“Madam President: Changing Depictions of Female Presidents in American Popular Culture”

Abstract

Film and television, as forms of popular culture, have the ability to both reflect and shape attitudes about a wide range of topics, including the American presidency. The role of popular media in shaping attitudes about political phenomena is particularly relevant in democracies where public opinion drives both the election and policy-making processes. Drawing on literature in political science, communication studies, and women’s and gender studies, this article analyzes fictional portrayals of female presidents since the 1920s, as they both represent and challenge prevailing national attitudes about gender and the American presidency. The article identifies three key messages derived from popular cultural depictions of women presidents between 1980 and 2008, including how women presidents gain access to the nation’s highest office, the ways in which masculine traits are valued in the administration of that office, and the unique challenges of negotiating the gender “double-binds” that women presidents are subject to beyond the Oval Office.