Contentious debates in “The West Wing”: The quest for feminist citizenship

Abstract

This thesis explores how "The West Wing," using strategies from and critical engagement with feminism, provides a pivotal popular culture negotiation of the American feminist narrative and creates an environment for the consideration of feminist politics in relation to discourses of citizenship. First, I provide an historical account of America's evolving understanding of feminism on television, contextualizing the series' contribution to the representation and understanding of feminisms, and examine television's role in the (re)production of a hegemonic feminist narrative. Next, I analyze how the television show exists as a "site of struggle" wherein feminist debates are considered integral explorations for the shaping of policy and politics. Noting the predominance of television in American culture and the increasing visibility of women in the U.S. political system, my thesis provides a needed analysis of how "The West Wing" helps to construct and reflect America's understanding of feminism in 21st-century America.