Gender in tv drama

In this clip of hustle gender is represented in different ways. We are shown both male and female character, both of which differ. Some of the characteristic the characters do follow the generic stereotype of men and women, but some differ.

The main female character; Sarah is shown to the audience of being a well off characters. The audience can see this is as shopping in a store that looks high end and exclusive. The first thing you may notice about her is that she looks very put together; she looks as though she takes pride in her appearance. In this sense she may follow the stereotype of a woman as she only cares about what she looks like and her image may be extremely important to her. Although the audience finds out later on that she is a business woman and is one her way to a meeting. The character also follows a stereotype as a classic blonde when she loses her ring while shopping, even though the audience learn that isn’t the case. The character is hysterical and quickly offers money for the safe return of her ring. This could show that the value of the ring is a lot more important that the sentimental importance of the ring. This could also show that she is over reacting, which is a common stereotype of a woman rather than looking for the ring calmly. The clip also shows that even though she is portrayed as being as being upper class, she is really just using it as a cover up in order to scam the owner of the shop. This shows the audience that woman can be sly in order to get what they want.

There is a very strong contrast between Sarah and the other woman shopping in the store. The older woman looks out of place in the shop. Her clothes and all together appearance differ largely from that of Sarah’s. The older woman appears a lot darker and dull when in comparison to Sarah. They way in which the women are spoken to also differs, the older woman is spoken down to for example the shop owner says ‘a little too rich for Madame?’ and ‘it is at the lower end of your current stock.’ This gives the audience the impression that she doesn’t belong in that environment. The camera shots used expresses this point; there is a close up of her face when she says ‘hundred?’ as she is shocked at the price of the dress. The appearance of the character shows that maybe she doesn’t care as much about her appearance as her hair put back, she doesn’t appear to be wearing much make up and her clothes are simple. This character doesn’t follow the stereotype of a woman, as she seems a lot more practical when it comes to money, as she notices the dress is far too expensive. She may also know that there are more important things than how you look in life.

The men in this clip also differ. The shop owner comes across as being very feminine which would fit the job stereotype as you expect woman to own a dress store as it’s a feminine environment. His femininity is shown in the way he acts, at one point he skips happily over to Sarah, possibly as he knows she is wealthy, by her appearance and will buy a dress. He is also shown as greedy, after Sarah offers him money if he finds the ring he neglects his next customer in the hope of finding it. He later offer the customer who finds the ring money so he’ll give him the ring. He does follow the stereotype of a sleazy man as he is trying to make as much money out the situation as he can.

 The male con artist is largely different to the shop owner. He is a lot more masculine in the way he acts.  This is shown in the way he talks for example he refers to his girlfriend as his ‘bird’ and when commenting on the ring he says ‘she didn’t get this out of a cracker.’  The way he talks shows that maybe he doesn’t necessarily think about what he says before he says it.  When he is first shown to the audience they first camera shot is of his shoes, this shows that he is wealthy as his shoes look expensive. The camera then pans up his body to show him wearing a suit; this again gives the audience the impression that he’s wealthy and fits the style of the shop. The way he talks does contradict the way he is dressed maybe showing the audience that he’s streetwise.  The topic of him being streetwise is shown again when he breaks the forth wall and talks to the audience when he is walking away from the shop owner. This shows that he is streetwise as he comments on the situation, like he is trying to teach the audience something.