Television Observations

so i've been needing to post this for FOREVER, but hadn't gotten around to it until now. obviously being in this class has made me more aware of women's issues in many areas of my life. well lately, tivo has been my main activity and highlight of my day. i am posting to reflect on the issues that constantly irritate me on television. my first complaint is directed toward "the moment of truth," in which a contestant is asked personal questions about his or her job/ family/ relationships/ etc. the contestants must answer truthfully or they will lose prize money. (sorry for those who watch the show - that was a VERY brief synopsis) anyway, aside from people ruining their lives by answering the most intense personal questions EVER (e.g. have you ever slept with someone other than your spouse during your marriage?, etc.), i noticed a trend of blatant sexism in the beginning in terms of questions posed to men & women. while men were asked harmless ethical about their jobs or life accomplishments, the women were asked a series of sexual questions (e.g. have you ever engaged in a sex act to get a promotion?, have you ever had sexual relations with a customer for money?, etc.) so this was the trend over the first few episodes when i had initially planned to post my disdain for the show. BUT the show has changed it ways and now doesn't only ask the women personal sexual questions, but finally the men as well. good to see formal equality at work.
my second complaint revolves around the drama "er." i feel that i can be more of a critic about this show as i have watched 5 or 6 seasons in the last few months on tnt. i give full props for er casting one of the most diverse set of characters in a tv show (men, women, gay, straight, single parent, happily married, british, croatian, etc. etc.) but the real problem is the rampant sexism & sexual harassment that occurs in the "county general" workplace. in my opinion, er portrays strong female characters, whether doctors or nurses, which seemingly provide good role models for young children; however, males on the er staff routinely make comments belittling & demeaning the females on the show. i admire the women targeted by these comments for their ability to brush them off, but i hate the idea that the show portrays this behavior as ok in a professional setting. instead, the writers could throw in a disciplinary hearing or sensitivity training or something along those lines. other professional dramas (hello law & order) show the ability of men & women professionals to interact with each other in respectful & efficient ways. that's all i can think of for now.