1: Does the show you've chosen reflect racial and gender diversity? why or why not? Explain why this kind of diversity is important in media.
Doctor Who is an interesting show when talking about racial and gender diversity. The simple answer to the question in regards to this show is that no, this show does a poor job reflecting racial and gender diversity. The main character has always been a white male since the beginning of the show back in the 1960s. The dynamic of the show is that the main character goes around saving the universe with his female companion/sidekick to help him out. Since the beginning of the show to the most current episode, there has only been two people of color present as a companion, and both were not present until the the newer seasons. This causes a huge problem to the image of the show because it gives off a false image of the UK, since it is extremely diverse in ethnicities, and it also shows that only white people can be strong like those in the show. Even out of the two PoC characters present in the show, only one is written as a strong character, while the other was written off as the dumb boyfriend to the strong, white companion. Martha was introduced in season 3 in 2007 and has been the only strongly written companion of color. She changed the dynamics of Doctor Who because suddenly a black woman was part of the main story and was influencing younger black girls who now had someone they could relate with.
Gender has also been an issue within Doctor Who. The issue hasn't been about lack of women, but more about the fact that they have only been companions, and also most have not really had a strong presence to the story. Every companion has been a woman, but many are typically there to serve as the love interest for the doctor, or to become the damsel in distress and someone for the doctor to save. There have only been a few companions that have broke free from these tropes to become strong, more independent woman through the series, and really stand out as more of a main character and not just there to look pretty. Besides a few companions being stronger characters, there has still never been a female doctor in the entire series. This is a major problem that needs to be fixed because the majority of viewers are woman and for them to see a woman doctor would be huge. Woman and especially young girls who watch doctor who and see a female doctor would be more inspired and could relate to the character in a more positive way. The doctor could become a role model for young women instead of a love interest for them or eye candy. It would tell woman that they too can be strong and powerful and can be capable of anything, even with saving the universe.
2: Are there any racial or gender stereotypes present in the show you've chosen? if so, identify them and describe how they are stereotypical. If not, describe what elements would prevent the portrayal of of a female or ethnic minority characters from being stereotypical.
Doctor who is not without fault and has placed characters driven by stereotypes, mostly with the woman companions. The woman are typically either stereotyped as submissive or bossy, or both. One of the issues with the character Amy Pond, one of the latest companions from seasons 5-7 of the newer series, was stereotyped as being the bossy controlling type of girl. She would tell her husband and the doctor what to do, and would be sassy and rebellious if she was told not to do something. This may seem like she was being written as a strong character, but she was still written very simply with just the facade of being a strong woman. She was still thrown into the damsel in distress trope more often than not, and the majority of the 3 seasons she was in she was merely there to support the doctor's story and make him more of the hero.
2: Are there any racial or gender stereotypes present in the show you've chosen? if so, identify them and describe how they are stereotypical. If not, describe what elements would prevent the portrayal of of a female or ethnic minority characters from being stereotypical.
Doctor who is not without fault and has placed characters driven by stereotypes, mostly with the woman companions. The woman are typically either stereotyped as submissive or bossy, or both. One of the issues with the character Amy Pond, one of the latest companions from seasons 5-7 of the newer series, was stereotyped as being the bossy controlling type of girl. She would tell her husband and the doctor what to do, and would be sassy and rebellious if she was told not to do something. This may seem like she was being written as a strong character, but she was still written very simply with just the facade of being a strong woman. She was still thrown into the damsel in distress trope more often than not, and the majority of the 3 seasons she was in she was merely there to support the doctor's story and make him more of the hero.
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