Those who grew up watching the lovely Barbara Eden cross her arms and blink her eyes in the service of her dimwitted astronaut master on “I Dream of Jeannie” in the 1960’s are no doubt dumbstruck by women on television today.
Eden showing her belly button was controversial in the 60’s. Today there is no measure of vulgarity that even gets noticed.
Female characters on modern series have become angrier, less timid, more assertive, and closely bonded with their allies in the sisterhood.
Take Jessica Jones, a feminist Marvel former superhero with a Netflix series and an attitude. Don’t expect to ever get her back in the bottle; same with the dames from HBO’s “Girls.”
Through strong female characters scriptwriters, producers, directors and stars are reflecting a world where women are taking more prominent roles in life and business that shatter old stereotypes suggesting submission. Daenerys Targaryen is not a shrinking violet on “Game of Thrones.” She’s out to violently force men into submission and she has dragons as wingmen.
Houston media blogger Mike McGuff admits he watches far more You Tube videos these days than network television programming, but expects this is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come. “Because many of the shows already on the air are filmed a year in advance, I’m sure Hollywood right now is adapting the #Me Too movement and we’ll see a lot more shows following that movement.”