Challenging Normative Representations Of Women’s Sexual Agency In American Television

Real-life scenarios frequently inspire art and media. As the frequency of television shows that are labeled as “feminist” increases, it is important to acknowledge the ways in which these shows may depict women’s sexual agency and how what messages the depictions send may impact the real lives of viewers. This paper examines how “feminist” television depictions of women’s sexual agency differ from or adhere to normative constructions of women’s sexualities, as well as the potential implications depictions may have for viewers’ understandings of women’s sexual agency. While television depictions may be labeled as “feminist,” and generally seem to incorporate feminist constructions of women’s sexualities in their depictions, they still frequently rely on normative and traditional constructions.