500 WORDS, Research Investigation Project

In my Research Investigation Project, I will be looking at the gender of teenagers and how it is represented in contemporary British television programmes: My Mad Fat Diary[1] and Some Girls[2] The gender of teenagers is represented in a  number of ways throughout British media: they are sexualised in programmes such as Strippers[3, and are portrayed as untrustworthy and thuggish in films like Kidulthood[4]. However, music videos such as Live While We're Young by One Direction[5] show young people in an entirely positive light, as fun, exciting and sensible with regards to alcohol and the likes.

My Mad Fat Diary (MMFD) is based around a group of sixth form students who are all facing their own problems, from self harm, to sex, to work and family. Main character Rae Earl is "kind and insecure and loyal and rude and over-dramatic and angry, all at the same time"[6]. One summer her eating disorder becomes out of hand and she falls into the trap of depression and self harm, which lands her a place in a psychiatric hospital for the rest of the holiday. The series is set in Lincolnshire in the late 1990's. 

Some Girls is also a series based around a group of sixth form students who have completely different attitudes but still come together as best friends. According to one critique, the programme takes us on a "bumpy journey through adolescence taking in boys, sex, cliques, teachers, heartbreak, fun and even some football along the way."[7]


[1] [1] My Mad Fat Diary, television programme, Tom Kirkby, Benjamin Caron, Anthony Philipson, Luke Snellin, Vanessa Caswill, Alex Winckler, episode ...., 45 minutes.
[2][2] Some Girls, television programme, Adam Miller, episode ....., 30 minutes.
[3]"Strippers." Channel 4. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Aug. 2014.  <http://www.channel4.com/programmes/strippers>
[4] Kidulthood. Dir. Menhaj Huda. Perf. Aml Ameen, Red Madrell. Revolver Entertainment, 2006. DVD.
[5]"One Direction - Live While We're Young."YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 8 Aug. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbPED9bisSc>.
[6] Cayford, Scarlett. "Have you been watching … My Mad Fat Diary?."theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 June 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/mar/13/have-you-been-watching-my-mad-fat-diary>.
[7] [17]"Some Girls - BBC3 Sitcom - British Comedy Guide." Some Girls - BBC3 Sitcom - British Comedy Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2014. <http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/some_girls/>.