Related Terms:

Scope Note:

Fictional work usually concentrating on a woman and the challenges unique to the position of her gender in society. As a result, common situations are finding love, making a career, and/or raising a family. The protagonist is often faced by various romantic possibilities, or the belief that she has chosen the wrong profession or that she should sacrifice a career or health for her family. Frequently, these polar opposites demonstrates the limited possibilities and social roles open to women at a given historical moment. However, because the genre is centered on a woman's needs, not those of a man, the genre has often been a vehicle to examine the achievements of strong women characters who overcome stereotyped gender roles. Because male characters are often marginalized, the Women's genre has often been aimed primarily at the female segment of the audience. Note: For stories of women in the workplace, use the appropriate genre to indicate the occupation, such as Journalism, Legal, Medical, or Show business. Narratives concentrating on the family itself should use Family, and on a love story should use Romance. Feature examples: DIE BUCHSE DER PANDORA (1928) / PANDORA'S BOX; CHRISTOPHER STRONG (with Aviation); DARK VICTORY (with Adaptation); EHE DER THE MARIA BRAUN / MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN (with War); THE HEIRESS (with Historical; Adaptation); A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (with Adaptation); MILDRED PIERCE (with Adaptation); MY BRILLIANT CAREER (with Historical; Adaptation); NOW, VOYAGER (with Adaptation); A PASSAGE TO INDIA (with Historical; Adaptation); QUEEN KELLY; TEN CENTS A DANCE; THE TOLL OF THE SEA; WAITING TO EXHALE (with Adaptation); THE WOMEN (with Adaptation); WORKING GIRL (with Comedy; Romance).

Subject Categories: