and feminist theory

Kako u prošlosti žene nisu imale nikakva prava dok su muškarci imali sve, dolazi do nastanka ženskog pokreta koji se bori za prava žena – feminizma. Feministice su se u početku borile za pravo glasa, a kasnije i za prava na bolje radne uvijete, prava homoseksualaca, pravo na pobačaj i slično. Razvojem medija počinju se širiti određene slike žena, njezinih uloga u društvu. Stereotipno prikazivanje žena u medijima dovodi do feminističke kritike medija. Ovdje se feministice bore za realniju sliku žene, te bolji položaj žena u medijima općenito primjerice u novinarstvu. Kao jedan od snažnih medija u širenju slike o ženama postaje televizija i televizijske serije. U početku nastanka televizijskih serija prave se serije koje su isključivo namijenjene ženama – sapunice. Mnogi ih karakteriziraju kao isključivo „ženski žanr“ zbog same radnje serije koja je puna spletki i zgodnih muških likova. Sapunice su se emitirale u vremenu kada bi muževi bili na poslu pa bi žene, dok spremaju kuću i kuhaju ručak mogle pratiti ovakve serije. Prikaz ženskih likova se kroz godine mijenjao, ali je ipak djelomično ostao isti. Sve serije povezuje jedan opis ženskog lika, a to je prikaz žene kao majke. Tema majčinstva, kao biološki jedine i glavne uloge žene, se proteže i kroz serije kao što su „Zovite babicu“ i „Sluškinjina priča“. Obje serije obrađuju i široki spektar društvenih problema uključujući i feminizam, primjerice problem pobačaja, kontracepcije, odnosa prema Afroamerikancima i homoseksualcima, problem prostitucije i silovanja, te nepovoljan položaj žene u društvu. Serije danas osim što šire različite slike koje mogu utjecati na oblikovanje nečijeg mišljenja, mogu biti i kritike današnjeg društva.In the past women did not have any rights while men had everything, a women's movement that fought for women's rights - feminism emerged. Feminists initially fought for the right to vote, and later for the rights for better working conditions, homosexual rights, abortion rights etc. With Media development it started spreading a certain women images, her roles in society. Stereotypical representation of women in the media led to feminist criticism of the media. Feminists are struggling for a more realistic picture of women and a better position in the media in general, for example, in journalism. Television and television series became one of the powerful media in spreading certain images of women. At the beginning of the television series, series were produced exclusively for women – soap opera. Many characterized them as exclusively "female genres" due to the series of actions that are full of mischief and handsome male characters. Soap operas were broadcasted in the times when the husbands were at work and women would be able to watch them while they were cleaning house and cooking the lunch. The look of female characters has changed over the years, but has remained partially the same. All series combine a description of a woman's figure, and that is a representation of a woman as a mother. The theme of motherhood, as the only biological and main role of women, extends also through series such as "Call the Midwife" and "The Handmaid’s Tale". Both series also cover a wide range of social issues including feminism, such as abortion, contraception, problems concerning African-americans and homosexuals, the problem of prostitution and rape, and the unfavorable position of women in society. The series today, besides spreading different images that can influence one's opinion, may also be the criticisms of today's society