Using the Feminist Lens to Examine Television’s Iconic Teacher Characters Helen Crump and Sue Sylvester as They Manage Their Identities
Loading...
Authors
Cates, Kristy
Issue Date
2012-05-15
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Feminism , Feminist Theories , Culture , gender stereotypes , intercultural communication , Andy Griffith Show , Helen Crump , Glee , Sue Sylvester , Second Wave Feminists , third wave feminists , television , impression management , postfeminists
Alternative Title
Abstract
This qualitative analysis focuses on the constructions and evolutions of the television teacher characters of Helen Crump as portrayed in the Andy Griffith Show and Sue Sylvester as portrayed in Glee. Using Feminist Theories, Helen Crump appears to be constructed as a second-wave feminist who evolved into a liberal, socialist feminist in her 1950s/1960s culture while Sue Sylvester seems to be constructed as a third-wave feminist or postfeminist in today’s culture who began as a radical feminist and may be evolving into a liberal, socialist feminist. Each teacher character has an identity to manage using “facework” within a specific cultural generation that occurs in the television setting. Being television characters, Helen Crump’s character and Sue Sylvester’s character embody several mass media theories. Unpacking and analyzing these artifacts with intercultural communication theories could add more knowledge to counteract feminist stereotypes and empower female teachers and female media writers, directors, and producers