1. Women in Crime Dramas By Tina Kaiser 201H

2. The ways in which women are portrayed in crime dramas highlights the social construction of the "ideal" female and reinforces that stereotype by offering negative consequences for those who stray either in their personal life or in their professional life. Thus reasserting the need for them to remain within the confines of the stereotype.

3. Women who concede to the "housewife" or "good girl" mentality will stay safe avoid situations that would put them in danger or affect their personal life.

4. "Women's fears of crime are framed and enhanced by media images of women victims and assailants... women are vulnerable to victimization especially if they venture into the public domain." (Cavender 1999) -In Crime Dramas- -Women are shown to be the victim of strangers, random acts of violence, psychotic strangers, or the poor when in actuality it is usually the opposite. "In nearly 75% of all lone-offender violence against women, the victim knew the offender" (Cavender 1999)

5. Crime dramas offer an emotional connection to the viewer, either in identifying with a character, or truly empathizing with their situation. Disposition Theory states that an audience will like a show more when a "good guy" meets a good end, and the "bad guy" receives the appropriate punishment. (Raney 2002) Why do we watch? "...culture consists of the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. The story provides an interpretive framework through which we are encouraged to understand various aspects of culture." (Cavender, Deutsch 2007) It's the story of good v. evil. The hero and the villain. The mission to seek and obtain justice.

6. -Due to police brutality and inefficiencies within law enforcement agencies in the country there has been a loss of confidence within the country. An increase of females within law enforcement agencies will help improve their persona. -However in 2000 only 14.3% of law enforcement were female. -Perhaps one reason for this could be the inability of female detectives in crime dramas to maintain a healthy personal life. - How does this effect us in real life