Contextual Studies: Gender Representation in Orphan Black


From the very first episode, "Orphan Black" was committed to showing strong, independent women.

Although Felix is gay and a sex worker, he’s not shamed or overly sexualized. Felix is portrayed as a person, not a stereotype; he is a brother, an artist, and a confidant.

The clones that are created all seek control of Sarah and her sisters’ lives. This involves experimentation (on both sides) and trying to limit the women’s reproductive agency. Sarah and her clone sisters all struggle against these larger, male-dominated institutions, fighting for the right to have control over their own bodies and lives.

Individuality is another important aspect of Orphan Black — something you may not expect to see in a show about clones. While the women are all physically identical, they could not be more different in personality.

Orphan Black incorporates the "Bechdel Test", on multiple occasions. This test involves three basic criteria for analyzing gender representation in the media. To “pass” the test , there must be:
a) at least two women, who 
b) talk to each other, 
c) about something other than a man. 


http://www.mtv.com/news/2190547/orphan-black-gender-stereotypes/

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