Betties and broads: a qualitative examination of the maiden and whore archetypes in "The Golden Girls," "Designing Women," and "Sex and the City"

Abstract

This study examined the maiden and whore characters in “The Golden Girls,” “Designing Women,” and “Sex and the City.” Using a textual analysis and discourse analysis approach, I examined the two characters comparing them to the definitions of archetype and stereotype provided by Jungian theory and feminist film theory. I analyzed ten randomly selected episodes from the second season excluding both the premier and the finale. Three of the research questions were rooted in central ideas found in the shows: outward appearance, language and conversation, and sexual relationships. The last research question determined whether or not the characters were archetypes or stereotypes. Ultimately, the study found that the maiden and whore characters in the three shows were archetypes that are neutral as explained and defined in Jungian theory.