Generic sitcoms have always been male-driven. From superhero series to stereotyped sitcoms, most of them have their main theme centred around a man. If that is not the case, then the male character is usually the main protagonist of the story. A very recent article by ‘The Wrap’ stated that men hate TV shows aimed at woman. It points out to a very important data that provides evidence that female-centred TV shows received a lower rating from men and a comparatively higher rating from women. Female characters are, unfortunately, still sidelined, stereotyped, and sexualized in popular entertainment content.
‘Jane the Virgin, on the other hand, is one of the recent sitcoms that has a lot of emphasis on feminism and is very female oriented. It is amongst some of the few female-centred bilingual sitcoms that vividly captures various phases, circumstances, and types of lives that women see. The diverse thoughts and perceptions throughout the series make it a very subtle yet powerful show.
The very first episode of the series sets a strong benchmark for the rest of the series. It depicts the perceptions in a woman-dominated Spanish family where the mother of the protagonist is very free and open to sex and other relations whereas Jane and her grandmother are very conservative and spiritually inclined when it comes to being a virgin. The story has various characters and plot twists due to which the female dominance comes out very clearly.
The show depicts various qualities of women in different scenarios and compares and contrasts the qualities by creating a lot of plot twists and showing various perspectives on the same problems. It also subtly and, at times, confrontationally puts forth delicate issues such as feminism, sex, virginity, lesbianism, and sexism in a way that is not only impressive but is also relatable to the viewers. The diverse woman characters, the multi-generation thought changes, the challenges of motherhood, and the problems that women face is very well conveyed through this show. The generation gap between Jane, her mother, and her grandmother helps us clearly understand the differences in cultural understanding, religious beliefs, and thoughts within one single family. All these aspects, I feel, makes it a powerful show. With more such shows coming into the entertainment business, I surely think there will be a wave of change where equality prevails in every aspect.
