“He Works Outside the Home; She Drinks Coffee and Does the Dishes” Gender Roles in Fiction Programs on Dutch Television

Using a sample of 503 prime-time fiction programs broadcast on Dutch television between 1980 and 2005, the study compared gender portrayals in programs produced in the US with Dutch programs. It revealed more older males, more females involved in childcare, more males in paid employment, and fewer males involved in other activities in American than in Dutch programs. Over time, television appears to resist changes regarding greater equality of gender roles in Dutch society. However, there seems to be a convergence in the share, the age distribution, and the sexual orientation of male and female characters in fiction programs on Dutch television.