Representations of Gender

Title of your classwork blog post is THE AVENGERS: REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER

First line of your blog post: HOW DOES THE AVENGERS CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER TO REACH A 1960's AUDIENCE?

In your answer, analyse how both Peel and Steed are presented, supporting your comments with examples of what they do and say, what they wear, and how they behave with each other. You can take examples from anywhere in the programme, which you may listen to on Click View with headphones (if you have headphones). 

• Is Peel a strong female lead? Does she use her intelligence to solve the case? Does this challenge traditional stereotypes of men being in control and holding all the power?
• What evidence is there that Peel is adventurous, cool, unflappable, a skilled fencer, physically brave, well educated, financially independent?
• Does she answer Steed back and hold her own? Does he assume command? Is there a jokey, equal  quality to their relationship?
• Is Steed urbane, self-confident, 
• Do Peel's tight-fitting costumes sexualize her? Is this a common stereotypical treatment of women?
• Are they any occasions when Peel is seen to be 'rescued'? Is this a traditional stereotype?
• The programme was broadcast after the nine o'clock watershed. Has this allowed for more 'romantic' elements in the narrative?

Peel is a very strong female lead representing individual women. Peel repetitively uses her intelligence to solve the cases, constantly helping Steed and sometimes even thinking faster than him. This completely contrasts with the representation of women in the 1960's where women were represented as minors. By presenting Peel as a strong individual woman, The Avengers has gone against the idea of females at that time connoting the bbc's control in that era. 

Their is evidence that peel is adventurous and cool as we see she writes articles for science papers, She also wears a tight black suit giving us the idea she is very modern in her day and age, as well as this it shows us that she is proud of her body image as a woman. In a typical stereotype couple the woman is seen to be saved by the man all the time but their relation ship is a lot more equal and Steed saves her from situations very rarely.

As the programme is past watershed this does allow a lot more sexual content for adults also portraying Peel and Steed's true connections and how they are slightly flirtatious with each other.