Army Wives

      Lifetime network has created a variety of shows geared towards a range of ages, with Army Wives seemingly most geared towards women in their mid 20's-40's. It depicts the lives of several women who married into Army life and are now living on Fort Marshall in South Carolina. We watch the group of women, and man, band together as they deal with every horrific life event that could ever happen. They deal with everything from the death of a child, to abuse, drug addiction, hostage situations, adultery, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 
     On the surface, it appears to be a strong, empowering show for women, demonstrating the benefits of having a good support system of friends, and the ways in which being that good friend makes us all feel better at the end of the day. And it does demonstrate that aspect, very well. The show also does a good job of embodying nearly every stereotype there ever was of women. 
      The group shows strength in numbers but rarely achieves anything independently from one another. Several story lines include misunderstandings due to gossip spreading through the grape vine, perpetuating the stereotype that all women do is talk - to each other, about each other, all the time. One of the most pivotal elements of the show is the fact that nearly every one of the women has faced consequences either at the hand of the Army, or at home because her actions "reflected poorly" on her husband and brought consequences upon him. We see on several occasions that each woman's social standing is dependent upon her husband's ranking within the Army. The dynamics of the friend group featured in the show is repeatedly declared unconventional by the women themselves, as well as outside characters, because it features women ranging from the general's wife, to the young, new wife of a PFC soldier. The class difference is vast and unusual, and while it is refreshing to see a show openly depicting such scenario, they do so with very obvious cues, and not so subtle stereotyping along the way. 
      We see Claudia Joy, the General's wife as this conservative, well-put-together, mother of two, who also runs the FRG, the base's Family Readiness Group, which supports families on base as they move in, and in times of need and crisis. We see her effortlessly pull together grand parties in their home when the General needs to host important guests on base. In stark contrast, we are introduced to Roxy, the rough-around-the edges, no nonsense young woman from Tuscaloosa, with two young boys from a previous, unstable relationship, who married a soldier after knowing him less than a week and now finds herself stumbling through life on the Army base. The small blonde woman is constantly seen in high wedge heels, mini skirts and halter tops, as she works at a bar off-base. She is smart, if not always sensible, but especially in the first season, when compared to Claudia Joy, Roxy doesn't know which way is up and is "incredibly lucky" to have Claudia Joy and the other women take her under their wing and show her the ropes. Even without words we see the ways in which they stereotype the women: 

Here we see Claudia Joy and General Michael Holden, attending a high-class function. Claudia Joy is dressed beautifully, but still demure, revealing very little, accompanying her husband in his dress uniform. 

In the same season we are introduced to Roxy and Trevor, an impetuously formed couple, young and in love. They drive Roxy's old, somewhat undependable convertible car, as she struts around in barely-there miniskirts, alongside her hot new husband.