Comments on: Sexism and Ageism in the Soap Opera World http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/ from a feminist perspective Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:49:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Shelley http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-8363 Shelley Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:12:56 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-8363 Ir have been watching General Hospital since I was 12. I am 45 and still watching. In the 80,s everyone I knew was watching now I don,t know anyone else who watches any soaps. They have to cut the big salaries or close up shop. I like the new younger cast members and story lines. I dont miss most of the old characters. I still love to watch Tracy Quartermaine. She is the only older character I would miss. Ir have been watching General Hospital since I was 12. I am 45 and still watching. In the 80,s everyone I knew was watching now I don,t know anyone else who watches any soaps. They have to cut the big salaries or close up shop. I like the new younger cast members and story lines. I dont miss most of the old characters. I still love to watch Tracy Quartermaine. She is the only older character I would miss.

]]> By: sally http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3733 sally Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:28:51 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3733 I don't usually watch soaps, but when I was sick and watching them, I was struck by the constant story plotline of evil older, plotting woman/good wonderful innocent younger woman. Like being older automatically makes you a villian and predator to younger women. How this works to destroy any good image women have to looking forward to getting older is clearly a woman-hating angle. I mean, what if women actually got together and supported older women instead of tearing them down? When they come into power and ownership, they are supported by younger women instead of painted into an evil corner? I don’t usually watch soaps, but when I was sick and watching them, I was struck by the constant story plotline of evil older, plotting woman/good wonderful innocent younger woman. Like being older automatically makes you a villian and predator to younger women. How this works to destroy any good image women have to looking forward to getting older is clearly a woman-hating angle. I mean, what if women actually got together and supported older women instead of tearing them down? When they come into power and ownership, they are supported by younger women instead of painted into an evil corner?

]]> By: Michelle http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3729 Michelle Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:11:41 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3729 There seems to be a huge difference between US and UK soaps. As I understand it (and from what I've seen), UK soaps tend to show regular people living their lives in the city. US soaps prefer to show beautiful people in extraordinary jobs (fashion/big business conglomerates) living the life many dream of, yet making an utter mess of their lives. There seems to be a huge difference between US and UK soaps. As I understand it (and from what I’ve seen), UK soaps tend to show regular people living their lives in the city. US soaps prefer to show beautiful people in extraordinary jobs (fashion/big business conglomerates) living the life many dream of, yet making an utter mess of their lives.

]]> By: Soirore http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3727 Soirore Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:37:54 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3727 I find this interesting as I have never seen a US soap but only UK and Australian ones. In the UK Eastenders and Coronation Street have always had interesting older female characters and seem to value their actresses (except for Wendy Richard whose character was betrayed for "better" storylines). Eastenders' Dot Cotton played by June Brown is particularly powerful at times and I'm rather fond of Pat Butcher and Peggy Mitchell. I think of the UK soaps only Hollyoaks doesn't serve the older viewers and that is because it is firmly aimed at teens. Mind you I am saying this as a sporadic viewer. Maybe regular watchers of Eastenders and Corrie would disagree. Is this to do with class do you think? US soaps tend to depict the middle-upper classes (I am told)and the UK focuses on the working classes. I find this interesting as I have never seen a US soap but only UK and Australian ones. In the UK Eastenders and Coronation Street have always had interesting older female characters and seem to value their actresses (except for Wendy Richard whose character was betrayed for “better” storylines). Eastenders’ Dot Cotton played by June Brown is particularly powerful at times and I’m rather fond of Pat Butcher and Peggy Mitchell.

I think of the UK soaps only Hollyoaks doesn’t serve the older viewers and that is because it is firmly aimed at teens. Mind you I am saying this as a sporadic viewer. Maybe regular watchers of Eastenders and Corrie would disagree. Is this to do with class do you think? US soaps tend to depict the middle-upper classes (I am told)and the UK focuses on the working classes.

]]> By: Jen http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3722 Jen Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:56:10 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3722 Read this article again. I don't think she's refusing to take another pay cut. I think she just doesn't want to take the pay cut in the amount they're asking her to. Read this article again. I don’t think she’s refusing to take another pay cut. I think she just doesn’t want to take the pay cut in the amount they’re asking her to.

]]> By: Jen http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3718 Jen Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:46:19 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3718 Thanks for covering this topic! Robin Strasser actually talks a bit about plastic surgery on her "blog" at her official website. (www.robinstrasser.com) She is actually aging quite gracefully - look up some of her latest scenes by date on YouTube. (I'd recommend Dorian and Langston: Dorian warns Ray, Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVLQxQRTgQ0) Thanks for covering this topic! Robin Strasser actually talks a bit about plastic surgery on her “blog” at her official website. (www.robinstrasser.com) She is actually aging quite gracefully – look up some of her latest scenes by date on YouTube. (I’d recommend Dorian and Langston: Dorian warns Ray, Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVLQxQRTgQ0)

]]> By: Michelle http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3715 Michelle Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:41:20 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3715 Soaps are dying. Their days are numbered and all of this is symptomatic of an industry thrashing at anything to try and survive. Everything will end up on Soapnet and eventually, that station will die out, too. I could write a very long post on the ills of the soap industry but I won't. Needless to say, it starts at the top of the studio chain. I believe Susan Lucci has also been nickel and dimed on her last contract. Can anyone see All My Children without Erica Kane? Seriously? Soaps are dying. Their days are numbered and all of this is symptomatic of an industry thrashing at anything to try and survive. Everything will end up on Soapnet and eventually, that station will die out, too.

I could write a very long post on the ills of the soap industry but I won’t. Needless to say, it starts at the top of the studio chain.

I believe Susan Lucci has also been nickel and dimed on her last contract. Can anyone see All My Children without Erica Kane? Seriously?

]]> By: Melanie http://womenandhollywood.com/2009/07/16/sexism-and-ageism-in-the-soap-opera-world/comment-page-1/#comment-3710 Melanie Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:19:22 +0000 http://womenandhollywood.com/?p=3162#comment-3710 I complain about this every time I sit down with my mother to watch "Days of our Lives". Not only has anyone visibly old been written off (with the exception of Maggie Horton, at the moment), but the older woman are so nipped and tucked and Botoxed to look like their younger counterparts that most of them become boring watch -- they can't even create the requisite soap facial expression anymore (shocked! Angry! Withholding the truth!). This became especially true of Marlena and Kate, and I think it creates a Catch-22 for the older women of the show: they turn to plastic surgery to "stay in the game", but, in the process, become less interesting (and more uncanny) to watch, thereby lowering their value to producers. It's an interesting dynamic. I complain about this every time I sit down with my mother to watch “Days of our Lives”. Not only has anyone visibly old been written off (with the exception of Maggie Horton, at the moment), but the older woman are so nipped and tucked and Botoxed to look like their younger counterparts that most of them become boring watch — they can’t even create the requisite soap facial expression anymore (shocked! Angry! Withholding the truth!). This became especially true of Marlena and Kate, and I think it creates a Catch-22 for the older women of the show: they turn to plastic surgery to “stay in the game”, but, in the process, become less interesting (and more uncanny) to watch, thereby lowering their value to producers.

It’s an interesting dynamic.

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