The Postfeminist Gaze: A textual analysis of gender representation in BBC’s Fleabag

Abstract

BBC’s Fleabag has been widely acknowledged by critics, receiving multiple Emmy’s and Golden Globes, with writer and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge being highly praised for her feminist writing of the show and its characters. This research has analysed episodes from both seasons and tried to answer the question how gender is represented in the series. Being produced after the start of the #MeToo movement, this analysis has been placed in a larger academic debate surrounding representation, female sexuality and objectification. It has attempted to contribute to this debate by analysing important themes in the show, with attention towards both the narrative and the series’ use of direct address. Through a textual analysis of two episodes it has shown that there is a progressive representation of gender in both seasons, showing a diverse spectrum of masculinity as well as femininity, which is reinforced by the main characters’ ability to tell her own story through her interaction with the camera. These results where then also contextualized through the concept of postfeminism, which effects have clearly influenced the narrative and therefore its representation of gender. This has shown how this new form of feminism is in need of representation of the insecurities and longings that a lot of women in contemporary times are struggling with. Through these results, this research hopes to contribute to the existing academic debate on gender in television, while also highlighting the societal importance of diverse representation in mainstream media.