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bell hooks - Prime Suspect vs Hinterland
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QUESTION: Discuss the representation of gender in the two crime dramas you have studied and how it reflects social context. (bell hooks)
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Discuss the representation of gender in the two crime dramas you have studied andhow it reflects social context. (bell hooks)
INTRODUCTION:
‘Prime Suspect’ is a crime drama that bases its story on gender issues, highlighting the
various struggles that women can face and challenges the stereotypes. ‘Hinterland’, on the
other hand, comes from the film industry of Wales and therefore relies on the conventions of
gender in the media to gain attraction. The representation of gender in the two crime dramas
can therefore vary greatly, however, there are still similarities that can be seen.
POINT 1. Mathias as Stereotypical Male Lead
‘Hinterland’s main protagonist is a man named Tom Mathias, Detective Chief Inspector, is
portrayed as brooding and introverted with a mysterious past that he conceals. It was not
until one scene, where DI Mared finds a picture of two little girls in Mathias’ wallet, who we
as the audience can presume as his daughters, that we get a glimpse of his past. This
depiction of Tom Mathias in Hinterland follows the traditional male lead trope in crime
dramas, reflecting on the societal expectations of men wherein they are expected to be
strong, independent, and emotionally distant. Scholar and theorist bell hooks states that
‘Learning to wear a mask… is the first lesson in patriarchal masculinity that a boy learns’.
She explains that the concept of patriarchal masculinity teaches boys that they need to be
tough whilst suppressing their emotions and vulnerability. ‘Hinterland’ reinforces this
expectation although it does slowly challenge this representation by revealing Mathias's past
slowly and adding depth to his character.
POINT 2. Jane as Unconventional Female Lead
‘Prime Suspect’, on the other hand, offers a strong female lead named Jane Tennison who
also takes upon the role of DCI. Throughout the series, Jane is constantly fighting against
the sexism and misogyny of her male colleagues. Her role as a woman is more significant to
the narrative, in which it discusses the challenges of gender roles in the workforce,
particularly in a male-dominated one. Jane’s character reflects the social context of the
1990s, in which an increased presence of women were taking on professional roles and
advancing in their careers. bell hooks says that ‘we all knew firsthand that we had been
socialized as females by patriarchal thinking to see ourselves as inferior to men’. Jane
strongly defies this patriarchal thinking by portraying a woman who is not only good at her
job but someone who is willing to fight for her place in the male-dominated profession.
‘Prime Suspect’ not only challenges the traditional values of women, but demonstrates to
audiences that women can be equal to men.
POINT 3. Male Authority (Bosses)
Whilst ‘Hinterland’ and ‘Prime Suspect’ both feature female leads who have significant
authority within their professions, DI Mared Rhys and DCI Jane Tennison, the dramas
continue to highlight the ongoing presence of male authority within these institutions. For
instance, Mared’s leader is Mathias and Jane not only has a male superintendent, but her
workplace is also dominated by men. This reflects the broader societal reality of patriarchal
structures that remain entrenched in many areas of work and life, even in more modern days
as shown by the late drama ‘Hinterland’. bell hooks explains that ‘Patriarchal masculinity
teaches men that their sense of self and identity… resides in their capacity to dominate
others.’ It can be said that these male-dominated workplace structures are not only reflective
of society at large but also serve to perpetuate and reinforce a patriarchal society.
POINT 4: Female Victims
This patriarchy may be further reinforced through the representation of Catrin John and
Moyra Henson, who were both revealed to be rape victims. bell hooks once said that
‘Patriarchy… encourages husbands and lovers to be rapists in disguise’. This may
perpetuate gender inequality by reinforcing preconceived notions that women are inherently
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