Representation of women and work in the most popular series in the UK and Spain

Abstract

This study provides a portrait of the occupational roles in the series most watched on the generalist DTT channels in the United Kingdom and Spain. The media representations of gender role attitudes in the workplace, especially in fiction, influence the popular culture and social imaginary of the audiences. In this context, the study of the series with the largest audience is important to discover the patterns that these fictions show about work environments. This article analyzes 40 popular series broadcasts on generalist television channels in the United Kingdom and Spain. A sample of more than 400 characters reveals the representation of women and men in the workplace, highlighting the similarities and differences regarding job profiles, leadership, and prestige. The comparison between both markets allows us to find relevant concepts on the current representation of women and work. While in the UK the differences are minor, the results in Spain confirm the differences between male and female characters associated with various aspects of the workplace such as the prestige and positioning of the most qualified jobs.