Roles of Men and Women
The roles men and women play in media texts are often defined by stereotypes that society has designated to the genders. This is particularly noticeable in texts from the past where gender roles were very rigid and unchanging. If we look at more modern texts however, women may often be seen challenging these gender roles.
In the different Sherlock adaptations there are some prominent changes in the roles that men and women play. For example the character Mrs Hudson in 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' (1942) is the housekeeper, a conventional role for women at the time which is thought to be inferior to positions such as police officers and council members that are played by male characters. Mrs Hudson also plays the role of a housekeeper in 'Sherlock Holmes' (2009) even though this is one of the more up to date adaptations. She is seen following orders and bringing the men tea, however this is likely due to the fact that the film is set in the Victorian era and therefore they are trying to create verisimilitude. In contrast to this, in the 'Sherlock' (2010) TV series Mrs Hudson is the land lady of the property, a more authoritative role. At one point Mrs Hudson even says to Watson 'I'll get you that cup of tea, just this once dear I'm not your housekeeper', asserting that she has a more important role than that. This is probably because 'Sherlock' is set in the modern day, a time where women are generally respected as equal to men. Therefore the producers of the series have updated the gender roles to fit with modern societies attitudes. In 'Elementary' (2012) the character of Mrs Hudson doesn't exist, this could be because the role of a housekeeper is redundant in the modern day.
In the earlier adaptations of Sherlock, such as 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' and 'Murder by Decree' (1979), the police officers are all male. The first of these films was both produced and set in World War II and during this period women's roles often remained inside the house. Although the war opened opportunities for women in factories, etc the roles they had access to generally had little danger. Women were often viewed as vulnerable and unable to protect themselves, therefore the role of a police officer was not deemed appropriate for a woman. By 1979 this would have changed because of feminist movements opening peoples eyes about the abilities of women but because the film was set in the Victorian era women would not have had such roles. This is the same for the 2009 adaptation. Whereas in the TV series 'Sherlock' there are several women police officers seen and in addition to this the character 'Sally' has an important role within the police department, which is superior to many of the male officers. The increase of women portrayed in important and powerful roles is not uncommon to the 21st century as feminist movements have helped to create laws preventing discrimination on the basis of gender in the workplace. In 'Elementary' less women are shown to be working for the police, this could be because of the prominence of gun violence in the US making the job more dangerous and possibly putting off some women. Despite women officers being portrayed in the more recent adaptations the lead detective inspector is always a male, implying gender equality is still in motion and not yet fully achieved.
One role that remains consistent in all of the adaptations of Sherlock is that women always play the victims whilst men play the killer. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' the main female character, Kitty is murdered by Mead at the end of the film even though she is the only woman in the scene amongst plenty of men including members of the inner council, police officers and Holmes and Watson themselves. This implies that as a woman, Kitty holds the least importance and therefore can easily be killed off. Furthermore her murder is quickly brushed off by the witnesses, with one member saying 'I'll see that she's taken care off'. In 'Murder by Decree' several women are mutilated and murdered by the infamous 'Jack the Ripper'. POV shots of the women being murdered represent them as defenseless and weak. One example of this is near the beginning of the film when the victim cowers in the doorway and lets her murderer strangle her to death without trying to defend herself. The 2009 'Sherlock Holmes' also uses women as the victims being sacrificed in a series of ritual murders by Lord Blackwood, however the representation of the character 'Irene Adler' challenges the conception that all women are weak and vulnerable as she is often seen fighting men and winning. This implies that women can't all be categorised into one group as there are many different types of women. In 'Sherlock' the TV series the victims are a mix of males and females, which is a more modernised example of serial killings. This implies that men can be vulnerable and overpowered too, challenging the gender roles. However the main victim that the episode focuses on is still a woman. The victim in the episode of 'Elementary' I analysed was also a female but she is shown to be putting up a struggle with her killer, asserting that she isn't completely incompetent in protecting herself. A possible reason for a female victim being chosen in each of these media texts is because biologically women tend to be physically weaker than males and therefore an easier target. However an increase in the number of victims fighting back in the more recent adaptations demonstrates a shift in cultural attitudes towards the power that women have.
One very noticeable change in the most recent adaptation of Sherlock, 'Elementary', is that the role of Watson is played by a woman. The character of 'John Watson' originally created by Arthur Conan Doyle was intended to be a male and so every other remake has followed this tradition. This is not necessarily because women were thought of as inferior in all of these time periods but because they were following the original character profile. Elementary however turned the character into 'Joan Watson' making the adaptation completely independent of the ones previous. This is probably because women are supposed to be thought of as equal to men and so there is no reason why Holmes' partner can not be a woman. However in this version Watson is Holmes' 'sober companion' and so is under the employment of Holmes' rather than a flatmate or friend. Therefore she is possibly not thought of as independent and still has a subordinate role.
A consistent factor in all of the film/TV adaptations is the treatment of woman as sexual objects. In 1942 adaptation the lead female character, Kitty has curled hair, is wearing lipstick and seems to portray conventional beauty. Many of the camera shots are focused on her figure or close ups of her face, giving the male spectator a 'gaze' (Laura Mulvey). Although sex was not commonly discussed during the 1940's, including an attractive woman in the narrative was common and there for male satisfaction. This was because women were not thought of having the same rights as males and therefore they had little control over the way they were represented in the media. Although female characters have largely evolved from then and play more important parts in the narrative, it is still common to find attractive women in film/TV plots today simply for male gratification. For example in the 2009 'Sherlock Holmes' there is a scene where Irene Adler removes her towel in front Holmes before moving behind the dresser. The camera focuses on the curves of her body and in particular her bum, a provocative part of the female body. Again this is only included to create a gaze for the male spectator, objectifying the female form. It is possible to suggest that this is more objectifying than the example from the 1942 version which could be because censorship is less strict than it used to be, therefore making the objectification of women more obvious.
One role that remains consistent in all of the adaptations of Sherlock is that women always play the victims whilst men play the killer. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' the main female character, Kitty is murdered by Mead at the end of the film even though she is the only woman in the scene amongst plenty of men including members of the inner council, police officers and Holmes and Watson themselves. This implies that as a woman, Kitty holds the least importance and therefore can easily be killed off. Furthermore her murder is quickly brushed off by the witnesses, with one member saying 'I'll see that she's taken care off'. In 'Murder by Decree' several women are mutilated and murdered by the infamous 'Jack the Ripper'. POV shots of the women being murdered represent them as defenseless and weak. One example of this is near the beginning of the film when the victim cowers in the doorway and lets her murderer strangle her to death without trying to defend herself. The 2009 'Sherlock Holmes' also uses women as the victims being sacrificed in a series of ritual murders by Lord Blackwood, however the representation of the character 'Irene Adler' challenges the conception that all women are weak and vulnerable as she is often seen fighting men and winning. This implies that women can't all be categorised into one group as there are many different types of women. In 'Sherlock' the TV series the victims are a mix of males and females, which is a more modernised example of serial killings. This implies that men can be vulnerable and overpowered too, challenging the gender roles. However the main victim that the episode focuses on is still a woman. The victim in the episode of 'Elementary' I analysed was also a female but she is shown to be putting up a struggle with her killer, asserting that she isn't completely incompetent in protecting herself. A possible reason for a female victim being chosen in each of these media texts is because biologically women tend to be physically weaker than males and therefore an easier target. However an increase in the number of victims fighting back in the more recent adaptations demonstrates a shift in cultural attitudes towards the power that women have.
One very noticeable change in the most recent adaptation of Sherlock, 'Elementary', is that the role of Watson is played by a woman. The character of 'John Watson' originally created by Arthur Conan Doyle was intended to be a male and so every other remake has followed this tradition. This is not necessarily because women were thought of as inferior in all of these time periods but because they were following the original character profile. Elementary however turned the character into 'Joan Watson' making the adaptation completely independent of the ones previous. This is probably because women are supposed to be thought of as equal to men and so there is no reason why Holmes' partner can not be a woman. However in this version Watson is Holmes' 'sober companion' and so is under the employment of Holmes' rather than a flatmate or friend. Therefore she is possibly not thought of as independent and still has a subordinate role.
Treatment of Women
The treatment of women in films and TV shows varies in different periods. In earlier media texts women are often treated with little respect and thought of as inferior. This isn't to say that this has completely disappeared in recent texts but has instead possibly progressed into other less visible forms of disrespect.
One prominent feature in media texts is the way in which men are seen trying to control women, taking away their freedom. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' the character Mead shouts 'get your coat, hurry' at Kitty in an authoritative tone. This gives the impression that Kitty is incapable of thinking for herself and has to be told what to do. It also shows how the character Mead feels that, as a man, he has superiority over Kitty, a woman, and can order her around. This is because in the 1940's women were not perceived as equal to men and frequently not thought of as very intelligent. At the time this was accepted by women but progression in the feminist movement has made significant development in the way women are treated today. Although the way that men address and speak to women in 'Sherlock' the TV series is more respectful in general, there are still some examples of men treating women inadequately. For example when Holmes asks Molly (the lab technician) 'What happened to the lipstick?', she says 'It wasn't working for me' and he replies with 'Really, I thought it was a big improvement, your mouths too small now'. This is an example of a contemporary cultural problem, with body shaming being at the forefront of women's insecurities. Women are now treated as though their appearance is more important than their other traits by men, undermining their real potential. Another example of this is in 'Elementary' where Amy (the victim) is pressured by her husband to change her appearance through plastic surgery. This highlights how instead of promoting body confidence and acceptance, today's society is pressuring women (particularly young women) to change their appearance to fit with what it defines beauty as. This appears to be a recent problem which may be a result of the influx of mass media which was not around at the times of the earlier films. A consistent factor in all of the film/TV adaptations is the treatment of woman as sexual objects. In 1942 adaptation the lead female character, Kitty has curled hair, is wearing lipstick and seems to portray conventional beauty. Many of the camera shots are focused on her figure or close ups of her face, giving the male spectator a 'gaze' (Laura Mulvey). Although sex was not commonly discussed during the 1940's, including an attractive woman in the narrative was common and there for male satisfaction. This was because women were not thought of having the same rights as males and therefore they had little control over the way they were represented in the media. Although female characters have largely evolved from then and play more important parts in the narrative, it is still common to find attractive women in film/TV plots today simply for male gratification. For example in the 2009 'Sherlock Holmes' there is a scene where Irene Adler removes her towel in front Holmes before moving behind the dresser. The camera focuses on the curves of her body and in particular her bum, a provocative part of the female body. Again this is only included to create a gaze for the male spectator, objectifying the female form. It is possible to suggest that this is more objectifying than the example from the 1942 version which could be because censorship is less strict than it used to be, therefore making the objectification of women more obvious.
Portrayal of Masculinity/Femininity
Masculinity
The concept of masculinity has changed over time and it is now more acceptable for men to be seen as sensitive and emotional. This being said some older generations still often have rigid definitions of what it means to be 'masculine'.
The portrayal of masculinity in the different remakes appears to change through the amount of fighting and violence presented. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' (1942), some of the men are seen physically fighting each other. This is supposed to make them appear brave and 'manly' as at the time this was how men thought they should behave rather than talking about things in the way that women would resolve things. The majority of their actions were a result of not wanting to appear feminine as this would create a bad representation for them and possibly make people think they were gay, something that was not particularly accepted at the time. Fight scenes are also included in 'Murder by Decree' (1979) making the characters, particularly Watson who is harmed in the battle, appear brave and heroic. As a result they are supposedly seen as masculine because they're not weak like women were thought to be. There is a large amount of emphasis on Holmes' ability to fight in the 2009 adaptation, 'Sherlock Holmes'. In this film techniques such as slow motion editing and narration of the characters actions make the frequent fight scenes central to the entertainment and development of the character. Although this is one of the more recent versions of the story we can still see how rigid ideas of masculinity are being projected. This shows how third wave feminism is still in motion and has not yet opened the parameters of masculinity to the point where men don't feel like they have to fit a certain stereotype. However we do have to consider that the genre of the film may involve more action than other genres and therefore it may also be influenced by this. In both of the TV series (Sherlock, 2010 and Elementary, 2012) fighting and violence is less prominent. Both Holmes characters appear a lot less capable of violence, suggesting that men in the modern day don't feel as compelled to assert themselves as hyper masculine because that isn't their real self. An exception to this is Watson in Sherlock who has just returned from the war in Afghanistan but instead of the stereotypical portrayal of a soldier being brave and manly, we are shown Watson suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He is shown having flashbacks, crying and generally struggling with everyday life. This provides an alternative and more realistic representation of the life of a man. It shows that men are vulnerable too and have feelings which the traditional conception of masculinity blocks out.
The increase in male characters being represented as sensitive and emotional in the more up to date adaptations also shows a change in the way masculinity is being portrayed and understood. In the 1942 version there is very little evidence of men being emotional and the dominant representation is that men are strong and brave, mainly because of their war efforts. The influence of the war may have contributed to this portrayal as any signs of weakness in men could create doubt in peoples minds about their ability to win the war. Therefore it could have been employed to create a united front that cannot be broken. In 'Murder by Decree' there is also a general lack of emotion amongst the male characters, again probably because they don't want to appear weak. In contrast to this however Holmes is shown tearing up when he visits Annie who has been locked in a mental institute by people with power. Although this could suggest he feels empathy more than him being an emotional person and therefore the pressures of being masculine are still quite constraining for men at this time. The idea of men being sensitive is almost made into humour in 'Sherlock Holmes', for example when Holmes says to Watson 'you're feeling a bit sensitive' he snaps back with 'I'm not sensitive'. This implies that he doesn't want to be associated with the word 'sensitive' because its not considered as masculine. This highlights how even in 2009 men felt as though they needed to protect their identity as a man out of fear that they would be disrespected. In contrast to this in 'Sherlock' the TV series, Holmes' brother admits that he 'worries about him constantly'. This is unusual for a man to admit as they are often not shown expressing their feelings to others. As a result it may be possible to say that gender boundaries are breaking down more now and men feel as though they can actually discuss their feelings. In this sense the concept of masculinity is developing into something more representative of men. However there is an implication that Holmes' brother could be gay which could suggest his openness about his feelings is a result of his sexuality as homosexuals are perceived as feminine. In 'Elementary' Holmes denies having feelings when he says 'I don't have meaningful connections'. He could be expressing this because he wants to appear 'masculine' but it is also possible that he is saying this because he believes he is a sociopath. If so then his lack of sensitivity and emotion may not be the portrayal of masculinity but of his condition.
Femininity
The concept of femininity has had a rigid and unchanging definition for some time. The term is associated with being emotional, sensitive, dependent, weak and often sexually submissive. However it is now common to see women challenging this definition of femininity.
The change in women's appearances through the different adaptations of Sherlock is one way in which the idea of femininity can be seen to be changing. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' the female character Kitty is always shown as glamorous. She is shown wearing lots of make up, with tight curls and elegant outfits. At the time it was common for female movie stars to be represented this way as this was what femininity was understood to be. It was very focused on a woman's appearance and the way men looked at her. In addition to this colour film was not yet in use and so to accentuate the woman's beauty they had to make her look extravagant. The women in 'Murder by Decree' are also defined by their appearances, although this differs within the classes. The higher classes of women are shown wearing dresses and hats with their hair and make up done. The film was set in the Victorian era when women were especially thought to be dependent on men, therefore the way they presented themselves proved their worth. The emphasis on the appearance of women in this film is to properly replicate the time period. The lower classes of women in the film are also represented as being very concerned with their appearance, however their dresses and hats seem cheap and second hand. Furthermore their hair and make up looks less graceful suggesting that because they are a lower class they can't be thought of as feminine because it requires a particular lifestyle. They are also witnessed making extra effort to gain male attention and when they fail at this they appear upset. This implies that the women measure their worth as a female on their appearance and how much attention they get. In 'Sherlock' the TV series there is a major shift in this portrayal. The women appear to (much more than the other films) value themselves on attributes other than their appearance, such as their intelligence. For example the Sergeant (Sally) doesn't appear to be wearing any make up at all and dresses in trousers and a shirt. This shows that even though she works with men all day she doesn't feel the need to appear as 'feminine' because she doesn't need to impress them through her appearance and she respects herself. In addition to this the lab technician Molly even expresses how she didn't think lipstick was working out for her. As a modern day woman she doesn't feel compelled to wear make up, it is a choice rather than a requirement. This indicates that what it means to be a woman in today's society is more than the way they present themselves. The definition of femininity has evolved with the feminist movement and people can now see that it is acceptable to not live up to stereotypes implemented by society. This is not to say that women can't express themselves this way as many still choose to but rather it is a choice.
The change in women's appearances through the different adaptations of Sherlock is one way in which the idea of femininity can be seen to be changing. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror' the female character Kitty is always shown as glamorous. She is shown wearing lots of make up, with tight curls and elegant outfits. At the time it was common for female movie stars to be represented this way as this was what femininity was understood to be. It was very focused on a woman's appearance and the way men looked at her. In addition to this colour film was not yet in use and so to accentuate the woman's beauty they had to make her look extravagant. The women in 'Murder by Decree' are also defined by their appearances, although this differs within the classes. The higher classes of women are shown wearing dresses and hats with their hair and make up done. The film was set in the Victorian era when women were especially thought to be dependent on men, therefore the way they presented themselves proved their worth. The emphasis on the appearance of women in this film is to properly replicate the time period. The lower classes of women in the film are also represented as being very concerned with their appearance, however their dresses and hats seem cheap and second hand. Furthermore their hair and make up looks less graceful suggesting that because they are a lower class they can't be thought of as feminine because it requires a particular lifestyle. They are also witnessed making extra effort to gain male attention and when they fail at this they appear upset. This implies that the women measure their worth as a female on their appearance and how much attention they get. In 'Sherlock' the TV series there is a major shift in this portrayal. The women appear to (much more than the other films) value themselves on attributes other than their appearance, such as their intelligence. For example the Sergeant (Sally) doesn't appear to be wearing any make up at all and dresses in trousers and a shirt. This shows that even though she works with men all day she doesn't feel the need to appear as 'feminine' because she doesn't need to impress them through her appearance and she respects herself. In addition to this the lab technician Molly even expresses how she didn't think lipstick was working out for her. As a modern day woman she doesn't feel compelled to wear make up, it is a choice rather than a requirement. This indicates that what it means to be a woman in today's society is more than the way they present themselves. The definition of femininity has evolved with the feminist movement and people can now see that it is acceptable to not live up to stereotypes implemented by society. This is not to say that women can't express themselves this way as many still choose to but rather it is a choice.
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