From Adultescents to Zoomers: An Examination of Age and Gender in Prime-Time Television

Abstract

In sampling situation comedies and dramas airing on the six broadcast networks during the 2003–2004 prime-time season, this study examined the characterization of age and gender. Findings indicated that prime time over-represented individuals in their 30s and 40s and under-represented individuals 60 and older. Characters in their 20s enjoyed an extended adolescence, participating in more leisure and sexual activities than any other adult cohort. When characters 60 and older were seen at all, they wielded less occupational power, were less likely to be leaders, were less sexually active, and engaged in fewer leisure activities than younger characters. The authors concluded that prime-time offers a truncated view of adulthood.

Keywords:

• Age
• Gender
• Prime-Time Television

Notes

∗χ² (5, n = 1183) = 29.66, p < .01.

∗U.S. census percentages based on overall U.S. population aged 13 and older, including 111,407,435 males and 117,972,325 females; 2003–2004 prime-time percentages based on 702 male characters and 481 female characters aged 13 and older.

∗χ² (5, N = 702) = 27.40, p < .01.

^†χ² (5, N = 481) = 23.06, p < .01.

^‡χ² (5, N = 702) = 21.98, p < .01.

^§χ² (5, N = 481) = 10.90, p = .05.

^¶χ² (5, N = 532) = 164.68, p < .01.

^∥χ² (5, N = 304) = 103.60, p < .01.

^#χ² (5, N = 702) = 52.28, p < .01.

∗∗χ² (5, N = 481) = 13.27, p = .02.

∗χ² (5, N = 702) = 17.86, p < .01.

^†χ² (5, N = 481) = 4.17, p = .52.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Martha M. Lauzen

Martha M. Lauzen (Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1986)

David M. Dozier

David M. Dozier (Ph.D., Stanford University, 1978)

Barbara Reyes

Barbara Reyes (M.A., San Diego State University, 2004)