Feminine Expectations from a Gender Perspective in Peruvian Television Fiction

Abstract

The study addresses the view of women leaders of Peruvian civil society organizations (CSOs) on the representations of women in series/soap operas broadcast by national free-to-air television. From the naturalistic paradigm and a qualitative approach, following a phenomenological and grounded theory design, it covered three pre-categories: the concept of gender, gender relations, and gender system. Focus groups were used to talk to 39 women community leaders, educators, and cultural leaders in two Peruvian cities. It is concluded that they perceive in the series/ soap operas of national television fiction, that they only obey market demands, without innovations in showing women, structures of inequality in the representations and roles, unfair for them, not in line with reality, and that are reinforced by rules and norms of the traditional and religious social base; and, in their gender perspectives, still under construction, they do not yet integrate into the LGTBQ+ community. The evidence indicates a growing concern for increased female representation and inclusion in television. This presents a challenge for both the government and television companies. Peruvian feminism must align with modern perspectives on this trend, presenting an opportunity for activism.

Received: 4 June 2024 / Accepted: 29 August 2024 / Published: 05 September 2024