Television Shows Since the 1950s, television has become an increasingly vital part of life, providing both an escape from the pressures of everyday life as well as offering social commentary. Television shows that center on family life have historically been among some of the highest-rated shows. One of the reasons why these shows are among the most popular are that they reflect the realities of actual families and family problems yet

tales we know to be true. They begin with "once upon a time." They end with "happily ever after." And somewhere in between the prince rescues the damsel in distress. Of course, this is not actually the case. Many fairytales omit these essential words. But few fairytales in the Western tradition indeed fail to have a beautiful, passive maiden rescued by a vibrant man, usually her superior in either social

TV in the modern world forms a crucial part in affecting societal perception on a number of issues. One of these issues is the family. The traditional family in the American context is closely knit and held around Christian norms. This means two parents and kids born within the marriage. This is commonly referred to as the societal norm format (sitcom), and it is common in the majority of shows.

These roles however do not reflect women's status in society, nor do they reflect society's beliefs about equality and gender roles. Women who hold executive positions still earn less than men (Glascock, 2001) do. Women are also viewed unfavorably when they act aggressively or forcefully, whereas men are applauded for their efforts. On television, women are seen as actors, and actors alone. Women who are empowered are often "dolled" up

Sexuality & PC-TV Facts About Human Sexuality This section will consist of facts about human sexuality, such as what are the dominant ideas and themes felt about sexuality; what are the criticisms; and what significant changes have been happening about sexuality over time. All facts listed in this section are pulled from Our Sexuality by Robert Crooks and Karla Baur. In order to accurately speak about the changes that the media, specifically television,

Portrayal of Women in Music, Tv, Film, Advertising, & Other Media Since 1990 This essay addresses how the portrayal of women has changed in one segment of the media (music, tv, film, advertising) from the early 1990's when the book Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female With the Mass Media by Susan J. Douglas was completed. Discussed are the commonalties between women currently important to American pop culture and the