Doll parts: Where are TVs positive female role models? ber15,2010 http://www.smh.com.au/entertainmenthtv-and-radio/doll-parts-where-are-tvs-positive-female-role-models 20101115-17 tee htm Women and girls in tod ay,'s TV shows are defined by men and they often use their sexuality to reward, punish or manipulate Lustration by John Shakespeare Jenny Lewis laments the lack of strong female characters in Australian drama and recalls a time Many local dramas are failing to soar and this has been attributed to everything from network neglect to sameness of genre, fragmentation and audience apathy. I prefer to look for the common denominator and there is one fundamental element missing from all the shows in question -positive female role In the past, Neighbours Charlene Robinson and blue Heelers ' Maggie Doyle taught women about self-respect and making a stand Female viewers lapped up these versions of themselves but it was girls, whose value systems and self-esteem were still developing, who benefited most from the qualities they championed. So what do girls lean from women on commercial television today?Doll parts: Where are TV's positive female role models? November 15, 2010 From : http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/doll-parts-where-are-tvs-positive-female-role-models -20101115-17tee.html Women and girls in today's TV shows are defined by men and they often use their sexuality to reward, punish or manipulate. Illustration by John Shakespeare Jenny Lewis laments the lack of strong female characters in Australian drama and recalls a time when they were plentiful. Many local dramas are failing to soar and this has been attributed to everything from network neglect to sameness of genre, fragmentation and audience apathy. I prefer to look for the common denominator and there is one fundamental element missing from all the shows in question – positive female role models. In the past, Neighbours' Charlene Robinson and Blue Heelers' Maggie Doyle taught women about self-respect and making a stand. Female viewers lapped up these versions of themselves but it was girls, whose value systems and self-esteem were still developing, who benefited most from the qualities they championed. So what do girls learn from women on commercial television today?