Women In “The Sopranos” and Tony’s affairs

http://www.answers.com/carmela%20soprano
“Carmela's own efforts to become financially independent have been less successful”... “Carmela's materialistic nature, however, is never far from the surface”.

http://www.answers.com/topic/tony-soprano
“Tony is frequently unfaithful to his wife. His affairs and one-night stands and his inability to be faithful have been an ongoing source of conflict between Tony and Carmela, leading to a year-long separation. Affairs have included Mercedes saleswoman Gloria Trillo and Russian dancer Irina Peltsin. Tony lets his hedonistic pursuit’s conflict with his business. He had sex with Svetlana Kirilenko, Uncle Junior's nurse and Irina's cousin.” Tony’s numerous affairs symbolise the male backlash in society and the objectification of women.

http://www.answers.com/topic/meadow-soprano
“She attended Columbia University, performed well in her classes after poor first-year performance and volunteered regularly at the South Bronx Law Center. Since her graduation, Meadow has been studying for medical school as she is interested in being a pediatrician, but is having second thoughts and considering a career in the legal profession”. The character role portrays women’s independence, intelligence in society and pursuing a professional career, conflicted the portrayal of women depend on men in “The Sopranos”.

http://www.answers.com/dr%20melfi
“Tony Soprano has been able to confide in Melfi many things that he has told no one else... not his associates and certainly not his wife, Carmela”... “He inwardly fears Melfi prying into his life during their sessions, but he also fears the results from not dealing with the problem”. Dr Melfi is depicted as a saviour or a sort of salvation for Tony Soprano, she is contradicts the stereotypical representation of women in society and in the drama.

Other Websites

http://www.answers.com/topic/the-sopranos?cat=technology
This site displays the main idea of the show, themes and characters. The site has seven other links that will help me with my study.

http://www.ape-connections.org/exorcisingpatriarchy.htm
“The Death Hold of Patriarchy. Women have made a few advances, a few inroads in the system of patriarchy but so far the system has been able to absorb these advances and often turn the women against ourselves. This is almost inevitable since women are in so few positions of power. The patriarchal system has its “tokens” and “queen bees” and it is learning how to utilize the talents of women (not just the labor) to keep other women in check”. The site is useful to my case study as it explains the theory of the patriarchal society and has in depth information of feminism.

http://www.answers.com/topic/masculism
The website focuses on masculinity portrayed in the media as well information of the male backlash theory and the wave of feminism affecting traditional society and values.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_causes_someone_to_become_an_abuser
Abuse is bound to be found in patriarchal, narcissistic, or misogynistic collectives. Many societies exhibit cross sections of these three traits. Thus, most patriarchal groups are also misogynistic, either overtly and ideologically so - or covertly and in denial. The site is an article of sexual violence in the media, this relates to my study as women are sexually assaulted.

http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article443.html
This website also focuses on sexual violence displayed in the media; the article focuses mediums such as pornography and advertisements.

http://www.answers.com/topic/sexual-objectification
“...the sexual objectification of women as one of the main ways in which women are subordinated in a sexist society”. The website focuses on the theory of sexual objectification and effect of it. However the site also focuses on the objectification of men this shows a contrast in contemporary films from the past.