Social Representations of Women in Spanish TV Series (2015–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65598/rps.6237Keywords:
Gender, Social Representations, Women, Criminal Law, Spanish TV SeriesAbstract
This article analyzes the social representations of women within the criminal justice system through contemporary Spanish TV series aired between 2015 and 2025, aiming to identify patterns of agency, institutional power, and victimization in criminal, police, and judicial narratives. The research employs a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. On the quantitative side, the Bechdel test is applied as a preliminary indicator of female visibility and interaction, while the qualitative analysis integrates an adapted Greimas actantial model and critical discourse analysis of audiovisual content. The sample includes both fictional productions and true crime formats. The results show a growing trend toward including female characters in significant roles within the criminal justice system, particularly as investigators, judges, or lawyers, though with varying levels of discursive autonomy. The discussion reveals that despite the increase in female protagonism, narrative mechanisms continue to condition professional legitimacy through isolation, emotional burden, or moral stigmatization. In conclusion, contemporary Spanish series reflect progress in the visibility of women in legal and police spaces, but symbolic tensions persist that reproduce structural inequalities, confirming that audiovisual media functions as a cultural device shaping collective imaginaries around justice, authority, and gender.
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