MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

Researchers have optimistically endeavored to discover positive changes in the portrayals of female characters in primetime television as more programs feature female leads. However, several studies have indicated that these changes still have not been realized. This study examines male and female character portrayals in the popular and critically acclaimed period drama, The Americans. The spy thriller offers a unique opportunity to examine potential differences and similarities between current male and female characters in a television series. Lead characters share an equal professional status working as a married couple spying for the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War. Previous research has shown that female television characters are less likely than male characters to hold high-status positions across various major occupations (Smith, Choueiti, Prescott, & Pieper (2013). Previous research has also found male characters to be more physically aggressive than female characters (Glascock, 2008). In addition, male characters have shown to maintain their dominance while female characters have shown to be more sexually provocative (Sink & Mastro, 2016). A content analysis is used to examine these findings as well as conversational dominance and masculine and feminine stereotypes exhibited by its lead characters in the program’s first and final seasons.