by Lisa Bennett-Haigney, NOW Publications Manager

A TV World Much Like Our Own

Early respondents to NOW's Feminist Ratings Survey have placed NBC's "ER" at the top of their list (results are still coming in). What makes this hit program stand out from the rest? First of all, "ER" boasts one of the most diverse casts ever on television. Since its premiere in 1994, the program has showcased African American, Latino/a, Asian and other actors of color. The current cast, in addition to racial diversity, features a single mom, a woman (in power) with a disability, a deaf son, women of different sizes and characters from around the globe. Previous female characters have included an HIV-positive woman, a lesbian and a breast cancer survivor.

Another reason why "ER" is a hit among both feminists and television viewers in general would have to be its realistic portrayal of issues that are relevant to our everyday lives. Recent episodes have focused on sexually transmitted diseases and the need for protection, domestic violence, mother-daughter relationships and gender identity. From its very first season, "ER" has consistently addressed the poor situation of health care coverage in this country and its dangerous ramifications. A long-running story about physician's assistant Jeanie Boulet dealt with her HIV-positive status in a straightforward and sensitive way.

Viewers can also relate to the hospital staff--these are not rich doctors. The doctors and nurses work hard, depend on each other for support and are always picking up extra shifts. The women professionals are smart, driven and complex. Carol Hathaway has become the show's heart and soul--a nurse who's every bit the equal of the doctors she works with. Carol starts a clinic to help people who can't afford medical care, she chooses not to let a restless man dominate her life and she frequently counsels young women in trouble.

It is almost taken for granted on "ER" that the women characters will be treated with respect. When a man in power (like Dr. Romano) belittles or taunts a female doctor (like Dr. Corday), it is clear that this behavior is not acceptable.

Some feminist viewers were recently dismayed by the brutal killing of med student Lucy Knight. "ER" has long used sensational episodes (especially during ratings sweeps months) to break the routine and attract more viewers. Although the stabbing scene was disturbing, Lucy was not actually shown being stabbed--Dr. John Carter was. Many of the characters have experienced personal violence throughout the show's six seasons and "ER" has always handled the consequences of violence against both men and women very seriously, as it appears to be doing this time as well.

"ER" proves that a television show can be feminist without hitting viewers over the head with politics. In this case, feminist content simply means that the women on the show are valued for their intelligence, skills and character and not used as sex objects and decoration. The success of "ER" demonstrates that a show can portray women and people of color in a positive and honest light and soar to the top while doing so.

This week's feminist media picks:

(Note: Nothing is perfect, particularly in our society's media. These picks represent those works of entertainment or information that are for the most part woman-positive and socially responsible.)

Movie: Erin Brockovich. If you've watched any television lately, you've surely seen commercials for Julia Roberts' latest movie. Despite the many shots of Roberts in a push-up bra, this is truly an inspiring and funny film. Yes, you're going to see even more of Roberts in tight, revealing clothes. If you can live through that, however, you'll be rewarded. Based on a true story, Erin Brockovich is a single mother of three struggling to make ends meet. She loses her job because she has to take care of her kids; she desperately needs health care; she has child care troubles and she can't afford an exterminator to rid her house of bugs. Brockovich talks her way into a job at a law firm where she must work extra hard to prove that a poor, uneducated, and some would say extremely uncouth, woman can be smart and get results. Like a "Rocky" for single moms, Brockovich overcomes all obstacles and low expectations as she fights for justice for a town full of seriously ill people. Roberts is wonderfully realistic and touching and Albert Finney is fabulous as the boss who grows to treat her as an equal. Just as Brockovich's co-workers learn to see past her wardrobe, don't let Roberts' appearance in the TV ads keep you from missing this tale of one smart woman.

TV Show: City of Angels (CBS, Wednesday 8-9pm ET). Like "ER," "City of Angels" is a medical show set in an inner city hospital. The twist here is that the cast is largely people of color, while the white characters are in the minority. This new drama hasn't been on long, but it has already established itself as a place to see difficult issues addressed through the eyes of African American doctors, nurses, administrators and patients. Last week's show dealt with the "driving while black" phenomenon, when a doctor (lead actor Blair Underwood) is pulled over for running a red light. The cop throws the doctor down on the ground, his car is ripped apart in a search for drugs and he is thrown in jail. In a telling scene, a group of doctors and nurses share similar stories of police abuse. There are several strong females, including a lead character (played by Vivica A. Fox) who must deal with hospital bureaucracy in an attempt to improve conditions at the hospital. "City of Angels" is unlike anything on TV right now and surely it will need strong viewer support if it's going to stay on the air.

Book: Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female With the Mass Media by Susan J. Douglas (Non-Fiction). Available in paperback, "Where the Girls Are" is a trip through our popular culture's portrayal of women from the 1950s through current time. There's little that Douglas doesn't cover here, and she succeeds in making an already interesting subject even more readable. Chapters include "Sex and the Single Teenager," "Genies and Witches," "The ERA as Catfight" and "I'm Not a Feminist, But..." You'll find yourself nodding your head in agreement throughout the book and shaking it in frustration. Especially enjoyable and insightful are the sections on young women's enthusiastic reactions to the Beatles invasion, the girl groups of the early 60s, the marketing of beauty products and girls' toys and programming. For anyone who cares about media issues, this book is a must.