Second Wave Feminism in TV

TV may be the most influential media platform in the US today. It’s been like this for many decades since the television was invented. In early television days, many women were portrayed as how some others TV may be the most influential media platform in the US today. It’s been like this for many decades since the television was invented. In early television days, many women portrayed “in their place”  as house mothers. Women didn’t work, they cooked cleaned and ready their family for their day (work, school, etc.)When second-wave feminism hit, it really changed the way television shows portrayed women.. The contrast when second-wave feminism hit, it really change the way television shows portrayed women.. The contrast between TV shows in the 60s and 70s was very notable.

In the 60s popular shows consisted of shows like the Donna Reed show, Greenacres, and bewitched. These shows all depict women as in the home and conforming to what their husband wants In the Donna Reed shows opening theme song, it only shows Donna Reed tending to her family and waiting on her husband, preparing them for the day. Just for her to stay at home all day most likely to clean and start a meal for the family to return to.

These same themes ring through every single one of the television shows from the 60s shown to us by OC.

But everything changed once it was no longer a bad thing to look at women equally. The stereotype of feminism moved away from man hating, bra burning, “lesbians”.  Women started to become more vocal about their passion for equality and there was a large enough following for there to be a legitimate audience for television shows to aim for. TV shows like Wonder Woman and Charlie’s Angels started taking off. Empowering women was in, and even though there was still a lot of sexism, there was major progress in the entertainment industry caused by the second wave of feminism.