gilchrist-2020-dysfunction-deviancy-and-sexual-autonomy-the-single-female-detective-in-primetime-tv

Introduction to Single Female Detectives in Primetime TV

• The article explores the cultural significance of single female detectives in contemporary primetime television, specifically in relation to evolving representations of single women.

Cultural Context

• Increased Single Woman Demographics:

  • Growth of single women in Anglo-American society: 27% in the UK (2003) to 33% (2015) and 25% to 29% in the US during the same period.

  • Rising cultural representations of single female characters in popular media, yet often portrayed in a narrow and stigmatizing manner.

• Rise of Female-Centered Detective Representations:

  • Increasing portrayals of single female detectives in shows like Killing Eve, The Fall, Homeland, and Jessica Jones.

  • Investigates how this convergence of identity with the detective role influences cultural perceptions and feminine subjectivities.

Themes in Representation

The Complexity of Single Female Detectives

• Professionalism versus Vulnerability:

  • Single female detectives assert professionalism and sexual autonomy.

  • Their narratives often intertwine vulnerability, dysfunction, and deviance, positioning them as a threat to traditional femininity.

• Postfeminist Discourse:

  • Represents single femininity as emotionally dysfunctional yet challenges norms through professional success.

Historical Discourses of Single Femininity

• Postfeminism Defined:

  • Postfeminism seen as a cultural shift focusing on individual agency and sexual autonomy, often dismissing earlier feminist struggles.

  • Development of societal intimacy norms—moving towards non-institutional relationships.

Case Studies: TV Series Analysis

Overview of Selected Series

• Fargo: Features Molly Solverson as a deputy chief, representing how cultural tropes can be transformed.

• The Good Wife: Examines Kalinda Sharma as a complex, bisexual figure navigating professional challenges.

• The Bridge: Saga Norén embodies a mix of vulnerability and assertiveness, challenging gender binaries.

Analysis of Female Detectives

Emotional Dysfunction and Professionalism

• Many detectives emotionally detach to excel professionally, reinforcing negative stereotypes of single women.

  • Example: Saga's emotional coldness links her to social dysfunction and criminality, contradicting more empathetic depictions of male detectives.

• Kalinda displays independence at work but struggles with emotional intimacy, as seen in her relationship dynamics.

• Molly manages to keep connections; however, balancing personal and professional life proves difficult.

Representation of Violence

• Empowerment through Violence:

  • Characters' violent acts lead to professional milestones but also expose vulnerabilities, indicating a duality in their power structures.

  • Each character’s use of violence reaffirms their contested masculinity in a traditionally male role, complicating gender norms.

Subversion of Sexuality

Autonomous Sexuality versus Pathologization

• Kalinda:

  • Represents a challenge to normative sexuality through her interactions, including bisexuality.

  • Her non-monogamous relationships highlight the difference between empowered sexual engagement and societal expectations.

• Saga’s Promiscuity:

  • While preceding sexual liberation, her emotional detachment suggests a troubling link between sexual freedom and dysfunction.

• Molly’s Complexity:

  • Subverts traditional femininity through her non-glamorous approach, resisting the asexualization often imposed on older detectives.

Conclusion

• Single female detectives embody complex narratives within postfeminist media culture, often reinforcing traditional norms while also subverting them.

• The analysis sheds light on how these characters reflect broader societal transformations in the perceptions of single femininity and professional authenticity.

• While their success is celebrated, underlying narratives of vulnerability and pathologization remain present, indicating ongoing struggles against societal norms regarding gender and relationship dynamics.