Representation of gender in Doctor Who

Mise-en-scene, editing, sound and camera work can be used in order to represent gender.

First of all the mise-en-scene in the clip helps to establish the gender of each character through the costumes and make up. Firstly the woman in the clip can be seen to be wearing dark trousers and a dark coat, these are not often clothing that would be worn by a stereotypical feminine woman character so suggests that this character perhaps possesses some masculine features. The clothing worn by the man in control throughout the clip is wearing a suit, this goes with the fact that he is in control of the situation. This is also confirmed by the way he is controlling everyone at the beginning of the clip. The blonde female character is wearing a stereotypical feminine woman's outfit and make up. She also follows the crowed near the end of the clip suggesting that she has the stereotypical trait of following the crowd and just living her life the way that everyone else does. This female character is higher up on the shot suggesting that she has power over the man, which is often said within society that behind everyman there is a woman. The décor of the setting shows the audience that it is a sci-fi location shown with the gadgets and technology surrounding the characters. Showing the location allows the audience to understand that the man in the suit appears to have control of the whole world suggesting that he is a very powerful man. Its also very stereotypical that the man would have power over the many women in the room. When the doctor turns back from an alien to a man he also is wearing a suit so challenges the power of the other man in the room as to who is the 'alpha male'.

The camera shots, angles and composition can also be used to represent gender. The first shot is a close up of the mans face in focus with the guards bringing the prisoner woman in. This shot emphasises the mans power as it is clear in this shot alone that it is on his command that these characters are working under. This shot also allows you to see the serious expression on the characters face. The next shot shows all of the characters who appear to have a high status as they are on a balcony showing the status of each character. This shot is a low angle shot or possibly a point of view shot from the people who are not on the balcony once again establishing the status of these characters. They are a mix of both male and female suggesting that at this point gender is not affecting there status. The composition of the next medium shot shows the female prisoner central with two guards and there guns almost in a symmetrical layout. This shows how this character is completely under the control and at the mercy of these men showing the power. A close up of the action of the woman removing her 'transportation device' emphasises how vulnerable and defenceless she is, a common stereotype of women. As the shot changes to the prisoner character kneeling the camera uses a point of view shot showing how the woman is being forced to look up to the man who is in charge.

The editing can also be used in order to show gender within the clip. The clip uses fast straight cuts in order to keep continuity and achieve a fast pace for the clip. There are lots of point of view shots with eye line matches which show the facial expressions on each of the characters faces. The two women characters in what look sort of like nurses uniforms (a stereotypical job of a women) seem to show fear in there eyes suggesting that they are on the side of the prisoner girl. It is also stereotypical that they would be showing fear as women are stereotypical of this trait. 

 

Overall the females in the clip are shown to have less power than the men by giving them stereotypical traits such as being weak, defenceless and at the mercy of men. The roles of the men has been split in to different characters. Some of the men are portrayed in the beginning to be powerful and unbeatable but this soon ends up being questioned by the actions of the women and the other characters lead by the women. The clip shows how women seem to use there mind in order to get want they want and to make a difference shown when the woman has spent time planning how she will defeat this man. The man is shown to simply use weapons and guards in order to get his way but ultimately in this clip the woman triumphs.