TV for Men vs. TV for Women
Spike TV is for men. They make this very clear, very often. Testosterone-infused programming about sports, babes, and all things dangerous, gives Spike an edge over female-oriented TV stations. Women have three networks aimed at them (presumably four, once Oprah launches her channel, OWN.) Oxygen, Lifetime and WE all opt for different variations of the same theme: marriage, motherhood, and weight loss.
Formulaic throughout, these networks perpetuate clichés for both sexes. It’s why films on WE are called “Cinematherapy,” and films on Spike are called “Cinemassacre.” The networks don’t always create these messages themselves (many buy previously aired series for syndication), but their compilation of material is cemented in stereotype.
MOTHERS & FIGHTERS
(Click images to view sources)
(Not to be confused with NBC’s “Momma’s Boys”)
SUCK IT IN & BLOW IT UP
She measures her waist, he measures his horsepower.
DRESS UP or CRACK DOWN
Wedding bells for her, police sirens for him.
BEAUTY & THE BABEWATCH
Obsession with self vs. obsession with sex.
It wasn’t until recently that there was an “official” (shamelessly promoted and labeled) “guy’s channel” on TV…but women had several before then. Daytime TV is mostly targeted at women and elderly people–and lately, any attempts at trying to reach the “stay at home” dad demographic have failed (e.g. “The Other Half”). Male talk show hosts have also failed as of late, unless they go completely trashy (e.g. “Maury Povich”). But what’s also interesting is how any males who have a Daytime TV presence resemble Chippendales dancers…I’m not just talking about Soap operas either. I think Mario Lopez (aka A.C. Slater) has successfully made a new career out of being a suave annoying talk show staple who consistently gets the annoying “woooooo” audience reaction from the women in the audience (although, looking back–one big example stands out for the opposite sex in primetime TV: anytime Kelly Bundy was onscreen in “Married with Children”).
I understand that prime time TV is a whole different story, and that it’s basically become a battle for the 18-35 male demographic…but it’s worthy to take note of how polar opposite daytime vs. primetime TV are, when it comes to who they are catering and being condescending to.