In recent years, television has received increasing criticism for its portrayal of the female as the passive mother, homemaker, or secretary. Recent content analysis studies of North American television broadcasting support the assertion that women have been stereotyped as second class citizens in a man's world; seldom are they presented as professionals or working wives. However, other studies suggest that the stereotyping of women on television is only a reflection of society's more general treatment of women as dependent, subjective, noncompetitive, and illogical. Few countries have come to portray the role of women in a manner consistent with the emerging role that they are actually assuming. Cuba has, in some respects, brought about such a change in the perception of the woman's role, and women there are more actively involved in educational, professional, and political endeavors. Television's impact on women in North America is to reinforce their self-image of creatures who lack self-confidence, ambition, and rationality. Several studies suggest that the lack of achievement orientation is one result of society's stereotyping of women. While female awareness of the effect television has on perpetuating such portrayals is an important first step, there appears to be little power within the grasp of women to overcome current practices in sex-stereotyping. (DGC)