Once upon a time

For this "gender dynamics project", I chose the tv show, "Once Upon A Time" which is about all of the fairy tell creatures that everyone has heard about when they were little. There are two main story lines in the show the first is about how the "Evil Queen" (from the tale "Snow White" ) traps all the fairy tell creatures in the "real world", in a town called Story-brook. Apparently, the only way to break the Evil Queen's curse is if the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming ( Emma Stone) comes back and releases the people from the Evil Queen. However, when the Evil Queen casted her spell she made sure that none of the fairy tell creatures (except Rumplestiskin) would remember who they were in their past life, including Emma Stone. The second main story in the show follows the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White, Emma Stone, who in her "real world" switch as a baby was found on the side of the road, and put in the foster care. All throughout Emma's life she feels as though there is something missing, partly because of her rough childhood ( being bounced around from home to home). Sometime during her youth Emma gives birth to a beautiful baby boy, Henry whom she gives up for adoption because she feels that she can not provide him with proper care and love. Several years later, Emma's life gets turned around when her ten year old Henry appears on her doorstep and demands that Emma save the people from the curse. Ironically upon returning Henry to his family Emma finds out that he is now the son of the town's mayor. Regina Mills aka " Evil Queen". Instead of fleeing away from her son, for the first time Emma feels an obligation to stay and "help" especially if that means a relationship with Henry. Even though Emma does not believe her destiny. things in Storybrook have definantly started to change.

While watching the show, "Once Upon A time," I found the gender dynamics to be extremely interesting. Even though the actual "sex" girl: boy ratio in characters is about even, the main character list is quite different. Women dominate this show; it is like watching the biggest "Girl on Girl" "show — down" ever! With Emma Stone representing "good" and Regina Mills representing "evil," women rule the show. Both characters in the own right are extremely "strong minded". Emma Stone who is a personal investigator, which is already an impressive job for a woman, uses her skill as long with her moral instincts to rebut the evil Regina. To Emma, honesty and integrity are held in high regard. Time and time again Emma stays honest and never uses manipulation against the Queen, and because of that more people (in the TV show) prefer her to Regina Mills. However, even though Emma takes a “passive — aggressive” method she has a wild streak, and has problem standing — up for her beliefs. Although Emma is the super great character that she is, Regina Mills, is no slouch either. In her own way she is an extremely powerful. Instead of using Emma’s passive-aggressive, Regina takes what she wants by force. Like Emma, Regina also has very high job position as mayor of the town, with which she abuses her power constantly. She exacts terror over the town’s people, and because they fear her they submit and give her what she wants.

This show is extremely “ground — breaking” because it tears away from the traditional themes for television. Women portrayed in today's media are usually shown as the "damsel" in distress or the "weakling" which are terms associated with the "feminine" characteristics or they fall under what is considered the "feminine gender" , and men traditionally play the roles of "hero" and "villain". Men are always depicted as powerful which is a characteristics associated with the "masculine gender". I find that for a woman to play either one of these roles is extremely refreshing, and especially since these women are portrayed as extremely strong individuals.