Homeland

My latest obsession would be the show Homeland. The series is about a POW that is found and brought back to the States 8 years later. Carrie, the female main character works for the CIA and develops a theory that this "hero POW" had been turned during his imprisonment in the Middle East. The entire CIA and government officials do not give Carrie any legitimacy throughout the show. For example, Carrie had confirmed several leads and evidence that Brody (former POW) was working with Nazir, the head of the most influential terrorist group (biggest threat to the free world). In order for the CIA to comply with the government, her male director fired her because her bipolar mental condition interfered with security clearance. In every episode she would cry and run to Saul (her colleague) for advice and dependence. In addition, she developed feelings with Brody, a married man with two children. Brody and Carrie had an affair. The CIA used her (body) to gain insight on Brody because he was under suspicion (the CIA finally looked at Carrie's argument).

In season 2 when she is in the psych ward, she has no make up on and she is weak, this represents another example of how women are viewed as fragile and helpless. When season 3 rolls around, jaw dropping events occur. The audience finds out that although the CIA/Congress places Carrie in a mental hospital, Saul created a plan that would lead terrorists to recruit her for information (because her country turned against her, she was weak and looking for support). Carrie shows up at Saul's house and his wife answers the door. She walks in and tells Saul that "it worked they believed me" and he smiles and says "you did good." He blatantly uses her body AGAIN to gain information, unfortunately for Carrie she little went crazy and will never be the same because of it. The question I raise for my readers is "What if Carrie was Carol?" Would a man force himself onto a women to get information? Would a man be betrayed by his colleagues and country for investigating a women's suspicious behavior? Would the public label a man crazy and send him off to a mental hospital so fast and easy without question? The answer is no. Women are viewed so often as the criminals and manipulators our legitimacy is lost. The character of Carrie has several dimensions, although she had sexual relations with Brody, she also was highly intelligent. Intelligence is not commonly a characteristic of female roles, especially within the DOD environment, therefore the fact that she was isolated and made weak by men, shows their fear. By establishing that she is helpless the producers still hold on to Carrie's "sexiness."She is the most important asset to national security and she is a woman <--- that is sexy, not the fact that she is blonde, blue eyed, helpless and lonely.