Gender in TV Drama

Gender is presented in TV dramas in completely different ways, depending on whether they are female or male. For example, women are often represented as being part of a context like family, friends or colleagues in order to think and work as part of a team. However, in TV dramas they tend to take the role of a helper; as a passive character rather than an active character. This therefore portrays them as an object through the eyes of the male gaze. This can often be shown through a number of camera angles such as the over the shoulder shot. When shot over the shoulder of a woman, it represents that the man is the main character as the camera is focused solely on him with the woman being a passive character with the role of supporting the male lead. Furthermore, the clothes that women wear are often deliberately provocative in an attempt to lure viewers in through the view of the male gaze and therefore the women actors also being part of the selling point, objectifying them further.

On the other hand, male characters are usually represented as isolated, as not needing to rely on others, portraying them as the lone hero. Male characters will most likely be shot in the low angle shot to give them an appearance of a more dominant figure