Beyond Annie Oakley: an analysis of TV's portrayal of markswomen

Abstract

Media portrayals influence how women are perceived in society. Historically, women have often been chastised or punished for exhibiting skills and attributes which have been traditionally perceived as appropriate for men and therefore, inappropriate for women. Currently, some reality television series seem open to portraying women in roles which have historically been considered inappropriate for them. The purpose of this study was threefold: to discern whether the History Channel's television series Top Shot provides a sexist representation of either gender, to determine whether casting is gender-biased when compared with ratios of marksmanship in the Military, Hunting, Law Enforcement, Exhibition, and Competition sectors, and to assess whether marks-woman are marginalized based on their gender. This study finds that the series provides a slightly sexist representation of marks-woman, that casting appears gender-biased, and that fan opinions reflect a difference in the treatment of female and male contestants.