“SILLINESS, SHENANIGANS AND GENERAL MISBEHAVIOR”: DEPICTIONS OF FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS IN AMERICAN SITCOMS FROM LUCY AND ETHEL TO LESLIE AND ANN

Abstract

The portrayal of female friendships are a significant and influential feature of American situation comedies. This study conducts a comparison of female friendships pairings in four popular sitcoms that span across six decades to determine whether or not portrayals have changed over time. The analysis focuses on different aspects of conversations between the friends. The results reveal that while some aspects, such as the setting and the presence of advice, have changed over time, other features, such as who provides the advice and the results of the Bechdel Test, have remained the same. The results of this study point to shifts in power relations between the friends, as well as how audiences can perceive these relations and possibly apply them to their own lives. Further research in the area of a qualitative study would offer even better insight into the study.