Noah Berlastsky in the Atlantic argues that representations of men in Orange Is the New Black is inadequate considering the much higher rates of incarceration in comparison to women. In his words:
"According to Orange Is the New Black, though, men in prison are 'super-predators' while women in prison are, often, innocent victims, doomed by circumstances and their own painful but touching character flaws."
Yes, representations of men are stereotypical, primarily obsessed with power and sex (and sometimes violence) on the show. However, while Season 2 seems to want to deal primarily with race, gender, class and inequities in the prison system, watching the show (I am only 7 episodes in) I sometimes feel like it is pandering to men, i.e., the sex scenes and depictions of inequitable relationships. I find myself asking: "Are they trying to increase male viewership?"
So while I appreciate the diverse cast and focus on women, I find the spectacle of women trapped in prison (a key space of power and control!), shifting between empowerment and objectification, problematic as many of the sex scenes to date reinforce dominant representations of women performing sexual acts for male visual pleasure, undermining some of the noteworthy representations on the show.
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