Kobieca przyjaźń i siostrzeństwo w obrazach serialowych i prasowych
Female Friendship and Sisterhood as Portrayed in TV Series and the Press

Author(s): Beata Łaciak
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Sociology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: feminism; media; friendship; sisterhood; portrayals
Summary/Abstract: The text analyses the ways in which female friendship and feminist sisterhood are presented in the liberal press (Wysokie Obcasy, Polityka), on the Internet and in TV series. It is an attempt to answer the following questions: do any images of female friendship emerge from this analysis? And if so, are they uniform or diverse? What disputes and concerns are raised by the idea of feminist sisterhood in today’s Poland? Are there links between female friendship and the somewhat broader notion of sisterhood postulated by feminism? Portrayals of friendship and sisterhood in TV series, in the press, and on the Internet feature extremely polarized representations – either rejecting the possibility of female solidarity and true friendship, or showing their enormous role in women’s lives. I am more inclined to believe in the latter notion: female friendship, small communities built on similar values, attitudes, mutual loyalty, readiness to help or support. I am much less convinced, however, by the idea of female sisterhood, community building and loyalty to other women who often have very little in common with each other.

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