SVU response

Televisions "New" Feminism: Prime Time Representations of Women and Victimization



Cuklanz and Moorti: Some of the storylines condemn aspects of feminine behavior and character, including empathy and intuition.



Lesley: I would agree with this statement you guys are making. This show appears to look down upon women who are loving mothers and punishes them for caring so much. The women on the SVU team are tough and masculine and it shows that they can accomplish anything and dangerous situations don't happen to them. It appears to portray the nuturing women in a dangerous light because they are so loving and feminine that they are willing to do anything for their kids or such for example. They appear to be helpless and uncapable of defending themselves.



Cuklanz and Moorti: Thus, in SVU narrarates the home, the primary arena of women's activities and the site of feminine qualities of nuturing, caregiving, and affect is presented repeatedly as the site within which a dangerous maternal instint motivates women to commit heinous crimes.



Lesley: Again, I'd say I have to agree. There are many instances in the show that take place in the home. Either by an outside person breaking in, or the people in the home themselves. It is saying that the home is the site where the motherly tendencies take place and that is why the attacks are made so often there. I don't think that should be the case. We should not blame women's nuturing and loving qualities (which God gave them) on the cause for crime and rape. Yes, there are women who are psychologically disturbed and they do commit awful acts, but we cannot stereotype every loving mother that way. All women that show feminine characteristics should not be prompted to commit a crime or be a victim of rape. And, they should show some of those women in a tougher light. For example, if they love their family so much, they should be shown as trying to stand up and fight for them and defend themselves.